Cars And Track Staff
If you’re looking to own a piece of horror history that might actually try to murder your neighbors, you’re in luck—sort of. While Director John Carpenter famously “sacrificed” roughly 16 to 23 different Plymouths to make the 1983 film Christine, only a tiny handful of genuine survivors remain.
Here is the lowdown on the “Real Christine” and how much it’ll cost you to get a demon in your driveway.
The “Hero Car” vs. The Survivors
In movie terms, a “Hero Car” is the one used for close-ups, starring roles, and scenes where the car needs to look absolutely flawless. Most of the other cars were “stunt doubles” that were crushed, set on fire, or rigged with hydraulics to “self-repair.”
Only three “mint” Christines were known to have survived the production intact. These cars went on a promotional tour for the movie before being sold off to collectors.
Where is “Christine” Now?
One of the most famous documented survivors has a history that reads like a thriller:
- The Raffle Winner: After the movie premiered, a promotional sweepstakes was held on the USA Network show Night Flight. A lucky fan named Scott Edminster won one of the actual movie cars.
- The Barrett-Jackson Star: That same car eventually found its way into the legendary Ron Pratte collection and was sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2015 for $198,000.
- The Mecum No-Sale: In 2020, this hero car (documented as Car #14 by Polar Films) hit the block at Mecum Kissimmee with an estimate of $400,000–$500,000. Despite a high bid of $275,000, it didn’t meet its reserve and failed to sell.
- Current Status: As of late 2025/early 2026, there are rumors that one of these certified “Hero” cars is once again being prepared for a high-profile auction. The Rochester Auto Museum in New York previously housed one of the documented survivors.
Beware the “Clone”
Because a genuine movie car is worth a literal fortune, the market is flooded with “Christine Tributes.” * The Cost of a Fake: A high-quality tribute (often built from a 1958 Plymouth Belvedere or Savoy) can still fetch between $140,000 and $180,000. In late 2025, a Savoy-based tribute with a non-factory Hemi engine sold for $148,500. - How to Spot the Real Deal: A true movie survivor will have a paper trail from Polar Films (the production company) and usually features specific movie-only modifications, like a fuel cell or roll cage hidden under the upholstery from its stunt days.
Our Take
Buying a real Christine is like buying a haunted house: it’s a great conversation starter until the radio starts playing 1950s rock and roll at 3:00 AM while the engine is off.
If you’re serious about hunting her down, keep an eye on the Mecum and Barrett-Jackson 2026 calendars. Just remember that 1958 Furys were only originally sold in one color: “Buckskin Beige.” If it’s red and white, it’s either a tribute or one of the few cars that actually survived John Carpenter’s carnage.
