For fifteen thrilling seasons, Dean Winchester and his brother Sam battled monsters, demons, and everything in between in the hit show Supernatural. While the Chevy Impala, affectionately nicknamed “Baby”, is undoubtedly the Dean Winchester Car, it wasn’t the only vehicle to grace the screen. Dean’s deep connection with his Impala is a cornerstone of the series, but circumstances often forced him to explore other rides.
Just like the Batmobile is to Batman or KITT to Michael Knight, the Impala is synonymous with Dean Winchester. This classic car is more than just transportation; it’s a character in itself, a legacy from his father, and a symbol of the Winchester family’s enduring fight against evil. However, through monster attacks, repairs, or the need for a lower profile, Dean found himself driving a surprising variety of other vehicles throughout Supernatural.
This article dives into the complete list of cars Dean Winchester drove besides his beloved Impala. From humorous substitutions to stylish alternatives, explore the diverse Dean Winchester car history and the reasons behind each temporary switch.
Dodge Caravan
Alt text: Dean Winchester looking displeased while standing next to a beige Dodge Caravan minivan in Supernatural.
Dean’s vehicular dissatisfaction begins early in Supernatural season 2, episode “Everybody Loves A Clown”. Following a near-fatal car accident that almost took Dean’s life, the Impala is undergoing repairs. Bobby Singer’s salvage yard, usually a treasure trove, only offers a minivan as a temporary solution. For an entire episode focused on a creepy clown hunt, Dean and Sam are forced to use this far-from-intimidating vehicle, much to Dean’s dismay. This minivan became a humorous symbol of the Impala’s absence and Dean’s struggle with anything less cool than his classic Chevy.
Mercury Monterey
Alt text: Dean Winchester hotwiring a vintage 1962 Mercury Monterey car near a gas station in Supernatural.
Season 4’s premiere, “Lazarus Rising,” sees Dean resurrected by the angel Castiel. However, heaven’s intervention doesn’t include a car valet service. With Bobby Singer initially ignoring his calls, believing Dean to be still dead, Dean needs to find his own way back to civilization. His solution? Hot-wiring a classic 1962 Mercury Monterey near a gas station. This vintage car serves its purpose, reuniting Dean with Bobby, Sam, and most importantly, his cherished Impala, highlighting the stark contrast between temporary rides and his true Dean Winchester car.
Toyota Prius
Alt text: Dean Winchester looking uncharacteristically content while driving a silver Toyota Prius in Supernatural.
Perhaps the most jarring vehicle for Dean Winchester is the Toyota Prius in the season 5 episode “It’s A Terrible Life.” In an alternate reality created by angelic intervention, Dean’s memories are erased, and he becomes a health-conscious office worker. This new persona extends to his car choice: a Toyota Prius. This environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient car is the antithesis of the gas-guzzling Impala and everything Dean stands for, emphasizing the artificiality and humor of this memory-wiped scenario. The Prius becomes a symbol of Dean’s altered, non-hunter life, a stark departure from his usual Dean Winchester car preference.
Ford Pickup
Alt text: Dean Winchester leaning against a dark gray Ford F250 pickup truck in a suburban setting in Supernatural.
At the beginning of Supernatural season 6, Dean attempts to leave the hunting life behind for domesticity in “Exile on Main St.”. Living with Lisa and Ben, Dean parks the Impala safely in the garage, embracing a “normal” suburban lifestyle. To fit this image, he adopts a Ford F250 pickup truck. This everyman’s truck represents Dean’s attempt at normalcy, a far cry from the hunter’s life on the road with his iconic Dean Winchester car. However, much like Dean’s attempt at retirement, the Ford pickup’s suburban life is short-lived, and the Impala soon reclaims its rightful place.
Ford Mustang
Alt text: Dean Winchester standing proudly next to a red 1960s Ford Mustang convertible in an alternate reality in Supernatural.
Another alternate reality in season 6, “My Heart Will Go On,” presents Dean with a different Dean Winchester car: a 1960s Ford Mustang. In a world where the Titanic was never sunk, thanks to Balthazar’s intervention, reality is altered. This butterfly effect results in Dean driving a Mustang instead of his Impala. While more in line with Dean’s taste than a Prius, the Mustang is still a symbol of an unnatural world, disappearing once the timeline is corrected and the Titanic’s fate is restored.
Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Alt text: A brown Jeep Grand Wagoneer parked on a suburban street in Supernatural.
When Sam and Dean temporarily go their separate ways in season 7’s “The Girl Next Door,” transportation arrangements shift. Sam, pursuing a case connected to his past, takes the Impala. Dean, needing to follow, is left to find an alternative and picks a Jeep Grand Wagoneer. This Jeep is a practical, if less iconic, choice for Dean, used only during this brief period of separation from Sam and, more importantly, his signature Dean Winchester car.
Pontiac Acadian
Alt text: A light blue Pontiac Acadian driving on a highway in Supernatural.
Season 7 sees the Winchester brothers framed and on the run from the Leviathans. With the Impala now too recognizable and potentially compromised, Sam and Dean are forced to use a series of different vehicles. The first of these replacements in “Slash Fiction” is a 1983 Pontiac Acadian. This car marks the beginning of a season where the brothers are constantly switching rides, highlighting their fugitive status and the temporary absence of their reliable Dean Winchester car.
Dodge Challenger
Alt text: Sam and Dean Winchester standing beside a black 1970 Dodge Challenger in Supernatural.
Continuing their Impala-less streak in season 7, episode “The Mentalists,” the brothers commandeer a 1970 Dodge Challenger. While this muscle car aligns more with Dean’s preferred style, it’s still a far cry from his Impala. The Challenger serves its purpose for the episode, but Dean’s lack of enthusiasm for it compared to Baby is evident, further emphasizing the irreplaceable nature of his primary Dean Winchester car.
1969 Buick
Alt text: Dean Winchester driving a brown 1969 Buick Special Edition in Supernatural.
Grief and new beginnings intertwine in season 7’s “Adventures In Babysitting.” Following Bobby Singer’s death, Dean finds a temporary replacement in Frank Devereaux’s 1969 Buick Special Edition. While the acquisition of this Buick is unexplained, it fills the transportation void left by the Impala and allows Dean to continue hunting while mourning, though it remains a stand-in for his true Dean Winchester car.
Plymouth Roadking
Alt text: Dean Winchester dressed in 1940s attire driving a Plymouth Roadking with Eliot Ness in Supernatural.
Time travel strikes again in “Time After Time,” sending Dean to 1944. In this noir-inspired episode, Dean embraces the era, even driving legendary investigator Eliot Ness’s 1940 Plymouth Roadking. This classic car perfectly suits the 1940s setting and Dean’s temporary persona as a period-appropriate tough guy, offering a stylistic departure from his usual Dean Winchester car but fitting the episode’s unique atmosphere.
Buick Riviera
Alt text: A silver 1971 Buick Riviera parked outside a motel in Supernatural.
The Impala remains out of commission in season 7’s “The Slice Girls,” leading Sam and Dean to utilize a 1971 Buick Riviera. This car is relatively unremarkable in the episode, overshadowed by the introduction of a more personal storyline for Dean involving a rapidly aging Amazonian daughter. The Riviera becomes just another car in the rotation during the Impala’s absence, a placeholder for the real Dean Winchester car.
Mercury Cougar
Alt text: Dean Winchester leaning on the hood of a green 1973 Mercury Cougar in Supernatural.
In “Plucky Pennywhistle’s Magical Menagerie,” Dean finds himself driving a 1973 Mercury Cougar. Another temporary replacement during the Impala’s unavailability, the Cougar is used as the brothers investigate yet another creepy clown-related case. Like other substitutes, it’s functional but lacks the significance and personal connection of Dean’s beloved Dean Winchester car.
Pontiac Trans Am
Alt text: A black 1977 Pontiac Trans Am parked on a street in Supernatural.
Finally, in Supernatural season 7’s “Repo Man,” the Winchester brothers get behind the wheel of a Pontiac Trans Am. This 1977 model is used when Sam and Dean visit an old friend. The Trans Am, a classic American muscle car, is a more fitting choice for Dean’s taste and even plays a role in protecting their friend, but it’s still a temporary vehicle in the absence of the iconic Dean Winchester car.
Chevrolet Pickup
Alt text: A red Chevrolet pickup truck parked outside a house in Supernatural.
Adding another pickup to his collection, Dean drives a Chevy Pickup in season 7’s “Out With The Old.” Investigating a cursed ballerina, this Chevy, while not the Impala, serves the brothers for the episode. It’s a return to Chevrolet, the manufacturer of his favored Impala, but still a temporary and less meaningful Dean Winchester car.
Dodge Charger
Alt text: Dean Winchester standing next to a black 1970 Dodge Charger with Castiel and Meg in Supernatural.
“The Born-Again Identity” in season 7 sees Dean driving a 1970 Dodge Charger. This muscle car, similar in color to the Impala, appears as Dean seeks help for Sam. The Charger is a visually appealing substitute, and its darker color echoes the Impala’s aesthetic, perhaps hinting at Dean’s subconscious desire for his true Dean Winchester car even when it’s unavailable. This episode also marks Castiel’s return, further connecting it to significant moments in the season.
AMC Pacer
Alt text: Wayne and Garth from Wayne’s World in their AMC Pacer, the Mirthmobile.
A humorous departure from Dean’s usual style comes in season 7’s “Party On, Garth” with a 1978 AMC Pacer. While most Impala replacements are simply cars, the Pacer is a deliberate Easter egg for Wayne’s World fans. Dean’s hunting partner Garth takes a liking to the Pacer, referencing Garth Algar’s famous “Mirthmobile.” This lighthearted car choice provides comedic relief and a pop culture nod, contrasting sharply with the typical serious nature of the Dean Winchester car discussions.
AMC Matador
Alt text: A brown AMC Matador parked on a street in Supernatural.
In “The Girl With The Dungeons & Dragons Tattoo,” also in season 7, Dean drives a 1970s AMC Matador. This episode marks the last time Dean is without his Impala until the Leviathans are defeated. The Matador is a relatively unremarkable car, overshadowed by the debut of the beloved character Charlie Bradbury, making it a footnote in the long list of temporary Dean Winchester car alternatives.
Castiel’s Pimpmobile
Alt text: Castiel standing in front of a white 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V, nicknamed Castiel’s Pimpmobile, in Supernatural.
When Sam is possessed by Gadreel in season 9, the Impala is stolen – a recurring unfortunate event for the iconic Dean Winchester car. Castiel steps in with a replacement: his own 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V, affectionately dubbed “Castiel’s Pimpmobile.” This gaudy, less-than-subtle car becomes Dean’s ride as he pursues Gadreel, making several appearances in later seasons and becoming a humorous, if unlikely, addition to the Dean Winchester car lineage.
Castiel’s Truck
Alt text: Castiel standing beside his blue Ford pickup truck in Supernatural.
The Impala is stolen again in season 12, this time by Kelly Kline in “The Future.” Once more, Castiel provides an alternative vehicle, a Ford pickup truck. While initially broken down, Dean manages to fix Castiel’s truck, allowing them to pursue Kelly and retrieve the Impala. This Ford truck, while belonging to Castiel, becomes a temporary Dean Winchester car by necessity, highlighting the ongoing importance of reliable transportation for the monster-hunting brothers, even if it’s not always Baby.
Dean Winchester’s relationship with his Impala is central to Supernatural, but these alternative cars offer a fun and insightful look into the times when even Dean had to broaden his horizons beyond his beloved “Baby”. Each temporary Dean Winchester car, whether a source of humor or a practical necessity, tells a story about the challenges and changes the Winchester brothers faced throughout their epic journey.
