The Scariest Cars From Horror Films and TV

The best-known scary cars come from horror films and television: Christine the 1958 Plymouth Fury, the black Lincoln Continental from The Car, the battered truck in Jeepers Creepers and the mysterious Wraith. Here is a short guide to the cars that have frightened audiences, plus a few tips for driving safely on Halloween night.

Which car is the most famous horror car?

Christine is hard to beat. In Stephen King's 1983 novel, and John Carpenter's film the same year, a red and white 1958 Plymouth Fury with a mind of its own turns on anyone who comes between it and its owner. Its glowing headlights and ability to repair itself made it one of the most memorable villains in horror.

Which other film cars are genuinely scary?

The Car (1977)

A driverless black car terrorises a small desert town. The menacing machine was built from a 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III, with a lowered roofline and tinted glass that hides whatever is, or is not, behind the wheel.

Jeepers Creepers (2001)

The creature in this film drives a rusty old truck based on a 1941 Chevrolet COE, with a horn that warns its victims something is coming. The tall, square cab looks threatening in every rear-view mirror shot.

The Wraith (1986)

A black, futuristic car appears from nowhere to take revenge on a gang of street racers. The car was a Dodge M4S Turbo Interceptor concept, which explains why it looked like nothing else on the road at the time.

Which famous cars are more spooky than scary?

Not every film car with a supernatural link is a villain.

• Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters. The team's converted Cadillac ambulance, with its siren and roof rack of equipment, is probably the most cheerful car ever linked to ghosts.

• KITT from Knight Rider. A talking Pontiac Firebird Trans Am with a red scanner light, it was a hero, but a car that thinks for itself still unsettles some viewers.

• The Dodge Challenger from Vanishing Point. There is nothing supernatural here, but the white Challenger's relentless, almost ghostly run across the American desert has given it cult status.

How can you drive safely on Halloween night?

Halloween usually falls just after the clocks go back, so trick-or-treating mostly happens in the dark. Children in dark costumes can be hard to see and may step out between parked cars.

• Slow right down in residential streets during the early evening.

• Use dipped headlights and keep your windscreen and lights clean.

• Watch for children crossing away from junctions or between parked cars.

• Park carefully so you do not block pavements or dropped kerbs.

The Highway Code on GOV.UK has guidance on driving near pedestrians and children. With darker evenings, it is also a good time to check your bulbs, wipers and tyres. Our car care guides can help.

Common questions

What car was Christine?

A 1958 Plymouth Fury, painted red and white for the story. Several similar Plymouth models were used during filming.

What truck is used in Jeepers Creepers?

It was based on a 1941 Chevrolet COE (cab over engine) truck, heavily modified for the film.

Was the Ghostbusters car a hearse?

Ecto-1 was based on a 1959 Cadillac built as a combined ambulance and hearse, then converted by the Ghostbusters team in the film.

Want your car ready for the dark evenings?

Our service centre in Barnsley can check your lights, wipers, battery and tyres before winter. Find out more about servicing and repairs or call 01226 574321. If you are looking for your next car, browse our used cars or call sales on 01226 574410.

Updated October 2026.