This article was originally published on October 21, 2021. Halloween is around the corner and it’s a great time to revisit some terrifying movie cars.
As the spookiest day of the year approaches, many of us will find ourselves hiding behind our blankets and covering our eyes while watching scary movies – a Halloween tradition.
The makings of a good horror movie include plenty of jump scares, creepy monsters and murderous maniacs, but they also tend to feature some really cool classic cars.
Here’s our list of the top 13 classic cars seen in a few of the most iconic Halloween-time films:
1958 Plymouth Fury – Christine
Arguably the most iconic horror film car is the 1958 Plymouth Fury cast as the lead character in the film adaptation of Stephen King’s thriller novel Christine.
The red classic, with an evil mind of its own, goes on a killing spree “protecting” after it’s defaced by some local teens.
A fun fact about the film: over 20 Plymouths were used during filming and, surprisingly, most weren’t Furys. Director John Carpenter used Belvedere and Savoy models dressed to look like Furys.
1979 Lincoln Continental Mark III – The Car
“Is it a phantom, a demon, or the devil himself? There’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, no way to stop…” reads the teaser on the film’s movie poster.
Another killer-car flick, the picture tells the scary story of a self-driving black car that commits a series of hit-and-run murders in a small town in Utah.
The car was customized by George Barris, also known for building the 1966 Batmobile. According to imbd.com, the car’s roof was lowered 3 inches to give it a sinister look and the distinctive sound made by the horn spells out the letter ‘X’ in Morse code.
1977 Chevrolet Monte Carlo – Halloween
While numerous classics are seen throughout Stephen Carpenter’s Halloween, the first movie in the lengthy series, this 1977 Chevrolet Monte Carlo played a very gruesome role.
Without giving away too many spoilers, the bright red interior was the setting of a deadly crime committed by a masked murderer.
1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 – Evil Dead Trilogy
Whether you find the Evil Dead films freighting or scary funny, they are classic horror films we dust off each Halloween.
Throughout each film in the series, we see the same 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88. Nicknamed “The Classic,” the car was the director’s personal car given to him by his father.
1954 Aston Martin DB 2/4 drophead coupe – The Birds
A convertible might not be the best getaway car when crazed birds are after you, but this DB2/4 coupe may be the most stylish.
This coupe, stylish and quite expensive, was a suitable road tip car for the San Francisco socialite, Tippi Hedren, as she traveled to northern California to pursue a potential love interest in this Alfred Hitchcock.
1970 Chevy Nova – Death Proof
A sinister stuntman and his partner in crime, a black chevy Nova with an intimidating skull painted on the hood, hit the road staging car accidents to cover up his murders.
The driver, played by Kurt Russel, famously calls the Nova “100% death proof” before inviting one of his victims for a ride.
1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Ambulance – Ghostbusters
While Ghostbusters isn’t a traditionally scary movie, except maybe for the kiddos, it’s still a Halloween classic.
The crew’s ghost-busting 1959 Cadillac ECTO-1, stretching 21-feet long and weighing 7,300 pounds, is one of the most recognizable movie cars of all time.
1972 Ford Club Wagon – Texas Chain Saw Massacre
When a sister and brother duo, along with some friends, set out to investigate the vandalization of their grandfather’s grave, the group hops in a 1972 Ford Club Wagon and hits the road.
Along the way, they pick up a hitchhiker and a whole lot of violence ensues – so much so that several countries banned the film for being too graphic.
1971 Chrysler Newport – Joy Ride
The road trip in this frightening film is anything but joyous after two brothers embark on a cross-country trip in this yellow Chrysler Newport.
After playing a practical joke on a lonely trucker over the CB radio, the trucker, nicknamed Rusty Nail, seeks his revenge.
1941 Chevrolet Cab Over Engine – Jeepers Creepers
Would you go exploring the basement of an old, abandoned church? If you’ve seen Jeepers Creepers, you know that’s probably a bad idea.
While on a road trip back to their hometown from college, a brother and sister find themselves being hunted down by a monster after they discover something gruesome in a church’s basement.
The flesh-eating monster follows the teens in his rusted 1941 Chevy COE named the “Creeper,” which he uses to transport bodies to the cave underneath the church.
1958 Cadillac Series 62 – Nightmare on Elm Street
Freddy Krueger, in Wes Craven’s 1984 film, haunts the dreams of several Midwestern teens, eventually killing them. Characters Nancy and her boyfriend Glen try to solve the mystery before it’s too late.
At the end of the film, you see the couple hop into this 1958 Caddy only to realize the car is actually Freddy with a striped green top – just like his sweater.
1977 Volvo 245 DL – Beetlejuice
Don’t say his name three times unless you want to summon the Betelgeuse himself.
In Tim Burton’s wacky film, the Maitlands, a young couple recently married, die after crashing their 1977 Volvo. They find themselves stuck haunting their home.
When an unbearable family moves in, the couple calls upon Beetlejuice to help scare them away.
1967 GMC TDH 5303 – Hocus Pocus
One of Halloween’s must-watch movies, Hocus Pocus, tells the story of a teenager who accidentally frees a coven of three evil witches. The teen, with the help of a magical cat, must steal the witches’ spell book before they become immortal.
This 1967 GMC TDH 5303 bus, a unique addition to the film, is seen in one of the greatest scenes of the movie. If you know, you know and if you don’t, I know what you’ll be watching this Halloween.
Let us know which scary movie car is your favorite or if we left it off our list in the comments section below.
Source: www.classiccars.com