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.
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