Cars You Didn’t Know Were in “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”
Whether you loved or hated Quinten Tarantino’s latest film, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, it’s difficult to deny that it’s exquisitely executed as a time capsule of the late 1960s. As such, it’s jam-packed with classic Cadillac and Chevrolet vehicles, some of which get a significant amount of screen time. Thanks to the Internet Movie Cars Database (IMCDb), we have a reasonably comprehensive list of what cars appeared in the film, and when.
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For context — and to explain why Sharon Tate appears in front of a 1966 Chevrolet Caprice at one point — Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is a sprawling story about a washed-up TV star named Rick Dalton and his friend/stunt double Cliff Booth trying to navigate Hollywood during the time of the Manson murders. With that out of the way, let’s get to the cars.
The main player
The car that occupies the most time in the movie is Rick Dalton’s eye-catching, cream-colored 1966 Cadillac Coupe de Ville — edging out Booth’s dingy blue Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible. While most of the scenes featuring the de Ville involve Booth ferrying Dalton between various locations in Tinseltown, it does play a part in some unsettling moments at the Manson Ranch.
Surprising inclusions
Not everything can be as recognizable as a Coupe de Ville. However, eagle-eyed viewers will catch the appearance of a 1940 Chevrolet G506 cargo truck in a clip of one of Rick Dalton’s former television appearances. Naturally, a la Tarantino, the scene ends in violence.
Hardcore car enthusiasts might recognize a 1967 Cadillac Ambulance “Superior Rescuer” during one pivotal scene, which I refuse to spoil.
Scene-setting background cars
A well-executed period piece is made or broken by its backgrounds, and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood nails it. If you watch closely, you’ll spot a ’62 Chevy C-10, a ’69 Camaro, a few Impalas, a classic ’68 Corvette, and even a ’59 Task-Force Apache work truck. There are far more Chevrolet and Cadillac models— as well as more than 60 other vehicles — and they all work together to transport you to a bygone time.
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