It's St. Patrick's Day and the traditional "wearing of the green" has already begun among Irish communities around the world. Held on the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated by the Irish in Europe since the tenth century. In the U.S., where it is not a legal holiday, it has been celebrated since the late 18th century with prominent displays of the color green, big parades, and considerable consumption of alcohol.

While we wouldn't say no to a pint of Ireland's finest beer, we thought we should stick to celebrating the "wearing of the green" by showcasing some of the most famous green-painted cars in history. Talking about cars is what we do best and we think it's the greatest way possible to celebrate St. Patrick's Day as well. Keep reading to have a look at my green picks and let me know if there's a car you would have included on this list in the comments section.

Have a great St. Pat's Day and remember that drinking and driving don't go well together. Have a pint or two, but stay safe!

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Steve McQueen's Ford Mustang from "Bullitt"

I'm kicking this off with a combo that brings together an American classic, an iconic actor, and the most influential car chase scene in movie history. Launched in 1968, "Bullitt" was a critical and box office smash, winning the Academy Award for Best Film Editing and receiving a nomination for Best Sound. But, it was the high-speed muscle car chase and McQueen's Ford Mustang->ke428 that made it popular among gearheads. Finished in a dark shade of green, the 1968-model-year Mustang became a legend as soon as the movie hit the big screen. McQueen actually purchased two cars for the film, but only one survived the tortures of the screenplay, despite being modified by sports car racer and builder Max Balchowsky. Much like "Eleanor," the "Bullitt" Mustang inspired enthusiasts to create exact replicas and lookalikes, and prompted Ford to release special-edition, green-painted "Bullitt" models for the fourth- and fifth-generation Mustang. It's definitely not the type of car you'd see during a St. Patrick's Day parade, but it is arguably as legendary as this cultural and religious celebration.

Bentley Speed Six "Blue Train Special"

Don't let the name fool you, this bespoke Bentley->ke15 from the 1930s is as green as they get, wearing a dark hue very similar to the iconic "British Racing Green." The "Blue Train" story goes back to 1930, when Bentley's chairman at the time, Woolf Barnato, a two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans->ke1591 winner, accepted a wager that he could make it from Cannes, France to his club in London before the Calais-Mediterranean Express would reach the English Channel. Barnato won the unusual race driving a 1928 Speed Six.

For many years, and wrongly assumed to have been the car Barnato drove from Cannes to London, the "Blue Train Special" is a one-off Speed Six rebodied by Gurney Nutting and delivered to Bentley's chairman weeks after the race. Rebuilt into a two-door, Barnato’s private ride featured a longer engine hood, a revised front grille, and a lowered, sloping roofline that made it more aerodynamic. The "Blue Train Special" is regarded as one of the most beautiful cars ever built and it is now valued at millions of dollars due to its uniqueness and ownership history.

Jaguar D-Type

We remain in Britain for this one, but move to the race track for the Le Mans-winning Jaguar D-Type. Produced between 1954 and 1957, the D-Type->ke1250 shared many of its mechanical components with the C-Type,->ke2405 but its structure and aerodynamics were radically different. Developed on a monococque construction with the utmost aerodynamic efficiency in mind, the D-Type went on to become one of the most successful race car in history. Achievements include three consecutive wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1955-1957, more than 1,000 entries, and no fewer than 162 outright wins between 1955-1965. Although it was raced in many colors, and two of its Le Mans victories were achieved in a metallic blue livery, the D-Type is a proud ambassador of the iconic "British Racing Green" color.

Willys MB Army Jeep

When it comes to green-painted vehicles, only a handful of cars are as iconic as the Willys MB. Developed as a 1/4 ton utility truck for the U.S. Army in the early 1940s, the compact MB not only contributed to the Allies' success in World War II, but it also spawned the famous "jeep" word, believed to have originated from the GP military designation for "Government Purposes." The MB's successful military career and popularity among international troops prompted Willys-Overland to design a Jeep for the post-war civilian market. Thus the CJ (Civilian Jeep)->ke40 was born, a vehicle that evolved into the Wrangler and successful FCA-owned brand we all know today. Given that St. Patrick's Day celebrations also include a military parade, the Willys MB is more than worthy of a place on this list.

Green Hornet's "Black Beauty"

Created for the 1966 TV series based on the Green Hornet, a masked crime-fighting character penned in the 1930s, The "Black Beauty" is a heavily modified Imperial Crown sedan built by star Hollywood carmaker Dean Jeffries and equipped with all sorts of weapons and gadgets that would make James Bond envious. Granted, the "Black Beauty" is the only car on our list that's not painted green, but it does have green headlamps and it was built for a character wore a green outfit. Needless to say, the Green Hornet wouldn't look out of place at a St. Patrick's Day parade.

Ferrari 330 GT Vignale Shooting Brake

No list is complete without a Ferrari.->ke252 Green isn't exactly popular among Ferrari enthusiasts and there are quite a few gearheads who think that all of Maranello's vehicles should be red. I, on the other hand, am a big fan of green-painted Ferraris and just couldn't pass the opportunity to talk about one here as well. For this list, my choice is the Ferrari 330->ke1597 GT Vignale Shooting Brake. Built by Alfredo Vignale in 1968 for renowned U.S. Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti, it was rebodied almost completely, with only the windshield and the doors being kept from the original 330 GT 2+2 that was used as a base car.

It was Alfredo Vignale's last project -- he died shortly after completing it -- and it has traveled from Philadelphia to Virginia and then to Paris before arriving in Jay Kay's supercar-packed garage. An exotic appearance due to its two-door wagon design and boxy rear end, the 330 GT Vignale is finished in metallic green highlighted by a gold roof and pillars. Seems roomy enough to carry Leprechaun hats for a small parade.

Mopar's High-Impact Green Hues

In 1969, Chrysler->ke21 introduced a series of flashy exterior paints known as High-Impact colors. These were made available as $15 options for Dodge,->ke28 Chrysler,->ke21 Plymouth,->ke1483 and Imperial models, but became famous for their use on muscle cars such as the Dodge Charger->ke218 and Challenger->ke249 and the Plymouth Barracuda.->ke1486 All were capable of turning a vehicle into a show stopper, but green must have been a Chrysler favorite at the time, because the brand offered three different options. Dodge models were available in Bright Green, Green Go and Sublime (from darkest to brightest), while the same colors were called Rallye Green, Sassy Grass, and Lime Light for Chrysler and Plymouth products. You definitely can't go wrong with any of them if you choose to show up at the St. Patrick's Day parade in a classic muscle car, be it a Challenger, Charger, 'Cuda or Roadrunner.