Vijay Pattni rounds up the top gangster cars from the silver screen to celebrate the launch of ‘Public Enemies’.

It’s got guns, it’s got everyone’s favourite potty-mouthed nutter and it’s got one of the world’s biggest stars – Public Enemies is out today.

Johnny Depp stars as 1930s criminal John Dillinger, with Christian ‘I’ll-ave’ya’ Bale as the FBI man desperate to pin him down.

The movie, directed by Heat and Miami Vice auteur Michael Mann, is a set-piece of action, cool – and of course – cars.

In an attempt to woo a young lady, Depp’s character reels off the ‘Hobbies’ section of his CV, saying: “I like baseball, movies, good clothes, fast cars, whisky…and you”.

Oh yes – fast cars. Remember, it was the 1930s, so Dillinger’s ‘fast cars’ would today probably struggle to keep up with a Toyota Aygo, but it got us thinking.

What are the coolest gangster cars from cinema?

The Godfather

Everyone’s favourite blood-soaked crime saga heads the board as having some of the coolest gangster cars in history.

Sure, they’re all American, would struggle against a G-Wiz - or even walking - and most ended up riddled with bullet holes.

But for outright swagger and old-school cool, you can’t beat Sonny’s 1941 Lincoln Continental. Obviously, before him and the Conti get shot into a million pieces.

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels

“It’s been emotional”, opined Vinnie Jones at the very end of Guy Ritchie’s first directorial effort.

Lock, Stock cemented Ritchie’s name as a purveyor of comedy-criminal film, with cartoon villains and hilarious one-liners.

But it was all soaked in east-end cool, and featured iconic motors such as a 1972 3.5-litre Rover Coupe, a Mini Clubman, a Transit van (naturally), and even a 1979 Escort RS 2000.

But our favourite has to be Vinnie’s ride seen at the very end – a mint condition Shelby Cobra kit car.

Layer Cake

Before he was Bond, Craig thrilled audiences with his hard-as-nails ‘middle-man’ in this hit Brit thriller.

Layer Cake features the typical gangster scenario – double-crosses, audacious heists, cool slo-mo scenes and sensational rides.

And Craig’s character rolls around in a mint condition Audi RS6 Avant – a 4.2-litre twin-turbocharged V8 Labrador-lugger producing an epic 444bhp.

Of course, Craig might now want the current RS6, with a mind-bending 572bhp…

The Italian Job

Yes – it’s all about the Minis in this cult crime caper.

But don’t forget, Mi’ael Caine is a dapper character. And upon his release from prison in the film, he is presented with none other than a 1962 Aston Martin DB4.

The classic Aston hit 60mph from rest in 9 seconds using its 3.7-litre 240bhp engine. Not fast today, but as cool as…

Speaking of Minis...check out this 500bhp monster: