Vampier than the Batmobile and flashier than the Love Bug, Elvira’s very own Macabre Mobile is a legendary movie car and for a limited time, you can get an up close and personal look during Knott’s Scary Farm 2024.
Here’s a look at everything to know about the Macabre Mobile at the Yours Cruelly, Elvira Xxperience at 2024 Knott’s Scary Farm.
The Macabre Mobile is just one part of the Yours Cruelly, Elvira Xxperience which features several iconic props include Elvira’s costumes, Bone Phone, a red couch, BC Rich guitar, pinball machines, and various Knott’s Scary Farm memorabilia. But we’re taking a closer look at the Macabre Mobile. A sign displayed near the vehicle offers details on its history, much of it in Cassandra Peterson’s own words. Those details follow below.
The Very Beginning
“It’s actually a 1958 T-Bird,” explained Elvira. “I had talked about using it in my old movie, ‘Elvira, Mistress of the Dark,’ for years. So when we started production of the movie, I had to think about what the Macabre Mobile would actually look like,” she explained. “I was walking down Melrose Avenue in Hollywood one day and spotted a ’58 T-Bird convertible and immediately knew—that’s Elvira’s car! Unfortunately, buying one was way out of our production budget, but luckily for me, the prop department found an old hard-top convertible we could afford. They removed the top and the rest is history.”
After the Movie, “Elvira, Mistress of the Dark”
After filming ended, Elvira and the 1958 Ford Thunderbird (aka Macabre Mobile) parted ways. She said, “I was offered a chance to buy the car when the film wrapped, but at the time I didn’t have a garage where I could store a ‘permanent’ convertible, and since it didn’t run, I just didn’t want to deal with it.”
Happily, Elvira and her car were reunited. She said, “Many years later, the woman who had bought it at auction, Lynne Coldsmith, a former rock ‘n’ roll photographer, called me out of the blue and offered to sell it to me since she was moving and would no longer have a place to keep it.”
Makeover by George Barris
The next stop for the Macabre Mobile was a makeover by iconic Hollywood car builder, the legendary George Barris. Elvira continued, “After buying the car, we took it to George, who implemented our ideas. We hired a friend, artist Brian Cooper, to sculpt the chrome skull, crossbones hubcaps, spiderweb grill, and the Elvira metal hood ornament (a winged banshee, sculpted with Elvira’s image). George’s team affixed all the pieces to the car and got it in working order.”
“Counting Cars”
In 2016, for the History Channel show “Counting Cars,” Danny Koker and his team once again transformed the Macabre Mobile. Elvira reminisced, “In exchange for me appearing on their show, they did a complete makeover on the Macabre Mobile, giving her a new paint job, leopard upholstery, and the addition of the ‘coffin’ trunk interior. They did a great job and I had a blast working on the show.”
The Macabre Mobile has become an iconic vehicle in pop culture and a beloved part of Elvira’s image, with its signature spooky style and unforgettable appearances in film, TV, and comic books. The 1958 Ford Thunderbird continues to be a fan favorite.
More to Explore
You can learn more about the entire Yours Cruelly, Elvira Xxperience in our posting below.
MORE INFO: STEP INSIDE: Yours Cruelly, Elvira Xxperience at 2024 Knott’s Scary Farm
See it for Yourself
Knott’s Scary Farm returns for 29 frightful nights from September 19 – November 2, 2024. Event dates follow:
Knott’s Scary Farm is open 7:00 pm – 1:00 am, excluding Fridays and Saturdays, where the event will run 7:00 pm – 2:00 am. Due to the explicit and frightening nature of the event, it is not recommended for children under 13.
- September 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29
- October 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31,
- November 1 and 2
MORE INFO: See all MouseInfo coverage for Knott’s Scary Farm
