Cult filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has recently revealed his ninth feature film to audiences in Once Upon A Time In…Hollywood and it has caught on with plenty of critical and audience acclaim as a wildly original and completely stylish story.
Set in 1969 and following the misadventures of fading actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) as they navigate the twists and turns of Hollywood and come into both the famed individuals of the era such as Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), as well as its infamous corners including that of Charles Manson (Damon Herriman).
This quintessential Los Angeles story is also packed out with incredible vehicular detail and if you have a thing for classic cars, well, you’ll seriously be in love here.
Taking centre stage in the picture is a 1966 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. This designated hero car is DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton’s car and its long lines and vintage flair are really in keeping with the slick cool of the era that Tarantino is trying to achieve here.
This third-generation model of the Coupe de Ville series includes a 472 (7.7 L) OHV V8 engine and was previously seen in Tarantino’s 1992 debut Reservoir Dogs. The car is in fact actually owned by actor and Tarantino regular Michael Madsen who loaned it out for use in the film, and until recently had just been keeping it in storage in his garage.
Pitt also got in on plenty of the car action here and along with getting behind the wheel of the Coupe de Ville, he also put his foot down driving a 1964 Karmann Ghia. Pitt was pretty damn fast behind the wheel in this car, which was fitted with a “a pumped-up Subaru engine” according to the production and was inspired by Tarantino’s own life, as the noted director mentioned that his step-father drove a Ghia exactly like the one Pitt does in the film at the very same time period.
Adding to the cool of Once Upon A Time In … Hollywood was also the presence of a 1962 MGTD, which was driven by Robbie’s Sharon Tate and her husband Roman Polanski (Rafal Zawierucha).
An instantly recognisable vehicle, the MGTD has a very memorable Hollywood career having been driven by Marilyn Monroe in 1952’s Monkey Business and by Ryan O’Neal in 1970’s Love Story.
It’s a fitting symbol of the success and glamour that was associated with Tate in the film’s time setting and is another great way of highlighting the different levels of Hollywood through Tarantino’s eyes.
Robbie also got to get behind-the-wheel behind a vintage 1967 Porche 911 as well, and its European style and exotic curves where particularly in keeping with her character and Tate’s status as the It Girl of the moment in the film's time setting.
Alongside the film's hero cars such as the Coupe de Ville, Once Upon A Time In ... Hollywood is filled with plenty of incredible background detail that brings to life the times and style of the late 1960s.
