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The red-and-white Plymouth in Christine did not survive as one single, untouched movie car. John Carpenter’s 1983 film used a fleet of 1957 and 1958 Plymouths, including Belvederes, Savoys and at least one genuine 1958 Fury. Some handled close-ups, others were stunt cars, and several existed mainly to be wrecked.
That is why different cars are called “the original Christine” today. One rebuilt stunt car is in the Petersen Automotive Museum’s collection, another important Fury was sold at auction for $198,000, and the whereabouts of other reported survivors are uncertain.
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Christine was a fleet of Plymouths, not one car
Production records disagree slightly on the exact number of cars acquired. The American Film Institute lists 25 Plymouths, while automotive sources commonly cite approximately 24. Either way, the important point is that the production bought a large group of cars to create the illusion of one murderous, self-repairing Plymouth.
Most were 1957–58 Plymouth Belvederes and Savoys. At least one was a genuine 1958 Plymouth Fury, the model identified with Christine in the film. The cars were assigned different jobs:
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- Hero or “beauty” cars: Used for clean exterior shots and scenes where Christine had to look flawless.
- Stunt cars: Used for driving action, collisions and dangerous movements.
- Destruction cars: Sacrificed for crashes, crushing and other effects.
- Parts cars: Kept available to repair or complete the other vehicles.
This approach was necessary because a single 1958 Plymouth could not repeatedly be crashed, restored, stripped for parts and returned to pristine condition. Damaged cars became donors, and most of the remaining vehicles were reportedly sent to Bill and Ed’s Auto Wrecking in Fontana, California, after filming.
The movie’s color was not a factory 1958 Fury option
Christine’s most recognizable feature is the Toreador Red body with an Iceberg White roof. That combination was created for the movie. A production 1958 Plymouth Fury was officially offered in Buckskin Beige with gold-anodized trim—not the red-and-white scheme seen on screen.
The film crew therefore repainted the cars and modified some Belvederes and Savoys to resemble Furys. Badging, trim and other visual details helped sell the idea that every Plymouth was the same Fury. In reality, the cars did not all share the same model or the same level of authenticity.
That distinction matters when a surviving vehicle is described as “the Christine.” A car can be a genuine production vehicle without being the exact Fury used for every close-up, and it can be heavily reconstructed without being a replica made decades later.
The surviving “Muscle Two” stunt car
The best-documented surviving production car is a stunt vehicle known as Muscle Two. Martin Sanchez acquired it after learning that it was scheduled to be crushed. He rebuilt the car with parts recovered from other Christine production vehicles.
The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles lists Muscle Two in its collection and identifies it as a 1958 Plymouth Fury. The car is kept in The Vault, rather than presented as a normal permanent-floor exhibit.
It is important not to call this car an untouched original. Petersen’s own description makes clear that it was restored using parts from other Christine cars. Its value is different: it is a surviving production stunt car with a documented connection to the film, substantially reconstructed after filming.
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| Vehicle | What is known | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| “Muscle Two” | One of two running stunt cars; saved from planned crushing and rebuilt by Martin Sanchez | Listed by the Petersen Automotive Museum in The Vault |
| Principal beauty car | Genuine 1958 Fury, VIN LP2L11322; reportedly won by Scott Edminster in a promotion | Sold at the 2015 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction for $198,000; present location not verified |
| MTV giveaway car | Reportedly sent to MTV for a giveaway | Whereabouts unknown |
| UK stunt car | Reportedly associated with Dean Johnson of DJ Motors | Current owner and location unverified |
The $198,000 Christine
The other major survivor is the genuine Fury used as the film’s principal beauty car. According to the documented history, it was later given away in a promotion and won by Scott Edminster. Collector Ron Pratte subsequently acquired it.
That car, identified by VIN LP2L11322, sold at the 2015 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction for $198,000. It was later associated with the Rochester Auto Museum in Rochester, New York.
Older articles may therefore state that the original Christine is at the Rochester museum. That is no longer a safe description. Current public listings report that the Rochester Auto Museum is permanently closed, and the available research does not establish where the auction car is now. Its present location should be treated as unverified.
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At least one more car was reportedly sent to MTV for a giveaway. Historical accounts identify it as a surviving Christine, but there is no reliable current trail confirming that it still exists or identifying its present owner.
Another stunt car has been reported in the United Kingdom and was formerly associated with Dean Johnson of DJ Motors. The available information is secondary and does not confirm the car’s current location or ownership. It should be described as a reported survivor, not as a vehicle with a verified public home.
These uncertain records are typical of movie cars from the period. Vehicles were often sold, dismantled, repainted or passed between collectors without the kind of continuous documentation that would make their history easy to prove today. “Reportedly survived” and “currently confirmed” are not the same thing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why there are so many conflicting answers
Several facts have been compressed into the phrase “the original Christine.” The production used multiple Plymouths; the cars were not all factory Furys; and surviving examples have different histories.
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- The Petersen car is a real production stunt car, but it was rebuilt with parts from other cars.
- The auction car was a genuine Fury and principal beauty car, but its current whereabouts are not verified.
- Other cars may have survived, including the reported MTV giveaway car and a UK-associated stunt car, but their present status is uncertain.
- Most of the fleet did not survive, having been destroyed, dismantled or sent to a scrapyard after production.
So the most accurate answer is not that Christine is sitting in one specific museum. A documented production stunt car is held by the Petersen Automotive Museum, while the best-known beauty car was sold at auction and cannot currently be placed with confidence.
FAQ
Was Christine a real 1958 Plymouth Fury?
Some of the film cars were genuine 1958 Plymouth Furys, but not all of them. The production also used Belvederes and Savoys modified to look like Furys.
How many cars were used to make Christine?
The production acquired approximately 24 Plymouths, although the AFI Catalog reports 25. The fleet included hero cars, stunt cars, destruction cars and parts donors.
Where is the surviving Christine car now?
The Petersen Automotive Museum lists the rebuilt “Muscle Two” stunt car in The Vault. The principal beauty car sold for $198,000 at the 2015 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, but its current location has not been verified.
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Was the red-and-white color factory-original for a 1958 Fury?
No. The 1958 Fury was officially offered in Buckskin Beige with gold-anodized trim. The movie cars were painted Toreador Red with Iceberg White roofs for Christine’s screen appearance.
The Bottom Line
There was never just one Christine. The film used roughly two dozen Plymouths, and most were destroyed or dismantled. The surviving Petersen car is the rebuilt Muscle Two stunt car, not an untouched hero car. The genuine Fury that served as the principal beauty car sold for $198,000 in 2015, but its present location is unverified.
