Movie producers often show poetic license when utilizing vehicles for their productions. Such was the case with the iconic 1983 thriller, Christine. Although billed as a 1958 Plymouth Fury, John Carpenter sourced a range of Furys and Belvederes from that model year to create the seventeen cars that appeared in the film. The seller chose a ’58 Savoy to create this tribute, but they have strayed from the traditional path. Rather than building a pristine Christine, they opted for the “junker” look from when the car was spotted for sale by Arnie Cunningham. They performed the work using a high-end wrap, allowing the buyer to reverse the change if they crave authenticity. The seller has listed the Plymouth here on eBay in Glencoe, Missouri. They set their BIN at $52,500 with the option to make an offer.
When producing Christine, John Carpenter struggled to locate enough 1958 Furys to fulfill his needs. Therefore, he also purchased a fleet that included several Belvederes, but my research indicates that he didn’t purchase any Savoys. However, just because he didn’t use one, that doesn’t mean that a Savoy doesn’t serve as an excellent base for this tribute. The seller has been quite thorough with this build, showing an admirable eye for detail. The process included repairing any panel issues or faults to ensure that the body was perfect. They filled any Savoy-specific holes for trim pieces to ensure accuracy. It is worth noting that the paint hiding below the wrap isn’t consistent and that the buyer will need to wield their spray gun if they plan on returning the vehicle to its factory form. The wrap was created from movie shots, recreating features like the gaping hole in the driver’s side rear quarter panel. The simulated corrosion is a great touch that helps emphasize how dilapidated the “real” Christine was when she first appeared in the film. Below the surface, this Plymouth is quite solid. The seller briefly mentions minor rust but states that the floors and trunk pan are sound. That raises the question of where any rust might be. That is definitely a question worth posing before committing the funds to this purchase. The trim isn’t perfect, but the way it sparkles and the new wide whitewalls provide a wonderful contrast to the car’s otherwise aged appearance.
Powering this Plymouth is a 318ci V8 that is teamed with a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission. The Savoy is a pretty big beast, but with a curb weight of around 3,600 lbs, the 225hp produced by the V8 should make it an effective open road cruiser. Sensible upgrades to improve reliability and safety include a front disc brake conversion, an additional electric cooling fan, and the installation of an alternator. The seller states that this classic runs and drives extremely well, and it is fair to say that the engine sounds pretty sweet in this YouTube video.
The interior provides a striking contrast to the exterior. It isn’t perfect, but if potential buyers are focused on a driver-grade classic, this Savoy ticks that box. The upholstered surfaces are free from rips, and the carpet is clean. There are dirty marks on the headliner but no holes that might prompt replacement. The previous owner fitted a Deluxe wheel, a tach, and an aftermarket stereo. Reversing those changes should be possible without much effort and would probably be my approach if this Christine found its way into my garage.
Placing a value on a classic like this 1958 Plymouth Savoy is challenging because the seller has spent a considerable sum to create this stunning custom look. Unlike many custom builds, this one is easily reversed if the new owner prefers a more “stock” appearance. The listing statistics seemingly confirm that people like what they see. Will this translate into a successful sale? I’m not sure, but what do you think?
This seller and that of the $50,000 1967 4dr Caprice featured yesterday should get together and share notes.
Steve R
Is this a joke? $52,500? My offer would be about 10% of that, at the most…and that would only be IF I was looking for a ’58 Savoy (which I am not).
It’s cool, but not $52k cool.
This, right here.
“Show me..”
Whoa, whoa. You better watch what you say about my car. She’s real sensitive.
Sometimes on this site I see the price of some cars and I just start laughing. This is one such car/price. My father had a dark blue 1959 Plymouth with push button dashboard shifting. One day in our garage he got in the car to go to work, pushed the button for reverse and the button pushed thru the shift box. Not an uncommon experience.
$52k? I assume is comes with a very nice garage. 57-58 Plymouths are my favorites, but….$52????
You’d need a back brace for this car.