Director Quentin Tarantino’s 2007 exploitation film Death Proof was an homage to low-budget movies of the drive-in theater era. It was part of a sleaze double bill with Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror. Tarantino’s epic features two iconic Death Proof cars: a 1969 Dodge Charger and a 1971 Challenger modified to look like the car from the road film Vanishing Point (complete with 440 Magnum hood badges).
The Car’s the Star
Death Proof’s ‘71 Challenger—with actresses Zoe Bell, Rosario Dawson, and Sydney Tamiia Porter onboard—is engaged in a lengthy road battle with the Charger, driven by Kurt Russell (as the sinister “Stuntman Mike”). Bell spends most of the scene strapped to the Challenger’s hood. The fittings for those straps are still there, as are the camera mounts—and the movie car itself is now for sale on eBay.
The Challenger still bears the scars of making Death Proof in 2007.
More properly, the Death Proof car listed on eBay is only one of the Challengers used in the film. It still has extensive body damage from getting repeatedly sideswiped by the Charger. (Some of the side creases were painted on for effect during filming.) The seller, Movie Cars Central, says six Challengers were used to film the movie, and two survived as complete cars. “The other one is now in England and recently sold for $80,000,” the seller said, adding that the car now for sale was used in multiple shots of the final car chase.
A poster for Death Proof is available on eBay.
The Death Proof Car is a Survivor, in Every Way
The Challenger, now in Los Angeles, was part of a package sold off by Back to Back Films in 2007, and it’s still in “as filmed” condition with 38,965 miles on the odometer. But it’s been around the world. The seller told eBay Motors: “I bought the Challenger in Australia at the beginning of this year, during one of my adventures driving a Mad Max car we just built. I sold that car through eBay as well, in March.”
The interior is mostly there, though the radio is a movie fake.
The Mechanicals are All There
Under the hood in place of the 440 is a 383-cubic-inch V-8, reportedly in excellent condition. “The gearbox shifts smoothly. A lot of work has been done on the electricals and inside the engine bay,” said the seller. “The exhaust and mufflers are new, as well as the fuel tank. This car runs and drives fine. This is your chance to own a rare and valuable piece of automotive and movie industry.”
No, it’s not a 440 Magnum, but a 383 is plenty potent anyway. Tarantino was trying to make his ’71 look like the ’70 Challenger from Vanishing Point.
Would You Restore the Death Proof Car or Leave As Is?
All the 1970 Challenger parts necessary to restore this one are on eBay. You may need a new radio because the one in the car is a fake movie prop. “A good example of how Hollywood is all make believe,” Movie Cars Central said. The 383 V-8 is also well supported with parts on eBay. The question for the new owner of this car is whether to keep the movie-inflicted damage or make it as-new again.
Tarantino wanted to create a great chase scene because it had been a while since anyone had filmed one. “I don’t think there have been any good car chases since I started making films in ’92,” he said. “To me, the last terrific car chase was in Terminator 2. And Final Destination 2 had a magnificent car action piece. In between that, not a lot.”
Despite appearances, the Challenger is said to run and drive just fine.
Movie cars have an undeniable cachet, and this Death Proof car would make a great conversation piece. Whatever your take on grindhouse films, Death Proof is a big thrill ride made by a master, and the Challenger now available on eBay is a major star in it.
