Classic cars are absolutely amazing – they are a genuine piece of history, and each one has their own unique story. But, when you find a classic car that’s also a movie car, it’s a completely different ballgame. The history is there, but the storyline is usually crazy, and the value of the car itself can get up there as well. Most movie cars end up destroyed these days, but every now and then, one comes to the surface – and usually with a hefty price tag in tow. Think about the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T from the original Fast and Furious movie. It went on sale back in 2010 for some $130,000. (art97828) This time around, it’s a 1971 Dodge Challenger that’s for sale, and it’s the very car used in Quinton Tarantino’s Death Proof.

As you would expect from a movie car, it is “used,” but don’t fret, a lot of the body damage is actually painted on. It has just 38,965 miles on the clock and is motivated by a 383 Magnum V-8. That’s a 6.3-liter that’s good for 335 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque – not much by today’s standards, but it was pretty exceptional for its time. It’s one of only two surviving Challengers from the movie, and despite the way it looks, it’s actually in really good shape with no structural rust and a little wear and tear from use in the movie. It was sold by the production company 10 years ago, and still features the camera mounts underneath, the racing seatbelt mount points, the fake plastic radio, and a support in the trunk that allowed one of the rear wheels to be locked. It also has the typical Hollywood chopped seats to make it easier to see the actors that were in the rear during in-car scenes. Keep reading to learn a little more about it and see more pictures.

This is One Fine Piece of Movie History

So, we’ve already covered the basic Hollywood modifications, but there’s something else that really makes this car stand out, aside from the interesting paint job, that is. What is it you ask?

Well, if you know anything about classic cars, you’ve probably already spotted the door frames on this beauty. Those were added to the car to provide support and allow Zoe Bell to strap in safely during her famous on-the-hood scene. And, keep in mind that the car was made to look this way for a reason – it was styled after the Challenger from Vanishing Point, one of Tarantino’s favorite movies. On top of all this, the car has been fitted with new exhaust and a new gas tank, while the electric system has been revamped and the engine bay touched up. It’s really quite an amazing piece of history, but its history was almost long forgotten.

Someone Almost Made a big Opps

See, the car is for sale by Movie Cars Central, a European-based firm with a large collection of famous movie films. And, they found it sitting in a garage in Australia, but that’s only because one man realized what he had before it was too late. The person who owned it before Movie Cars Central had purchased it from a friend who had imported it after filming of Death Proof was complete. The problem is that he didn’t like the condition the car was in, so he sold it off to the previous owner who planned to restore it.

Luckily, a friend of the previous owner saw a trailer for the movie and notice the uncanny similarities between the movie car and the car in question. The decision was made to leave the car as it is, and it sat until he could find a buyer that would appreciate the car for what it is, instead of ruining its movie heritage. Now, Movie Cars Central has placed it for sale on eBay, and at the time of this writing, the current bid is up to $16,100 with a little over four days left to go. You can see the whole story and the car itself driving in the video above.

Interested in buying this piece of Tarantino movie history? Head on over to the eBay listing and make your bid. Otherwise, tell us what you think in the comments section below!

Death Proof Trailer

Movie Posters

References

Read our full review on the 1971 Dodge Challenger.