The Haunted History of Cursed Cars: Legendary Models and Their Stories
Have you booked your trip to Bloodview Haunted House yet this year? The haunted house, located just 12 miles outside Northfield, has been “scaring for charity” in Broadview Heights for 40 years. October definitely brings out the spooky experiences throughout Northeast Ohio — from the Nightmare Cleveland Haunted House to Akron’s Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory.
But it’s not just houses that are haunted. As we bring the spooky season to a close, we’re driving headlong into the mysterious and spine-chilling tales of cursed vehicles that have terrified owners and intrigued collectors for generations. From ghostly sightings to unexplained accidents, these creepy, cursed cars have earned their reputations as haunted legends.
Legendary Classic Cars and Their Haunting Tales
As with many haunted legends, there may be kernels of truth hidden within, combined with lore that is passed down and grows with each retelling. It’s up to you to decide whether you believe.
1. 1964 Dodge 330 LE: The Most Evil Car in America
Dubbed The Golden Eagle, the ‘64 Dodge started life as a police patrol car in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. According to legend, three police officers drove the car while it was being used by the department. All three died in separate, grisly murder-suicides where they killed their families and themselves.
The police department sold the Golden Eagle to a private citizen. It went on to be implicated — either directly or indirectly — in 14 deaths (though some say it’s as many as 32). The car is said to be the inspiration for Steven King’s novel Christine.
2. 1955 Porsche 550 Sypder: Little Bastard
It makes sense that Hollywood Golden Era actor James Dean would have a car that has become a legend in its own right. It started with Dean’s untimely death behind the wheel of the Spyder. After the crash, Dean’s family sold Little Bastard to custom car designer George Barris, who then lent the mangled frame to the Los Angeles National Safety Council for a traveling exhibit meant to discourage reckless driving.
While on display, the car injured a bystander when it fell from its platform. Later, a truck driver charged with transporting the Spyder tragically died. Little Bastard pulled its final ghost move when it vanished during transport on a flatbed truck, never to be seen again.
3. 1934 Ford 40B DeLuxe: Bonnie and Clyde’s Death Car
This early model V8 sedan belonged to Jesse and Ruth Warren in Topeka, Kansas, before being stolen from the driveway by the notorious crime duo Bonnie and Clyde. It would be their last car-napping and their final ride. The law caught up to Bonnie and Clyde on May 23, 1934, and unloaded more than 100 rounds into the car, killing its occupants.
The Death Car is currently on display in Whiskey Pete’s Casino in Primm, Nevada, sporting 112 bullet holes and displayed alongside Clyde’s blood-stained shirt. Visitors have reported feeling eerie and unsettled when in proximity to the car. Some have gotten chills, and others say they feel someone watching them.
4. 1961 Lincoln Continental: SS-100-X
This four-door convertible limousine may be among the most scrutinized vehicles in the world. It was the site of the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. SS-100-X is the car’s secret service code name. The car was later fitted with a bullet-resistant top and returned to service in the Presidential fleet.
It’s now housed in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Museum visitors have reported strange sightings around the car, including a man in gray standing next to it.
5. 1910 Gräf and Stift limousine: The Armistice Car
The open-air limo was owned by Archduke Franz Ferdinand. He was seated in the vehicle on June 28, 1914, when he and his wife were shot by a Bosnian anarchist. The assassination is widely regarded as the incident that started World War I. After that fateful day, the limo was said to be cursed, and every subsequent owner met an unfortunate end. Some say the car saw six accidents and 13 deaths over the course of its lifetime. The car is currently on display in Vienna’s Museum of Military History.
A 2013 Smithsonian article debunked the cursed car myth but did call out a true and coincidental face about the vehicle’s license plate, which reads AIII 118. “It can be taken to read A (for Armistice) 11-11-18 — which means that the death car has always carried with it a prediction not of the dreadful day of Sarajevo that in a real sense marked the beginning of the First World War, but of November 11, 1918: Armistice Day, the day the war ended.”
Bonus: Ohio’s Own Haunted Road
You can take your own cursed (or regular) car for a spooky ride on Ohio’s own Dead Man’s Curve. Voted among the most haunted roads in the United States by international car rental company SIXT, the curve is a nearly 90-degree turn on Interstate 90 near downtown Cleveland. Not only is it a dangerous turn, but legend has it that the curve is haunted by the ghost of a faceless hitchhiker.
Caring for Your Classic Car (Exorcisms Not Included)
Whether your car has a spooky back story or not, maintaining it is key to preserving its value and performance. Here are a few tips to ensure your vehicle stays in top shape:
- Practice regular maintenance. Bring your car in regularly for maintenance and diagnostic checkups. This includes oil changes, tire and battery checks, and fluid replacement.
- Keep it clean. Washing your car keeps it looking good, but it also protects the exterior from rust that can result from driving on Northfield’s snowy and salty roads.
- Test your battery. As we head into winter, you want your car’s battery to operate at full capacity. Test your battery or bring it in for a check and replace it as needed.
Regular maintenance and care can keep your car safely on the road. Stop by your nearest Boyce Auto location for a visit — we may even throw in a ghost story or two.
Up Next: Car Care for Haunted Roads: Essential Tips for Safe Halloween Driving
