Hopefully, most of Stephen King’s books are not based on true stories (there isn’t really a clown that lives in the sewer, right?), but one book actually is. His 1983 novel, Christine, the basis for the movie of the same name, is based on a real car.
The cursed automobile, known as the “Golden Eagle,” is a 1964 Dodge 330 Limited Edition, originally purchased to be a patrol car in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. All three officers who drove the cursed sedan died prematurely; not in the line of duty, but by suicide after murdering their own families.
The Dodge was sold to an elderly local, who sold it to the Allen family, according to current owner Wendy Allen. The Allen's never directly suffered under the curse of the Golden Eagle, except that her doors would mysteriously fly open when they drove on the highway. The cursed vehicle did take the lives of several kids who were hit by other cars, flew through the air, and landed under the wheels of the Dodge. And, another child who foolishly touched the car would die, along with their entire family, two weeks later in a house fire they were suspected of starting.
Throughout the 80’s and 90’s, members of local churches, fearing the car was possessed by evil demons (duh), vandalized the car, only to die shortly afterwards, including one who was struck by lightning and one who was decapitated by a big rig. Eventually the good church folks stole the car, chopped it into pieces and scattered its cursed remains across several area junk yards.
The Allen's were supposedly able to collect enough of the pieces to put the Dodge back into working order. Why? Since the rebuild, the Golden Eagle hasn’t reportedly taken any more lives. But, the doors still fly open when the Allen’s are on the freeway. Don’t touch!
There are many ghost stories out there, and some are true. The story of Sharon Tate's ghost is a true story. Click here to read it.
Keywords: Stephen KingHalloweenhaunted carChristine1964 Dodge 330 Golden Eaglescary story
