So, you want to know if “Christine,” the story of a killer car, is based on reality? Did Stephen King find a possessed Plymouth Fury and think, “This could make a great movie!”? Strap in, because the truth is more complex, involving more imagination than actual accounts of gruesome accidents.
The Genesis of Christine: From Page to Screen
Let’s set the record straight: “Christine” is not based on a true story of a demonic car terrorizing a town. It comes from the dark imagination of Stephen King. To say it’s completely divorced from reality misses the point. King amplifies common fears into monstrous tales. Who hasn’t had car troubles at some point? “Christine” just escalates that frustration to a deadly level.
The story originates from King’s 1983 work, “Christine”. John Carpenter adapted it brilliantly for film in the same year. Fun fact: the book and movie differ on key aspects regarding Christine’s evil origins. The book reveals that a spirit haunts Christine; it’s her previous owner, Roland D. LeBay. LeBay, a vile character, infused his malevolence into that Plymouth Fury, making it a nightmare on wheels. His obsession eclipsed familial love, seeing as both his wife and daughter met tragic ends in the car. Quite charming, huh?
However, the movie presents a different angle. Here, Christine appears inherently evil, as if she rolled off the production line possessed. This subtle shift deepens the mystery, suggesting a pure, primal evil rather than one linked to a specific person. This makes Christine even more unsettling.
The Real “Christines”: More Than Just Movie Props
Christine is fiction, but the cars that played her are real and thankfully not trying to harm anyone. For filming a fleet of 1958 Plymouth Furys was used (or Belvedere and Savoy models disguised as Furys since those were rare). You might wonder what happened to these cars. Hollywood loves a dramatic end. Many cars suffered explosions or wrecks during filming for our viewing pleasure.
But don’t worry, car fans! Some Christines survived the movie gods. A couple are still around today. One made its way to the U.K., proof that evil (or cool cars) knows no borders. Another stunt car suffering damage was saved and restored by Martin Sanchez. Talk about a comeback! You can read about his restoration at
Then there’s the original hero car, the Plymouth Fury raffled off back in the day. Scott Edminster won it but wisely chose to sell it, passing on the potential demonic burden to someone else. One can only guess where that specific Christine is now, hopefully not planning world domination from a garage.
Christine’s Personality: More Than Just a Machine
In the story, Christine isn’t merely a car; she behaves like a character with moods and jealousy, especially regarding her owner, Arnie Cunningham. Arnie may think Christine loves him, but it’s a one-sided deal. Christine’s “love” feels more like toxic obsession, demanding total devotion and eliminating anyone near Arnie. She’s like a dangerous clingy partner but with wheels and a habit of murder.
Interestingly, there’s mention of Christine’s loyalties and loves for Erik and Raoul de Chagny; that’s confusing her with another story likely from “The Phantom of the Opera.” Our Christine, the Plymouth Fury, isn’t involved in any romance. Her relationships revolve around destruction, Arnie’s safety, and perhaps a bit of vanity.
Behind the Scenes: Dollars, Destruction, and LA Locations
Let’s dive into production trivia! Arnie acquires Christine for $250. Even today that’s a steal for a somewhat damaged haunted car. It proves the adage that if it seems too good to be true, it likely is, especially if talking about a vintage Plymouth Fury.
The filming process wasn’t kind to Christines. After filming, only two original cars survived intact. The rest were creatively dismantled for the film’s benefit; think of it as a cinematic massacre! Alas, that’s show business!
If you’re into location scouting, know that most filming took place in Los Angeles. Calabasas High School featured prominently alongside Santa Clarita spots. The garage where Arnie restores Christine? That was an abandoned furniture factory in Irwindale. If you’re visiting those areas, take care around vintage red cars.
Sequel Speculation and Remake Rumors
Despite its cult classic status, there’s no official “Christine 2.” Hollywood loves remakes though; rumor has it they are working on a new adaptation of King’s novel. Yes, Christine may terrorize anew for modern audiences!
Word is that Sony Pictures and Blumhouse are collaborating on this project. Bryan Fuller of “Hannibal” might direct! That’s an intriguing prospect. Jason Blum of Blumhouse, known for successful low-budget horror films, produces alongside Vincenzo Natali and Steven Hoban. Though no direct sequel surfaces, we could see an updated Christine story. It’s up for debate whether this is a good or bad idea.
The Value of a Fury: From Forgotten to Prized
Stephen King picked the 1958 Plymouth Fury for good reasons: it was forgotten and underrated. Ironically, “Christine” thrust it back into fame with a dark image. In reality, a 1958 Plymouth Fury in decent shape fetches around $46,450, give or take specifics. Hagerty estimates a ‘good’ condition model at about $43,500; prices certainly vary. Back in 2021, one actual movie car auctioned for an eye-popping $275,000! Talk about investment returns!
Under the hood, these beauties featured punchy engines. They housed 350 cubic inch V-8 engines with 300 horsepower and three-speed TorqueFlite transmissions weighing around 3,500 pounds. Not very fuel-efficient but powerful for their time! Let’s be honest: demonic possession likely adds extra horsepower.
Practical Magic: No CGI Needed (Mostly)
The most fascinating aspect of “Christine” is how filmmakers achieved the self-repairing effect without CGI; that tech didn’t exist then. The crew used reversed footage of a damaged car crumpling. Playing it backward gave the appearance of it reforming magically.
Christine seemed to magically repair her dents. It felt like movie magic from the past. Screen Rant has an article explaining how the effects were created. It shows old-school filmmaking skills.
The odometer ran backwards. It showed Christine’s rejuvenation. The car grew younger, stronger, and more evil as the miles reversed. Arnie’s death was gruesome. In the final scene, Christine crashed into Leigh, Arnie’s girlfriend. She sent Arnie flying through the windshield, pierced by glass. Bad breakup indeed. Dennis, Arnie’s friend, finally crushed Christine into a cube. Or did he…? (Cue ominous music).
Accuracy? Let’s Call It “Inspired By”… Very Loosely
Now, is “Christine” based on a true story? The brief hints at a loose connection to a woman in Sarasota, Florida. She tragically shot herself on live TV in the 70s. It’s unclear how this links to “Christine.” This feels like a stretch for inspiration. It might be a distant association, at best.
Bottom line: “Christine” is fiction. It is a thrilling and scary tale from Stephen King’s mind. John Carpenter made it real. The story is not based on a documented killer car. Yet, it reflects fears about technology and obsession. It makes you reconsider that vintage car you’ve been eyeing. Just in case.
For more film insights, check out [KING’S CORNER] Christine (1983) – The Fright Club NI for a fan’s view of this horror classic.
