There was never just one car called Christine. John Carpenter’s 1983 film used a fleet of red-and-white 1957–58 Plymouths: hero cars for close-ups, stunt cars for driving sequences, and sacrificial cars for crashes, fires, crushing, and the famous self-repair scenes.
That distinction explains why the surviving cars have different histories—and why claims about the “original Christine” are often misleading. One reconstructed stunt car is preserved in the Petersen Automotive Museum’s collection. Another important Fury was sold at auction for $198,000, but its present location is not publicly verified.
Christine was a movie fleet, not a single Plymouth
Production records and automotive sources differ slightly on the number of cars acquired. The AFI Catalog reports 25 Plymouths, while commonly cited accounts give the number as approximately 24. Either way, the production needed far more than one vehicle.
Most were 1957 and 1958 Plymouth Belvederes and Savoys. At least one was a genuine 1958 Plymouth Fury. The cars were assigned different jobs: some carried the close-up work, others handled stunts, and others existed mainly to be damaged or dismantled for parts.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#1 Best Overall
- Brand: Greenlight Series: Hollywood Series Release 24 Model: 1958 Plymouth Fury “Evil Version” Scale: 1:64 Color: Red with White Top, Blacked-Out Windows Materials: Die-cast metal, plastic details, rubber-style tires Recommended Age: 8+
That approach was necessary because a car cannot realistically be destroyed on camera and then be available for the next day’s filming. The production also needed matching components for the repair sequences, in which Christine appears to pull herself back together after being wrecked.
The red-and-white Fury was a movie creation
The film’s most recognizable car is often described as a factory-original red 1958 Plymouth Fury. It was neither.
Plymouth’s official 1958 Fury color scheme was Buckskin Beige with gold-anodized trim. Carpenter’s production instead gave the cars their sinister Toreador Red bodywork and Iceberg White roofs. Some of the cars used on screen were Belvederes or Savoys modified with Fury-style parts and details so the fleet would resemble the principal car.
In other words, “Christine” is best understood as a screen identity applied to several cars, rather than as a precise factory specification. The visible cars could look alike from the audience’s perspective while having different origins, mechanical conditions, and production histories.
Most of the cars were lost after filming
The destruction shown in Christine was not limited to special effects. Cars were damaged during stunts and dismantled after their useful parts had been removed. Reports indicate that the remaining wreckage was eventually sent to Bill and Ed’s Auto Wrecking in Fontana, California.
Rank #2
- Hollywood Collectible Replica – 1:24 scale diecast model of the iconic 1958 Plymouth Fury from the film Christine, part of GreenLight’s Hollywood Series. Die-cast metal body and chassis with rubber tires designed for display and collection.
- Factory-sealed packaging ideal for long-term collecting and shelf display. Limited production release from GreenLight Collectibles
- Premium Diecast Construction – Heavy diecast metal body with detailed trim, authentic badging, and accurate film-inspired red and white finish.
- True-to-Scale Detailing – Features realistic wheels, chrome accents, interior detail, and screen-accurate proportions for display collectors.
- Display-Grade Presentation – Designed for adult collectors and movie memorabilia enthusiasts; ideal for shelf, office, or showcase display. Official GreenLight Release 84222 – Authentic Hollywood Series item from GreenLight Collectibles.
This is why there is no single, intact “Christine” that can be traced through every scene. The production consumed the fleet. A surviving car may contain pieces from several of the original filming vehicles, while another may be a different car entirely that performed a specific screen role.
The Petersen Automotive Museum’s surviving stunt car
The clearest surviving example is Martin Sanchez’s car, known during production as “Muscle Two.” It was one of two running stunt cars and was reportedly scheduled for crushing after filming.
Sanchez acquired the car and rebuilt it with parts recovered from other Christine vehicles. The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles currently lists it in its collection as a 1958 Plymouth Fury and places it in The Vault.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThat history makes the car significant, but it also requires careful wording. The Petersen car is not an untouched, complete original preserved exactly as it left the set. It is a surviving production stunt car, substantially reconstructed with parts from other cars used in the movie.
| Car or report | What is known | What remains uncertain |
|---|---|---|
| “Muscle Two” | Surviving stunt car rebuilt by Martin Sanchez; listed by the Petersen Automotive Museum | It is reconstructed, not an untouched original |
| Principal beauty car, VIN LP2L11322 | Genuine Fury; won by Scott Edminster, later owned by Ron Pratte; sold at the 2015 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction for $198,000 | Its present location has not been authoritatively verified |
| MTV giveaway car | Reportedly sent to MTV for a promotional giveaway | Its current existence and location are unknown |
| United Kingdom stunt car | Reportedly associated with Dean Johnson of DJ Motors | No reliable current owner or location is established |
The $198,000 auction car
A second major survivor was the genuine Fury used as the film’s principal “beauty” car—the carefully presented vehicle used for prominent beauty shots rather than the hardest stunt work.
Rank #3
- Limited edition. Brand new box. Chrome accents. Real rubber tires. True-to-scale detail. Authentic decoration. Detailed interior, exterior. Comes in a blister pack. Officially licensed product. Die-cast metal body and chassis. Dimensions approximately L-2.75 inches long.
According to published auction and automotive accounts, the car was given away in a promotion and won by Scott Edminster. It later passed to collector Ron Pratte. At the 2015 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, the car sold for $198,000. Its vehicle identification number is reported as LP2L11322.
The car was subsequently associated with the Rochester Auto Museum in Rochester, New York. That does not mean it can currently be visited there. Public listings report that the museum is permanently closed, and the available research does not establish where the auction car is now. Its present location should therefore be described as unverified.
Other reported survivors
One more car was reportedly sent to MTV for a giveaway. After that promotion, its trail went cold. The report documents a historical handoff, but it does not prove that the car still exists or identify a current custodian.
Another stunt car has been reported in the United Kingdom and was formerly associated with Dean Johnson of DJ Motors. The available account is secondary and does not confirm the car’s current owner, condition, or location. It belongs in the category of reported survivors, not confirmed present-day museum cars.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the “original Christine” label causes confusion
Several different cars can legitimately be connected to the film. One may be a genuine Fury used for the principal beauty shots. Another may be a Belvedere or Savoy altered to resemble a Fury. A third may be a stunt car reconstructed from parts taken from vehicles that were destroyed.
Calling one of them “the original Christine” without explaining its role collapses those separate histories into a claim the evidence does not support. The more accurate questions are: Was it a beauty car or a stunt car? Was it a genuine Fury? Was it rebuilt? Which scenes did it perform? And where is it documented today?
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The best-supported current answer is that at least one production stunt car survives in the Petersen Automotive Museum’s collection. The famous auction car also has a documented history through 2015, but its current whereabouts are uncertain. The remaining reported cars cannot be treated as confirmed, publicly traceable survivors without stronger documentation.
FAQ
How many cars were used to make Christine?
The production used approximately 24 or 25 Plymouths, depending on the source. The AFI Catalog reports 25, while automotive accounts commonly report 24. The fleet included Belvederes, Savoys, and at least one genuine 1958 Fury.
Was the movie car a real red 1958 Plymouth Fury?
Not exactly. The film cars were painted Toreador Red with Iceberg White roofs, while the factory 1958 Fury was offered in Buckskin Beige with gold-anodized trim. Some filming cars were Belvederes or Savoys modified to look like Furys.
Where is the surviving Christine car now?
The Petersen Automotive Museum currently lists Martin Sanchez’s reconstructed “Muscle Two” stunt car in its collection, in The Vault. The separate beauty car sold at the 2015 Barrett-Jackson auction has an unverified present location; it should not be described as currently displayed at the now-closed Rochester Auto Museum.
Was the Petersen Christine the untouched original hero car?
No. It was one of the running stunt cars and was rebuilt after filming with parts from other Christine production cars. It is an important surviving production vehicle, but not an untouched original hero car.
The Bottom Line
The 1958 Plymouth Fury from Christine was really a fleet of cars. Most were destroyed or dismantled, while a few were preserved, rebuilt, given away, or sold. The best-documented survivor is Martin Sanchez’s “Muscle Two” stunt car, now listed by the Petersen Automotive Museum. The genuine Fury sold for $198,000 in 2015 has a documented past but no confirmed current location.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
