You love classic cars, and you love Halloween, so what better way to usher in the season than to sit down and watch some spooky car movies? Buckle up and keep reading for our top picks.
Christine (1983)
Regarding spooky car movies, Christine, based on a book by Stephen King, is one of the most recognized titles. A newly licensed teen driver named Arnie, portrayed by actor John Carpenter, buys a 1958 Plymouth Fury that he names Christine. Unbeknownst to Arnie, the haunted used car brings a demonic past.
Arnie is a high school outcast and owning a haunted car does nothing to help him improve that image. Christine soon takes over his life, mowing down anyone who dares tease or cross him. Originally released in 1983, the movie Christine may see a remake soon. Blumhouse Productions said as much in a 2021 press release.
Duel (1971)
Dennis Weaver plays the role of a California businessman who drives through the desert to meet a client. He thinks nothing of passing a slower-moving tractor-trailer until the driver of the Plymouth truck shoots him a terrifying glance. The driver chases Dennis Weaver’s character down a deserted highway as tension builds among viewers. Will he get away, or is he resigned to whatever evil plan the truck driver has for him?
The movie production team used three red trucks to simulate a red Plymouth Valiant for this film. When interviewed at the film’s release, director Steven Spielberg stated that he chose a Plymouth Valiant because its cab reminded him of a face. He also chose dark red for the Peterbilt truck because the colour stood out against a backdrop of dusty country roads.
Race with the Devil (1975)
Peter Fonda and Warren Oates, who play the owners of a motorcycle dealership, drive from their homes in San Antonio, Texas, to Colorado for a skiing vacation. Lara Parker and Loretta Swit, who play their wives, join them on the RV adventure.
The drive from Texas to Colorado was progressing normally until Fonda and Oates spotted a Satanic ritual in a field. The ritual participants spot the RV and proceed to chase the two couples across Texas.
The Car (1977)
The Car might be a generic movie title, but the film itself keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. A Lincoln Continental Mark III is the true star of this spooky car movie since it runs people over randomly with no driver to control its actions. Producers crashed three black Lincolns during filming, with only the fourth surviving for off-set use.
No matter what Lincoln showed on the screen at any given time, The Car could be especially ruthless with its victims. No driver ever appeared, making it especially challenging for the town of Santa Thea’s sheriff to catch what he assumed to be a sadistic murderer. George Barris, a custom car maker well-known to Hollywood producers, created four customized black Lincolns just for this film.
The Hearse (1980)
In this classic car horror movie, Trish Van Devera plays the role of Jane Hardy, a recent divorcee. To help take her mind off her troubles, Jane decides to spend some quiet time alone at her late aunt’s home in a town called Blackford.
Before arriving in Blackford, she didn’t know that her aunt was heavily involved in a life of witchcraft. Jane soon wonders if the hearse in her aunt’s driveway is haunted, but she knows she feels eerily uncomfortable around the hearse’s driver. The hearse portrayed in the movie is a Packard Funeral Coach, Henney, from 1951.
Thankfully, these films are only fiction. The scariest thing about your classic car is not having the proper coverage. Discover classic car insurance to ensure you’ve done everything possible to protect your vehicle and investment.