This 1958 Plymouth Belvedere looks like Christine from the 1983 horror movie of the same name. Except that the film car was a 2-door hardtop in the incorrect color and this version is a 2-door Club Sedan (pillared doors). The auto wears an older restoration, and the drivetrain was upgraded from how the car left the factory 65 years ago. While it presents well, some brewing rust issues should be dealt with before they become any more troublesome. From Westwego, Louisiana, this Mopar is available here on eBay where bidding stands at an even $15,000.
Chrysler redesigned its automobiles in 1957, ushering in the era of “Forward Look” cars that were futuristic in appearance compared to their immediate competition. Plymouth’s models were little changed in 1958, the most noticeable being quad headlights which had just been approved for use in all 48 states (this was before Alaska and Hawaii). Chrysler had already anticipated this change, so the ‘58s had a much better grafting job than the Fords. The Plymouth Club Sedan was available in all three series of cars, the Plaza, the Savoy, and the Belvedere (trim differences were from basic to more glitzy). For the latter, this Plymouth is one of 4.229 copies assembled for the 1958 model year.
The seller has owned this car for nearly a decade. When he/she acquired the vehicle, it was in the state you see today. The changes and work done on the looker were largely handled two owners ago. Perhaps the idea was to create something of a Christine tribute and the graphics along the top of the windshield advertise that. But time and Mother Nature have been at work formulating some rust in the rear quarters, rocker panels, and floor pans. But at first glance 10 feet away, you might not see these problems.
On the plus side, the interior looks to have been redone and needs nothing done to it now. An aftermarket radio was installed earlier that sounds great, but it was hooked up inside the glove box, so you’ll have to leave it open to operate the controls. A few other odds and ends could use some attention but that’s all part of the fun in finding a cool old auto like this one.
Pop the hood and a 1971 383 cubic-inch V8 with a TorqueFlite automatic transmission were dropped in. Along with a rear end with Sure Grip from a 1969 Dodge Charger, the car is said to run really well. But the motor and tranny tend to leak a tad from time to time. From what we can tell, things are mostly stock mechanically except for front disc brakes and a new set of tires.
No it doesn’t look like Christine ,she was a hard top.
I agree. Although it’s been a while, I remember “Christine” being a two door hardtop. Whatever this is looks like a 2 door pillard sedan. This one looks like it’s been modified on the inside as well. All Mopar cars with automatic gearbox had push button controls. This looks like someone installed a T-bar control for the auto.
No doubt the shifter change since the current TF probably matches the current motor. The PB TF had no PARK position for any other tranny. I saw the same thing overseas on a 55 or 56 Imperial LIMO a number of years ago. That was a REAL surprise.
It looks more like Christine than a ’72 Valiant, no?
The only real difference in this tribute car is the post.
Like it or not the movie Christine hurt a lot of cars in the movie. That is true.The one thing it did was save many unwanted 57 and 58 Plymouths. They brought their existence in the spotlight. The movie came out in 1983 the Plymouth was already 25 years old then. Prior their survival rate was not good. They rusted very bad within a short time especially in the rust belt. A fun fact is you can spot an actual 57 Fury in the demo derby scene in Ron Howard’s first directed movie (a drive in staple Eat my Dust)
Brings me to this car. I believe the fun factor is about over. Its time for much needed work. When this car was built years ago it lasted this long however the improper repair is now showing through. It needs an entire teardown of the body and re done. The rust will only get worse.
The engine and trans I personally could do without. Opening the hood and seeing the incorrect engine is enough for me. Must have been a flathead six car because no way I would choose this over the old wide block 318 and Powerflte.
Bottom line for my money a little more I would prefer a real deal two door hard top. This is just a poor copy.
My father had a Black 4dr Fury of the same year. I like this a lot. The engine is a good idea 383 HP. I would pull it out. Fix the leaks then install a 2-4 bbl intake with correct air filters from that year. Paint it the engine gold with the regular valve covers. To make this period correct. I noticed Mr. Bondo in many places. Don’t know how bad it is. And fix the floor correctly. The glass packs are why too loud. Put in better mufflers flow Master or something else. Better tail pipes out back. Then it would be a good looking Christina! 🐻🇺🇸
Sorry your father must have had a later Fury as no 1958 Fury came as a four door unless he had the one in Stephen Kings book.
This would be a fun car to have mostly because the movie was entertaining one odd part of the movie is the old guy in the garage sees the burned out car drive in on its own and he climbs into what idiot would do that.
For what it’s worth, Stephen King described Christine as a 4 door in the book. Obviously that wouldn’t have been true, along with the color, as all Furies were beige with gold trim in ’58.
@ Bick
Back then you could special your car the way you wanted it. With the options you wanted. None of this “option packages” .
And none of this dealer ordering the cars and you pick what he’s got…. mostly by price.
Color may be a slightly different challenge, but this is America. You can get whatever you want with enough money.
Yes with other models but not with the Fury which came in one body style and one color. In ’59 then that applied to the Fury as well.
Didn’t think they made that shade of red anymore.
Well they must. I mean Arnie bought it, didn’t he?
Tossed out the receipt though.
This club coupe body style is so awkward appearing. Very low on the desirability scale
Agree. It is a two door sedan and Chryco did little to the body to differ from the 4 door sedan. GM and Ford did a lot more work on their cars.
The 57 and 58 hard tops were and are breath taking with their razor thin roof lines.
If I was going to pay $15,000 for this and have to redo entire lower body fixing blisters through the plastic filler with rust I would simply poney up a little more money and just get a nice red and white hardtop. A red Belvedere HT sold recently in an estate sale in WVa for $23,000. It needed nothing other than someone to turn the key and press D.
Treat it REALLY nice,talk to it frequently.Then look it in the headlights and say. “SHOW ME” and all its faults will simply disappear!😁
Interesting modification regarding the automatic transmission. You cannot tell that this once had the push-button transmission to the left of the steering wheel.
Good note, Ralph! I’d bet this was originally a stick-shift 6-banger – the pushbutton mechanism was bulky and IIRC, required at least a 3″x3″ hole in the dash… My dad worked for a Chrysler/Plymouth dealer in the late ’50s, and noticed early on with the ‘flightsweep’ designs (thinner metal used for those sharp design stampings) that rust issues showed up quickly (and this was in SoCal), I can only imagine the horrors of the heavily salted roads of that time in snow states…
Very cool car being offered by, what appears to be, an honest seller. Even the factory in-dash radio glows green just like Christine’s did.
anybody that’s ripping on this car should climb back in their Prius and beat feet heading back to their job at the local gloryhole.
Didn’t know they still had places like that in Louisiana
Rambler knocked Plymouth out of the Top Three in 1958.