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2026 Buick Envista ReviewOur Top 10 Favorite Scary Movie Cars
Just in time for Halloween, we check out some of the most hair-raising, creepy, scary car movies in Hollywood history.Start Your Engines… If You Dare
Ever since the dawn of horror movies, cars have been more than just background props. Whether they’re possessed or just plain cool, these vehicles help set the mood, drive the plot, and sometimes even steal the show. As a fan of both horror and classic rides, I couldn’t resist diving into some of the most memorable cars from my favorite scary films.
Christine: 1958 Plymouth Fury
I doubt anyone could write an article about horror movie cars without mentioning Christine. Based on the 1983 novel by Stephen King and directed by horror movie legend John Carpenter, the movie follows the story of Arnie Cunningham, a high-school nerd who buys and restores an old rusted out 1958 Plymouth Fury.
Since this is a Stephen King story, we quickly find out the car is possessed, and the bodies start piling up. Aside from the cool ‘58 Fury, the movie features a few other cars including a 1967 Camaro, which sadly meets the same fate as most of the humans that cross Christine’s path.
Evil Dead: 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale
Sam Raimi’s debut film, The Evil Dead, features his personal 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale. The film’s protagonist, Ash Williams, drives the yellow Delta 88 to a remote cabin with friends, where their weekend takes a deadly turn after they unwittingly summon an ancient evil. The car now celebrates its status as a recurring Easter Egg in many of Raimi’s films.
While the ’73 Delta 88 packs muscle with its standard 350-cubic-inch Rocket V8 engine, its boxy design isn’t as celebrated as the sleeker, Coke-bottle styling of the 1965–1970 B-body models.
Halloween: BMW 320i
The original Halloween movie doesn’t feature many cars, but the ones it does include are memorable. One standout is the 1978 Ford LTD Station Wagon, which Michael Myers steals during his escape from Smith’s Grove Sanitarium.
Dr. Samuel Loomis, played by Donald Pleasence, gets a nice 1977 BMW 320i to chase down the notorious killer. 1977 was the first production year released in the US, it features a 2.0L engine, 4-speed transmission, and much-lauded driver centric dashboard. The 320i was a hugely popular car upon its release, but its not the only popular Beamer in the horror genre, Steve Harrington can be seen cruising around in a 1983 BMW E23 7-Series in the smash-hit show Stranger Things.
Sinners: Patterson-Greenfield Touring Car
Sinners mix of folklore, black history, and scares makes it one of the best horror movies of the year. In the movie, Smoke and Stack (twins played by Michael B. Jordan) plan to open their own Juke Joint. Things take a turn when three supernatural musicians crash their party. During the preparations, the twins are driving a reproduction of a Patterson-Greenfield Touring Car.
In real life, the Patterson-Greenfield Touring Car was the first cars built by a Black-owned automaker. Founded by Charles Richard Patterson and later expanded into car building by his son Fredrick, the company eventually shifted to trucks and buses before closing in the late 1930s. Both had a lifetime of amazing accomplishments too numerous for this article, but their vehicles live on — now on the big screen.
Return of the Living Dead: 1960 Cadillac Series 62
Return of the Living Dead might be one of my favorite zombie movies. This horror comedy follows a group of punk rockers locked in a graveyard surrounded by zombies.
Prior to the zombie attack, the punks cruise around town in a graffiti-covered 1960 Cadillac Series 62 convertible. Judging from the condition of the car, the crew probably did not appreciate the finer details of a mint Series 62 convertible; leather upholstery, power windows and seats, and vanity mirrors.
Phantasm: 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda
While the punk kids from the last movie might not have cared about classic cars, our next protagonists definitely did. The 1971 ‘Cuda belongs to Jody, who with younger brother Mike, and best friend Reggie investigate a series of mysterious murders that lead to a showdown with the mysterious Tallman and his minions. The pristine blacked-out ‘Cuda is a mainstay in the series.
The original Phantasm used only one 1971 ‘Cuda with modifications. Originally a base model ‘Cuda with the 340 V-8 and finished with FC7 In-Violet purple. The production crew painted it black, added 440 Six Pack hood callouts (even though they kept the base engine) and added a makeshift sunroof for a car chase sequence. The series went on to utilize a few different ‘Cudas and Barracudas, but the original is lost to time.
Fright Night: 1966 Fastback Mustang
What would you do if you suspected your neighbor was a vampire? In 1985’s Fright Night, Charlie Brewster joins forces with his best friend, girlfriend…and washed-up late night horror movie host Peter Vincent (played by Roddy McDowell) to take him down.
Charlie cruises around in 1966 Fastback Mustang, which would be a nice ride, except it’s badly in need of a new paint job since it’s a patchwork of faded paint and primer. We don’t get a look under the hood to see which engine Charlie had, but he doesn’t strike me as a 289 Hi-Po guy.
IT Chapter 1: Pontiac Trans Am
Yet another Stephen King story on our list. Set in a rural town in Maine, a group of misfits known as the Losers Club investigate a series of murders and discover the supernatural clown Pennywise. They also must contend with the Bowers Gang, a good of small-town bullys who drive around in a 1981 Pontiac Trans Am.
Sales of the Trans Am peaked in the late 70s thanks to Smokey and the Bandit, the 1981 model year is the tail end of the second generation. It’s not the most powerful muscle car, but it handles corners well, making it the perfect car for avoiding the Deadlights of Pennywise.
Zombieland: Cadillac Escalade
Unlike the other cars on the list, this Caddie was made to battle hordes of the undead. This 2003 Cadillac Escalade was the car that Tallahassee, played by Woody Harrelson, traveled around the zombie apocalypse full of vengeance and longing for a Twinkie.
A stock Escalade makes for an excellent road trip car, offering a touchscreen GPS, six cd-changer, and a rear seat DVD system. But if you weld a battering ram on the front it becomes perfect for cruising the end times in search of a snack cake.
