Green Book - A Car in the Shadow of the Oscar
In 2019, Green Book won the Academy Award for Best Picture — and the world talked about its humor, the chemistry between the leads, and its journey through 1960s America. But few noticed that the film’s real stage wasn’t concert halls or smoky bars — it was the inside of a car.
On screen, that car is the luxurious Cadillac Series 62, a glittering symbol of its era. Yet in the film it becomes something more than transport: a rolling theater where two men spend almost their entire journey together. In its seats, jokes are born, tempers flare, and the rhythm of their relationship slowly changes.
The Cadillac emerges as the film’s “third character” — a private stage on wheels, bridging the road with fate, the roar of the highway with the quiet of intimate conversation.
Which leads us to the question worth asking: can a car truly be the hero of a film?
The Cadillac emerges as the film’s “third character” — a private stage on wheels, bridging the road with fate, the roar of the highway with the quiet of intimate conversation.
Which leads us to the question worth asking: can a car truly be the hero of a film?
Cadillac Series 62: Highlights and Hidden Stories
A Style Icon of the ’40s
When the Series 62 debuted in 1940, its smooth “torpedo” body without running boards looked revolutionary. The car didn’t just drive — it glided, instantly becoming a symbol of a new era of luxury.
Tailfins Take Flight
Cadillac was one of the first to embrace the famous tailfins. Inspired by jet aircraft, they gave the car a rocket-like silhouette and set a design trend that defined an entire decade.
Comfort as an Art Form
By the early ’60s, a Series 62 buyer could choose from a dozen interior options — leather, fabrics, power windows, ambient lighting, plush armrests. The cabin felt more like a living room on wheels than just a car.
Size that Impresses
At nearly 5.6 meters long and 2 meters wide, this Cadillac was bigger than many city parking spots. No wonder people called it a “palace on wheels.”
An Era in Transition
The 1962 version holds a special place in Cadillac history: it had shed the over-the-top flamboyance of the ’50s but hadn’t yet moved into the minimalist lines of the mid-’60s. That balance is why many consider it the “golden midpoint” of Cadillac design.
A Style Icon of the ’40s
When the Series 62 debuted in 1940, its smooth “torpedo” body without running boards looked revolutionary. The car didn’t just drive — it glided, instantly becoming a symbol of a new era of luxury.
Tailfins Take Flight
Cadillac was one of the first to embrace the famous tailfins. Inspired by jet aircraft, they gave the car a rocket-like silhouette and set a design trend that defined an entire decade.
Comfort as an Art Form
By the early ’60s, a Series 62 buyer could choose from a dozen interior options — leather, fabrics, power windows, ambient lighting, plush armrests. The cabin felt more like a living room on wheels than just a car.
Size that Impresses
At nearly 5.6 meters long and 2 meters wide, this Cadillac was bigger than many city parking spots. No wonder people called it a “palace on wheels.”
An Era in Transition
The 1962 version holds a special place in Cadillac history: it had shed the over-the-top flamboyance of the ’50s but hadn’t yet moved into the minimalist lines of the mid-’60s. That balance is why many consider it the “golden midpoint” of Cadillac design.
Cadillac Series 62
Still from the film “Green Book” (2018), © Universal Pictures.
The Color That Made the Cadillac a “Third Hero”
In Green Book, the car doesn’t blend into the background — it instantly grabs the eye. The 1962 Cadillac DeVille wasn’t chosen by chance, and it wasn’t painted black like so many limousines or executive sedans of its era. Instead, the filmmakers went with turquoise, making the car practically glow on screen and underlining its importance to the story.
What’s fascinating is that this choice wasn’t just artistic license. Cadillac’s early ’60s catalog really did offer bold shades, including Teal Blue — a rich turquoise almost identical to the one seen in the film. Still, the most common colors for the Series 62 back then were more conservative: black, navy, cream, or silver.
Still from the film “Green Book” (2018), © Universal Pictures.
What’s fascinating is that this choice wasn’t just artistic license. Cadillac’s early ’60s catalog really did offer bold shades, including Teal Blue — a rich turquoise almost identical to the one seen in the film. Still, the most common colors for the Series 62 back then were more conservative: black, navy, cream, or silver.
Still from the film “Green Book” (2018), © Universal Pictures.
In the end, the color choice elevated the car from simple set dressing to part of the movie’s visual language. The turquoise Cadillac wasn’t just a backdrop for the journey — it became an active presence in every scene, shaping the mood as much as the characters themselves.
Still from the film
“Green Book” (2018),
© Universal Pictures.
“Green Book” (2018),
© Universal Pictures.
Curtain Call on Wheels
When the journey ends, the Cadillac seems to fade with the story itself. Its role is complete — it has carried out its mission, not just as transport, but as a moving stage where the characters’ bond was forged. Without this car, there would be no journey, no chemistry, no transformation.
And here’s the twist — this automobile didn’t remain locked in film history. A 1962 Cadillac Series 62 can still be bought today. At auctions, prices range from as little as $3–5,000 for restoration projects to as much as $150,000 for pristine collector-grade examples. On average, a well-kept, road-ready Series 62 will cost somewhere between $25,000 and $50,000.
Which means the legend of Green Book doesn’t have to live only on screen — it could also live in your garage. The car that became an Oscar-winning co-star is still within reach for those who want to own a piece of American history on wheels.
Which means the legend of Green Book doesn’t have to live only on screen — it could also live in your garage. The car that became an Oscar-winning co-star is still within reach for those who want to own a piece of American history on wheels.
