Nothing grips us at TopSpeed more than a seriously dangerous car chase scene while munching on popcorn and sipping on a cold one. Be it special effects or balls to the wall stunt driving, the action entertainment factor is undeniable and just another reason to love the movie industry. They get to do things we mere mortals only dream of doing with cars we only dream of woning. Every new blockbuster brings faster, harder, and more dangerous antics than before, keeping us glued and wanting more.

This collection spans more than thirty odd years proving that older movies with real stunts and no CGI still get our blood pumping, especially when you consider the dangers faced by stuntmen all those years ago. There are hot women, exotic metal, loads of tire screeching, crashes, and huge jumps to reminisce about. Here then, is our tribute to the best individual car stunt scenes Hollywood has to offer.

Hit the jump for the list.

10. Cannonball Run

Two hot chicks in a Lamborghini Countach ripping up the tarmac past day-dreaming cops… It totally rocks! There was no way the copper was going to catch the Lambo in that rusty old bucket and even less chance of giving the blonde driving it a ticket. Check out the entire intro.

9. Taxi

The star’s a typical New York yellow taxi that transforms into NASCAR-style street racer at the flick of a switch. Let's just say downtown to JFK will never be the same again with sick action in and out of traffic while chasing supermodel bank robbers in a BMW 7. What’s there not to love? Except Queen Latifah that is… Here's the promo.

8. Ronin

Henri Paul-style antics though crowded Paris streets and tunnels. The car was an Audi S8 that had no brake lights or did it? Hmm… Tight streets and cobbled roads make for unpredictable handling and fender benders. This sequence is the highlight of an otherwise humdrum movie.

7. Mad Maxx 2

You lose, you die in this post-apocalyptic car chase, where rampaging warriors pursue Mel’s uber-cool V8 Interceptor. Cool ingenuity like hood mounted machine guns and makeshift missile being shot out of headlights make this action sequence a nailbiter - all in the quest for fuel.

6. The Fast and the Furious

The first street race in the movie featured unbelievable effects (No, really!)... But we still love it for the street racer concept and trick machines with copious amounts of NOS. Never before had such highly expensive, highly modded machines been destroyed in a quest for the perfect opening stunt - OUCH!

5. Bullit

It doesn’t get any cooler than Steve McQueen being chased through San Francisco in a Mustang 390GT by a Dodge Charger R/T. This chase also brought the Detroit race between Ford and Dodge for muscle car supremacy to the big screen. These guys were too cool for school.

4. Italian Job

The mother of all car chases, from the sewers of Turin to the test track above the Fiat factory. The Mini is the only car that could have accomplished this and that's what makes this special. How ingenious was it to pull a heist based on creating Italy's worst traffic jam? It’s a Mini->ke57 adventure starring Charlize Theron. Does it get any better than this? We think not.

3. Matrix Reloaded

Trinity’s on the run from petrolhead poltergeists. This sequence made even the boring cars look like superstars. Gob-smacking effects mixing cars, bikes, and trucks. How about a new Oscar category for best movie car? Now that's inspiring!

2. The Bourne Identity

An untidy Mini->ke57 pulls all sorts of sweet tricks out the bag in this stunt-filled Parisian chase. In reality, the ride down the steps would have given Bourne kidney damage and Marie Helena a multiple orgasm – which might have increased its box office takings.

1. Dukes of Hazzard

Among numerous spectacular drifting sequences, it’s the blind jump on to the freeway that really blows us away. Then again, these boys had more balls than brains anyway! Yee Haa! Don’t miss the end credit out-takes to see all the failed attempts.