Although the titular vehicle in the iconic 1983 film “Christine” is identified as a 1958 Plymouth Fury, few people realize that producer John Carpenter also utilized Belvederes and Savoys to create the seventeen cars used during filming. Despite the on-screen automotive carnage, it appears that several hundred of those cars are still in existence. Actually, that isn’t entirely true because only two are known to remain in captivity. The rest are tribute vehicles, and creating such cars is common when they become genuine legends. That leaves the new owner to choose between returning this 1958 Belvedere to its former glory or transforming it into another tribute. Either approach is valid, and I wouldn’t criticize anyone who pursued the tribute path. They will commence the process with a tired-looking classic that is surprisingly solid. The Belvedere is listed here on eBay in Jefferson City, Missouri. The seller set their auction to open at $17,900 but has received no bids.
This Belvedere’s baked appearance makes it unsurprising that it spent most of its life in Texas. You must carefully scrutinize the included shots to locate traces of its original Bluebonnet Blue paint. There is plenty of dry surface corrosion but surprisingly little penetrating rust. It is confined to the typical areas in the headlamp eyebrows, along with a few patchable spots in the floors and trunk pan. The good news is that the buyer won’t face hundreds of hours of cutting and welding to ensure the car is structurally sound. However, media-blasting the body to remove the corrosion may prove irresistible. There is evidence of Bondo, but it isn’t extensive. The seller includes a collection of additional trim parts, with a new set of trunk badges and another front bumper the most desirable. The windshield sports a significant hole, but the remaining glass is okay. This Plymouth rolls on its original steel wheels. These are wrapped in new whitewalls and wear the correct and spotless hubcaps.
Lifting this Plymouth’s hood reveals the original 318ci “Poly” V8 that produced 225hp and 330 ft/lbs of torque in its prime. The power fed to the rear wheels via a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, and considering the car’s curb weight of 3,680 lbs, its ability to cover the ¼-mile in 16.9 seconds was pretty impressive. It is unclear when this Belvedere last saw active service, but I’m pretty sure the time frame could be measured in decades. The state of the engine is unknown, but it appears to be essentially complete. The driveshaft sits inside the vehicle, and the brakes are inoperative. However, the seller indicates the vehicle rolls and steers, and they include an extra TorqueFlite with cables and dash controls as a welcome bonus.
The Belvedere’s interior follows a familiar theme. It is complete, but it requires a total restoration. The original Blue and White cloth and vinyl trim must have looked stunning in its prime, but the Texas sun has had an impact. Locating replacements for these items may prove challenging. Still, a competent upholsterer may be able to use the existing items as templates to recreate the interior with appropriate materials “off the roll.” Another challenge will be locating a replacement wheel, although the scope of this build means there might be plenty of time to scour the usual online auction sites while work continues on other aspects of the restoration.
I usually prefer to see classics restored to their original form, but I admit I would be tempted to create a “Christine” tribute if I found this 1958 Plymouth Belvedere Hardtop in my workshop. That car is one of the most recognizable in cinematic history, and I understand why some people would want to own one. However, reinstating the original paint shade and returning the car to its former glory guarantees it will still turn heads. Which path would you choose?
I normally lean to the side of originality especially with Buick Regal/GN tributes, 442’s, GTO’s etc,
But in this case I feel like there aren’t enough Christine tributes out there and the world could use another!
Show me🛠️🔦🚘
Agreed, but I vote for restoring to factory original.
I think between the original movie,Graveyard Cars, and the general collector, Christine ” has had her ” close up” a bunch of times.
Since the making of the movie destroyed so many ’57 and ’58 Plymouths. ( as did the TV show “Dukes of Hazzard” destroyed so many Chargers) restore this one, and drive it!
Jonathan
Denver
There are more ‘Christines’ today than every used in the movie. That route is old and done to death. Me, I would do a frame off restoration, back to showroom stock in the original ‘bluebonnet blue’ with matching interior. So it isn’t a Fury! Not all `58’s WERE!
But it would be the first self driving car
I don’t know, there was a T.V. show called ‘My Mother the Car’. Whether or not it / she could motivate without a human is something I have no knowledge of. Did anyone see the show ?
Chris Roe, Unfortunately, I remember “My Mother The Car”.
Ann Southern was the voice of the car and Jerry Van Dyke was the owner.
Agree completely. It is also a good-looking piece of Detroit excess.
Ref the “My Mother the Car” debate. This was also showni in period in the UK about the same time as the Mr Ed talking horse show. I guess it was a particularly uninspired metoo planning meeting that day in the studio.
Sank without trace in UK. Even as a car-mad pre-teen, I knew when my intelligence was being insulted. On the other hand, Mr Ed seemed fairly convincing….anything possible in USA
Not to mention the seller’s “Ask” is NUTS.
Agreed and amen! The world needs fewer vehicular pop culture tributes. There are more Ghostbusters ’69 Cadillac ambulances than there are real Cadillac ambulances. And of course, let’s not forget about the Blues Brothers, tribute Dodge Monacos. A big saving grace to the crazy Mopar price madness is that ’69 Chargers are too expensive and valuable now to turn into General Lee replicas.
That’s cool for what, five minutes? It just makes you look unimaginative. Like you’re someone who cranks it up When Don’t Fear the Reaper comes on classic radio for like, the 51st time that week.
I would return it to it’s original glory,the car has become legendary like the General Lee and the Charger but how many Bluebonnet Blue Belvedere’s are out there?
Reminds me about the car that “Shoe” owned in the comic strip. In the only strip I remember a mechanic is telling him “I found out what was clogging your fuel system… the carburator”.
Honestly, I don’t look favorably on “tribute” cars.
And that means what…?
Shoe had a ‘59 DeSoto.
Jeff MacNelly died much too soon. I loved his stuff.
That was a very funny offbeat comic strip that I also liked.
That was a pink 59 DeSoto. I know because he once parked it outside the building I lived in Richmond VA. Yes, McNally actually owned one!
Shoe is the comic strip, Uncle Skyler drove the DeSoto. My favorite gag was the stadium loudspeaker requesting the ’59 DeSoto be moved because it was intimidating the other cars.
Same kind of story, Eb from Green Acres told Mr. Douglas that his carburetor needed a new tractor. Loved that show, the supporting cast was terrific.
If I hit the lottery tonight. I would look into this Plymouth. There was another movie back in the 80’s . It was a White Fury with a ghost rider. When you saw fog on the road. The Fury came out. And you were done. Ok. I would fix this up total build. White paint and 392 dual quads and have fun. 😄🇺🇸
I hope it gets restored to original. Every time I see a tribute car I’m disappointed. The eyebrow rot was common on these cars, finding good fenders will be very hard, it will take a lot of finessing to repair the originals. I like that this one has a 318, the flathead 6 must’ve been a dog. There’s a forum website devoted to the “Forward Look” Chrysler products of those years, I hope they know about it.
Looks like a lot heavier than 3800 pounds , I bet new cars are like 4000 pounds easy
New cars weigh so much because of all safety BS, 14 airbags and such..
I’ve bought it. Better get to work, this engine won’t fix itself.
Oh, hang on…
The world probably doesn’t need yet another Christine tribute.
But then, again does the world also need a remake of the actual Christine movie? Well one is coming.
A nice intact specimen. I bought a Fury back in 1983 for a whopping 300.00 from a guy that rivaled Lebay in the movie, only no back brace and nice and cooky. This guy had a house in the woods and cars everywhere. The Fury had a cracked block. It was the 350 commando with two fours. I knew little about these cars as most of mine were GMs and Fords, but it was cool and my first Mopar. I bought a 60 Imperial and drove it away for 150.00 and put the 413 right in the Fury. To my disappointment I discovered the intake fits 383s and such but not the 413. A guy offered me more for the intake and carbs than I had in the entire mess, so off they went. In all fairness these cars have the WORST brakes of any late 50s car. That stupid booster gizmo over top the master cylinder is a fiasco to put fliud in. Then you have the upper and lower front wheel cylinders, 2″ rear drums and that parking brake abomination on the tailstock of the tranny. To say that car is a death trap at high speed in an understatement. Lots of skill learned on that one. I did paint it red in the mid 80s had a bunch of fun with it. It was cool parked in front of the old house I had then along side of a 65 Caddy hearse. I lost interest in it and it now is in my row of stuff I will never fix. If I ever did decide to play with it again, I would update all the suspension, brakes,rear and so on because those items are CRAP. That was the main reason I lost interest. late 80s early 90s thete was zilch for conversions and original stuff was expensive and didn’t last. I guess 35 years later the Christine thing has faded away but it was quite a bit of fun back then and it garnered more looks than an all original beige Fury a guy I knew had.
Cuntingham….. why doesn’t it say: ….. Cuntingham???
“…how many Bluebonnet Blue Belvedere’s are out there?”
The question should be ‘How many Rustbucket Brown Belvederes are out there?’
“A 1928 Porter
That’s my Mother Dear
She helps me through
Everything I do
And I’m so glad she’s here”
Was the” Porter” a custom Ford or similar? Anyone know?
It was based on a 1924 Model T
“These are wrapped in new whitewalls and wear the correct and spotless hubcaps.” Those ‘wheel covers’, not ‘hubcaps’ don’t match.
Did anyone notice what looked like an A/C unit under the dash?? My folks had a 57 Plymouth and there was no under dash unit. I don’t ever recall seeing a 57 or 58 Plymouth with fact A/C.. Looking at the engine compartment, the heater unit sure looks different than just a heat only unit. Anyone care to do more research ? I do recall reading that the defrost vents on would flip up for a/cuse ??
“Fins, . a-mundo “! They buried a new one somewhere in a time capsule type hole. Water got to it after decades, and ruined it.
Go to :Tulsaworld.com. Belvedere
I’m in agreement with those who are tired of this “tribute” stuff. Enough of “Christine” and “Eleanor”. Would anyone actually pay more for a tribute?
And yet you still see them on the TV auction coverage.
Yeah that was sad! 🥺 That would have been a real cool car to pull one out with zero miles and all original everything out of a time capsule. But it had rusted so badly that it’s basically unrestorable. 🤦♀️ They would have been better off putting it in an above ground time capsule. But I guess they didn’t know much better back then. 😒
Had both a 57 & 58 Sport Fury; both green. Blew the engine on both.
I think Arnie would run from this one.
If you go to look at it, make sure the seller doesn’t think you’re a s h i t t e r.
“Whatever you’re asking, it’s not enough!”
Any ’57-60 Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge cars are rare anymore. Hope it gets fixed up, however the next owner wants.
Just as long as they don’t work cockeyed and put brand new windshield wipers on a busted windshield.
O lets restore it back to its prime NOT, sorry the old rust bucket is not worth throwing money at it will take 70k+ at today prices
My parents bought a new 1957 Belvedere Sport Coupe, black, white top, 301,4 bbl, duals and fender skirts added. Beautiful car. I’d restore this to original, add fender skirts and 59 Dodge Lancer spinners. The poly V8 had lots of untapped potential so I’d build the 318 and dress it up with finned chrome valve covers. Would make a great cruise night car, show car and there would be few if any similar cars at most any show.
Here’s a question for all the very knowledgeable people on here….. why did the headlight eyebrows rust so badly on these cars? There are only a couple of other cars that I am aware of that the eyebrows rusted.
On a different note, my ahole brother had a choice to make in the early 60s. He was looking to buy a car and narrowed it down to a ’57 Ford Fairlane or a ’57 Plymouth Belvedere convertible with a hemi with 2 fours.
Since he’s an ahole, what do you think he picked? Yep, the Ford, which is probably a good thing considering he wrecked it at Camp Lejeune, South Carolina, not 2 years later. He’s now a life long Ford guy.
The eyebrows provided a shelf for dirt to collect. I don’t think inner fenders were used at the time.
The owner has been shopping this around. The body seems nice but don’t let it fool you. Besides the obvious needing everything something most obviously don’t know. The 58 Plymouth is rare. Many one year only parts. Those that know want a ransom. Bumper wings original not plastic fakes are $4000-$5000. There is no longer enough parts to meet the demand and no you can’t get a 1-800 catalog for parts. Try to find the gold V emblem. Sometimes it’s great to dream. To take this on one would have to be very connected. Better have great credit too and lots of luck.
REALLY! I think this would compell me to part mine and make a couch. Bumper wings, 150 speedo, nos Fury grille, gold v rust free front. Best offer I ever received for the one I have is 1000.00 and a week after the door mounding and a few other minor items disappeared. I must be in the wrong spot. lol I guess my wife will cash out once I leave the parking lot.
The ask for the car above is not bad considering. Many factors contribute to their rarity. The Plymouth fell out of favor with the public in just a few years after the fin era. If it wasn’t for the movie Christine that thrusted it in pop culture there would be little interest today. With the movies 40th anniversary the Plymouth is is desired worldwide. Due to the low build quality and rust problems and no restoration parts support there is simply not enough to go around. In the proper sale your wife should do great
The 1928 Porter was a George Barris creation based on a Model T,
The porter steam car lasted as long as the series. One year.
Too high a price to modify it to match it’s brother DeSoto
Hopefully someone with a bottomless love for ’58 Plymouths will get this, and if not a 100% restoration of it, do a close to original appearance makeover. The Christine cliche was old by 30 years ago.
The 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne/Impala had the same eyebrow rust problems in the fenders. They didn’t have inner fender liners back then, so dirt and rain splash would just collect up there above the headlights and rust them out.
I like those fins.