ten of the most terrifying car names in the world

there is an aspect of halloween that often goes unnoticed, with the exception of a few looking to kill some time from behind the windshield—frightening car names. automakers have a lengthy history of naming vehicles after predatory beasts and birds of prey to create an impact, reflecting the menacing hunting style of these animals. while halloween is only for one day per year, these cars will have their names etched in the sands of time forevermore–that is a scary thought in itself.

1. rolls-royce ‘phantom’

the rolls-royce ‘phantom’ requires no introduction, however, it has recently been announced that the evil-named majestic vehicle is soon to be discontinued by the british-luxury-automaker. so it may be the case that a conclusion is more befitting, as the vehicle will translate the ‘phantom’ name into its physical form, disappearing from the face of the earth completely. you can view more about the bespoke ‘phantom limelight collection’ here.

2. AMC gremlin

what could be scarier than a car named after an evil creature that likes to damage machinery? perhaps one of the most curiously proportioned cars ever, with a long low snout; long front overhang; and a truncated tail, like the tail snapped off a salamander. it also carries the reputation of  being a nightmare to drive, with a heavy six-cylinder motor and choppy handling, due to the loss of suspension travel in the back.

3. hillman ‘imp’

the hillman ‘imp’s’ origins date back to 1955 when the rootes group gave engineers michael parks (subsequently to join the ferrari f1 team); and tim fry carte blanche to devise a new 1.0 liter car capable of seating a family of four while delivering economy of 60 mpg. its name dates back to the late 19th century, borrowing it from a mythological being similar to a fairy or goblin.

4. lamborghini ‘diablo’

the lamborghini ‘diablo’ borrows its name from the spanish word for ‘the devil’, as in lucifer, enough said. this model is sporting a particularly spooky color-way.

5. alfa romeo ‘spyder’

ducking and dodging spider’s webs is a must when out on halloween, and it is from the creepy-crawly-creatures alfa romeo has taken the name for its roadster. this particular homage vehicle wears a costume of terror. paying homage to hokusai’s ‘the great wave of kanagawa’, illustrating fishermen lost at sea adds a veil of mystery, you can view more about the ‘alfa-romeo + garage italia 4C hokusai’ here.

6. ford ‘probe’

while the name ‘probe’ doesn’t intend to be scary, for some we can agree that the name conjures up some disturbing imagery. not to mention that ford nearly killed the popular ‘mustang’ to replace it with this front-drive coupe. a scary thought!

7. dodge ‘challenger SRT hellcat’

boasting 707 horses of power beneath the bonnet, the dodge ‘challenger SRT hellcat’ not only has a pretty scary name, it must be absolutely terrifying to drive as it can scream through racetracks and city streets alike.

8. rolls-royce ‘wraith’

on the face of it the rolls-royce ‘wraith’ is simply a ‘ghost’ with a fast back; the same chassis and; from the front doors forward, pretty much the same all-round design. the names however shouldn’t be confused. drawing influence from the scottish dialectal word for ‘ghost’; or ‘spirit’, it has also been used to describe an arch-nemesis of spider-man. this particular model is disguised in pure carbon fiber, with over 600 hp sat beneath the bonnet. you can view more about the ‘rolls-royce + bengala carbon fiber vitesse audessus’ here.

9. DF goblin

the DF ‘goblin’ kit car has a name of pure evil to reflect it’s untamable nature on the test-track. borrowing its name directly from intelligent, aggressive humanoid creatures that live in dark pits, the model shown above has a menacing color on the frame.

10. lamborghini ‘murciélago’

beware of bats in the evening, which is where the bologna-automaker has taken the name for its flagship vehicle. translating from spanish, the ‘bat’ carries a reputation for terrifying passers by with it’s screaming 570+ hp engine.

auto industry body HPI have compiled the original list of the ‘most spooky car names’, read more here.