The time of year where ghosts, ghouls, monsters and demons roam free is almost upon us, with Halloween ready to scare the living daylights out of people around the world.
While we might just think of certain characters from movies and television to dress up as to celebrate the spooky spectacle, it is often easy to forget the great creepy cars that have been created for the cinema throughout the years.
Here’s a list of the top five eerie engines that have graced the silver and small screen:
The Mystery Machine
Driven by the members of Mystery, Inc., Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy, with faithful dog Scooby Doo in the back, the psychedelically decorated van helped to transport the teenage detectives around from crazy case to murderous mystery.
Many interpretations of the Mystery Machine have been made over the years, with some created from Volkswagen Campers, 1967 Dodge A-100 Panel Vans, and 1979 Fiat 900s.
While the jury is out on what exactly the model of the Mystery Machine actually was, it was the iconic blue and green patterned and floral design that has made the van such a standout vehicle on both the big and small screen.
The Car
Featured in the film of the same name, directed by Elliot Silverstein, The Car was far from critically acclaimed when it hit cinema screens in the seventies.
The movie told the story of a possessed black car that terrorised the residents of a small town in Utah, US.
It was based on a customised version of the 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III, a luxury car produced by the Ford Motor Company.
While it doesn’t seem like a demonic car from the outside, when the model shines its bright headlights and starts charging towards helpless bystanders with reckless abandon, while repetitively honking its low horn with no-one behind the wheel, there is more than enough reason to be scared.
Christine
Much like The Car, Christine was based on a vehicle with a life of its own, bought by a young high-school outcast – Arnie Cunningham.
The blood-red 1958 Plymouth Fury needs a bit of maintenance and as the the owner starts to make the modifications, his friends notice that he has steadily started to change as well.
Both Arnie and the Fury start to develop a murderous obsession, which seems difficult to control
The Ecto Mobile
The vehicle of choice for ghostbusting endeavours, the Ecto Mobile helped to carry the back-packed heroes as they saved New York City.
Able to transport ghostly spirits and ectoplasm from a haunting site to the special Ghostbuster’s base, the machine was a modified version of the 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance conversion.
In was a highly technological version, which was necessary for its ultimate purpose, and served the team well as they caught ghosts from Slimer to the evil Vigo.
The Creepy Coupe
The scariest of all the crazy cars in the Wacky Races, the Creepy Coupe was driven by the Gruesome Twosome – both Big and Little
Based on a hearse-like machine, the car had a unique modification which featured a belfry for a dragon, ghosts, serpents and a range of other creepy characters.
It has now been made into a real life version, alongside other models from the popular cartoon series, and was presented in all its glory at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2005.
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