One of the biggest movies of 2023 was “Oppenheimer.” It told the story of the man that many call the father of the atomic bomb. As usual, when people like us watch a movie set in the past, we focus on the cars. One of the cars in the movie was a prewar Cadillac convertible. Interestingly, the actual movie car may be for sale, but the ad isn’t clear if this 1941 Cadillac Series 62 convertible for sale on Craigslist is the exact movie car or one that is identical. Described in the ad as the “main character car,” is it possible that this is the real deal? Does the $100,000 price tag and its Santa Ana, California location lend credence to the claim? Is the asking price the going rate for such a fine car, or does a possible starring role in a big picture inflate the price?
The ad is a bit hard to decipher, and one has to question why such a fine car is being offered on Craigslist with a scant five pictures and a one-paragraph description. We are told that the car has its original lacquer paint, chrome, and plated pot metal. We are also told that the car has been subject to one repaint in 82 years. The interior has very proper leather and a wood-toned dashboard is also in the description. Just in case the seller is reading this, I am happy to fly out to California at your expense and turn this word salad into an ad fit for an RM Sotheby’s auction catalog.
From the pictures that we have, we can see that it is a fantastic example of a 1941 Cadillac Series 62 convertible. The car is described as being finished in a very unusual green/gold color in the ad. Looking at a 1941 Cadillac color chart reveals no less than four factory colors that have green in the description. One would also surmise that Cadillac would still paint your new convertible in any color you would like if you made the arrangements and handed over the required amount of cash. As befitting Cadillac’s top-of-the-line convertible for that year, the only trim level was deluxe. That upscale treatment is evident in the large amount of chrome and other top-of-the-line materials we can see in the photographs.
While some of the pictures show the car almost jailed in the confines of a four-post lift, others show the car outside. While we wish there were a plethora of detailed pictures posted, what we do have evidence of is a car that is in very good condition. This is especially remarkable if the car is still finished in lacquer paint. There is no evidence we can see of any cracking or other signs of age that pop up after the lacquer dries out. Glimpses of the carpeting, leather seat, dash woodgraining, and chrome also look fantastic.
Beyond the car’s condition, the other question is if this is the actual movie car or one just like it. An internet search reveals a movie still of the lead actor and the folks who play his family driving through what might be a recreation of Los Alamos during that period. The car being driven looks to be a 1941 Cadillac convertible in a green hue of some sort. It is hard to tell exactly what color it is due to the heavy coating of dust and grime that the prop department covered the car in. While it is often very lucrative to rent a car out to the movie business, there are a whole lot of horror stories out there too concerning the condition cars were returned in. One question I would have here if I were a buyer would be when were the photos in the ad taken.
In all, if this is a legitimate ad, this Cadillac is probably worth the asking price. Auction prices in the past decade for similar cars are in this ballpark. As for the enhancement in value provided if it was in the movie, I am not very optimistic that it matters much in this case. If it was an integral part of the movie like the Buick in “Rain Man,” then it matters. I don’t feel like the car was a big deal in “Oppenheimer.” Perhaps a reader with experience in this area can provide their expert opinion. Regardless, I hope someone manages to put this beautiful Cadillac in their garage soon.
Do you think this was the actual car from the movie “Oppenheimer?” Does being in a movie really matter when the price is discussed? Please share your opinion in the comments.
Original paint and one repaint? How do you do that?
Very carefully, you do it with a blind fold on.
A photo still from the movie would help bring credence to its history.
I can understand reaching out to all markets to sell a vehicle, but one that supposedly was in a movie…one that gained the attention it did. I would think that the seller would list it with an auction house and not Craigslist. Lol. But then again…maybe they did.
I contacted the owner because he had it listed with Classic Car (dot com) for $109k and their site says it was sold, but he said he pulled the ad. He also said that it is in fact the same car used in the movie. This is part of what he wrote back to me:
“This was rented to the production company and is in fact THE car used by Dr. Oppenheimer (actor playing him) in the 2023 recent movie and the car was returned in fine condition as was promised after filming in three different states including New jersey /New Mexico/ old California”
They probably painted over the original lacquer with more lacquer, hopefully not acrylic lacquer. Either way keep it out of the sun…
I guess it does matter if a car has been in a movie or even if it’s just the same kind of car like all 58 Plymouths are now “Christine” cars regardless if they were in a movie or not. I like this car but not for anywhere near that price. Pre-war cars are dwindling in value, partly because none had power steering or power brakes and partly because the generation that grew up with them are perishing quickly these days. It’s an interesting car to look at but that’s all, not fun to drive. If you’ve ever driven a car where the brake and clutch pedals went through the floor boards you know they usually made a horrible noise like scraping metal, eerie to the ears. I remember my dads 39 Dodge making that horrible noise. Three speed on the tree was a fairly new item when this car was new and the manufacturers like to show case chrome and wood or fake wood grain on dashes and such areas. Drivability was a minor after thought. Anyway I’m sure someone will be willing to dish out the dough for this old Caddy.
God Bless America
They had access to a lift and no underside shots.
Nice looking car. The price is VERY agressive. I hope for the seller I am wrong. My bet is that it will bring in the 50’s.
This probably is the movie car because how many of these can there be in California, in green, with the optional accessory spotlight on the driver’s side? A screen grab shows the movie car had the same spotlight and same color upholstery so odds are this is the same car. How much, if any, additional value that adds is debatable, though the “Rain Man” Buick did sell at auction for $335K in 2022.
The insurance company site doesn’t list a ’41 Series 62 of any type. It does list a ’46 vert in #1 condition at $105k.
This car is local to me, so I could check it out. Except the ad says “don’t call if you don’t have the greenbacks.”
Maybe he’s “oppen” to offers.
100k for this machine and yet mr poster – mr lister can only assemble 5 or 6 pictures——W H Y
How this car drives without power steering or power brakes matters not, because a car like this is not driven, it is bought in order to trailer to car shows or sit in a museum or Jay Leno’s garage. It’s strictly for show and tell. If it’s a movie car then that might matter 50 years from now, but should not add to the price for the reason someone already stated, it is not important to the script at all. A nice Hudson would have done just as well.
Reflecting back on the Margeret Mitchell Mercury, I think that car would best be used if there was a Margeret Mitchell section in some museum in Atlanta. Dump in there with a new paint job and a cleaned up interior and call it a day.
Does it come with a built-in gieger counter?
I had a 1972 Oldsmobile 98 Regency that was supposidly used in the movie “Carlitos Way” with Al Puchino sitting his a*s in the front passenger seat. The person I purchased it from was a small used/classic car dealer in Somerville, New Jersey and often rented them to movie companies. That’s the only documentation I had, as the car ended up on the edit room floor.
The idiots at the movie company would tow the car to where they needed it, which was stupid as the old tow trucks with the leather straps bent both the front and rear bumpers. Always flatbed it!
Just gotta get a pink Corvette (with a back seat!) for the Barbenheimer matched set.
What?!! You’re in Santa Ana, and can’t find enough sunlight to spend five minutes outside to take a few dozen seductive pics? Whether or not it’s the movie rendition, if you really want to sell, please make it obvious.
I was very active in the car shows when living in San Diego 20+ years ago and we were often approached by scouts looking for period era cars for movies.
There were 2 categories curb cars and drivers. Sometimes they would keep your car for months until the filming was completed. I was cautioned by some of the car show entrants not to do it. Many had nightmare outcomes especially if you prized your car.
One close friend had a 1967 Camaro convertible he was hired to do a calendar shoot for a tool company catalog. He was paid expenses for travel meals lodging and a stipend. They had a bikini clad model sprawled across his hood that caved in the center ridge of the hood. It wasn’t very noticeable until you sat in the car.
Fast forward they only offered to repair the hood and the paint never matched.
Here in the Washington DC/Baltimore area I used to supply various old vehicles for movie and advertising use, but stopped after a few cars were damaged, and repairs either never done, or done poorly.
Had a 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood 60s damaged when they used powerful suction cups to secure the heavy cameras to the hood and doors. The suction actually warped the sheet metal because they left the cameras in place on the car overnight.
In another movie, I had the 4″ wide white walls torn down to the cord from a driver running the tires along a concrete curb over & over again.
Another film required one of my cars to be repainted a different color. The contract said the production company would use a water based paint that would wash off, but they actually shot a cheap coat of enamel on the car. When I presented an estimate to have the car repainted, the production company said they had closed and had no money. “Sue us”.
That said, I also provided all the old cars for the Movie Contact. In the scene of Jody Foster’s dads death, set in 1966, the production company took extra care to see that the cars were cared for, and my drivers and I were even given passes for free meals while on the scene.
Back then I used to get paid decent money for the use of movie cars. Today I keep hearing about movie production companies advertising “casting calls” to see if your car might be good enough to be selected for inclusion in the movie — no money, you just get bragging rights to tell people your car was in a movie.
This car was supposedly sold on Classic Cars for $109k previously. No date is shown but the write up is exactly the same as it is on the CL ad:
https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1700245/1941-cadillac-series-62-for-sale-in-cadillac-michigan-49601
I have many cars that were used in various films and videos….
so what. I like the maroon version that was on here a week ago much better.