Here are 13 of the best movie cars from scary (and scary-ish) classics

• 1954 Aston Martin DB 2/4 – The Birds (1963)
• 1957 Ford Fairlane – Halloween H20 (1998)
• 1958 Plymouth Fury – Christine (1983)
• 1958 XK 150 Roadster – Ghost Ship (2002)
• 1966 Ford Mustang – Misery (1990)
• 1971 Lincoln Continental Mk III custom – The Car 1977
• 1972 Ford Club Wagon – Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
• 1977 BMW 320i (E21) – Halloween (1978)
• 1977 Buick Riviera – The Shining (1980)
• 1977 Volvo 245 – Beetlejuice (1988)
• 1977 MG MGB GT – An American Werewolf in London (1981)
• 1978 Ford Pinto – Cujo (1983)
• 1996 Renault Megane RT – Shaun of the Dead (2004)

1. 1954 Aston Martin DB 2/4 – The Birds (1963)

   

   Hitchcock’s sinister 1963 classic, The Birds featured Tippi Hedren behind the wheel of a drophead coupe version of the 1954 Aston Martin DB 2/4. The coupe had a body designed by a 17-year-old, believe it or not. It featured a 2.6-litre Lagonda straight-six, capable of a 120mph top speed and 103bhp – about the same as a 2013 Nissan Note.

2. 1957 Ford Fairlane – Halloween H20 (1998)

   

   Quiz time: what connects Hitchcock’s 1960 movie, Psycho and the Michael Myers reboot, Halloween H20? Janet Leigh – star of Psycho and real life mother of Jamie Lee Curtis – played Curtis’ movie mother in the 1998 slasher. Leigh drove a 1957 Ford Custom 300 in Psycho and in homage to Hitchcock, producers gave her a Ford Fairlane (pictured) for Halloween.

3. 1958 Plymouth Fury – Christine (1983)

   

   One of the best known horror movie cars of all time, the 1958 Plymouth Fury demonic killing machine – named Christine in the 1983 film – is still beloved by Stephen King fans decades later. John Carpenter – who also created Michael Myers and the original Halloween film – bought 24 examples of the model for the film (some from 1957). It had a V8 engine, 286bhp and an auto ‘box. Sadly, only two exist today.

4. 1958 XK 150 Roadster – Ghost Ship (2002)

   

   Looking like next week’s best barn find, this 1958 Jaguar XK 150 roadster is from the 2002 supernatural thriller Ghost Ship. Parked in the cargo hold of a spookily abandoned cruise liner, the owner tells imcdb.org “it was made to look old and rusty by the painters and special effects men here on the Gold Coast where the movie was made. The bullet holes are in fibreglass façades hung on the sides of the car, but looks very real in the movie”.

5. 1966 Ford Mustang – Misery (1990)

   

   Written off within the first few scenes, Misery is yet another Stephen King classic (and the only one to win an Oscar). Fictional writer Paul Sheldon likely wishes he hadn’t gone out for a drive in his ‘Stang. After rolling the car in a blizzard, he finds himself rescued and… well, you know the rest.

6. 1971 Lincoln Continental Mk III custom – The Car 1977

   

   This special Lincoln Continental Mk III is a customised effort from Barris Kustoms – a modification outfit famed for creating several TV and movie cars, including the original Batmobile, The Munsters’ ‘Koach’ and Dragnet. The Car is said to be possessed. It’s never seen with a driver, but housed a 7.5-litre V8 – what a monster.

7. 1972 Ford Club Wagon – Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

   

   The 1972 Ford Club Wagon that five friends use to get to the rural scene of the chainsaw-wielding Sawyer family is a second-gen F-series van. Something’s amiss from the get-go, but then that’s in the name, right? Banned after its initial release, somewhat randomly Texas Chainsaw Massacre established a British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) ban on every film with the word ‘chainsaw’ for another 20 years until 1998.

8. 1977 BMW 320i (E21) – Halloween (1978)

   

   This 1977 BMW 320i was driven by Donald Pleasance, establishing his genre-defining role as Dr Loomis in the Halloween series. This particular example was the early version for the US market, so it’s missing the wing mirrors, fog lights and has steel wheels and curved head rests. Still, the 2.0-litre four-pot motor helped Loomis move rapidly when he needed to drive from house-to-house in the same neighbourhood, in search of Michael…

9. 1977 Buick Riviera – The Shining (1980)

   

   A combination of Stephen King and Stanley Kubrick can prove deadly, as proved in 1980 horror hit The Shining. The 1977 Buick Riviera looking so eerily into the camera (pictured) is driven by Scatman Crothers. He played Dick Hallorann, who has the telepathy skills giving the book and movie its title. His car was the fifth-generation downsized Riviera. Despite this, it still had the 5.7-litre Buick V8 engine, pushing a more than respectable 152bhp.

10. 1977 Volvo 245 – Beetlejuice (1988)

    

    The 1977 Volvo 245 station wagon featured in Tim Burton’s classic Beetlejuice. Despite Volvo’s unwavering reputation for safety, this is another movie where a car crash catalyses a series of events to make the drama of the movie happen. The movie’s 245 sported an extended wheelbase and a 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine delivering a not-that-impressive 109bhp. We’re not massive fans of the very Burton-esque shade of vomit in the bodywork, either.

11. 1977 MG MGB GT – An American Werewolf in London (1981)

    

    John Landis’ beastly tale taking a reluctant American backpacker from the cosy rural countryside of the UK into central London in the guise of a wolf isn’t everyone’s bag. But the movie did feature one of the coolest car scenes around Piccadilly Circus filmed on location, worth a watch purely for the gorgeous 1977 1.8-litre MG MGB GT.

12. 1978 Ford Pinto – Cujo (1983)

    

    Didn’t we say horror loves a yellow car? The 1978 Ford Pinto was the scene of the nailbiting drama in the 1983 Stephen King horror, Cujo. The thought of being held prisoner in one without the film’s rabid dog is nightmare-ish enough, mind. The Pinto of course came with its own nightmare safety reputation.

13. 1996 Renault Megane RT – Shaun of the Dead (2004)

    

    It’s hard to believe zombie apolcalypse comedy Shaun of the Dead is almost 20 years old. Though it’s hard to forget the gleeful realisation when Shaun absconds with housemate Pete’s beloved 1996 Renault Megane RT in this cult classic. The film proved the hardy Renault was rather effective at running away from zombies… until it was unfortunately pointed in the direction of a lamp post. Eagle-eyed viewers will have spotted it didn’t have its Renault badge when caught in the driving shot.

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