Classic cars take center stage in 'Gangster Squad'

Although the new movie Gangster Squad touts an impressive cast, it can be argued that the true stars of this period piece are its vintage cars. Aside from acting heavyweights like Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin and Sean Penn, Gangster Squad features over 100 classic cars, the majority of which are irreplaceable.

In particular, there’s the 1941 light blue Ford Deluxe Convertible that Gosling’s character drives; the bullet-nosed 1947 Ford sedans that operate as police vehicles; the stunning black 1936 Oldsmobile ragtop convertible and the stately 1949 Packard Super 8 limousines that carry Penn’s character, the infamous Los Angeles mobster Mickey Cohen.

Not only do these rare cars light up the screen, they also add a sense of legitimacy to Gangster Squad that could not be achieved otherwise.

“These cars, they’re as important as the buildings and clothing and makeup in establishing the time and place,” said Leslie Kendall, chief curator of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, which is currently displaying three cars from Gangster Squad. “If you want to lock a movie scene in, use the right car and they will immediately get it.”

In order to achieve the most authentic look possible, picture car coordinator Tim Woods spent three months working with the film’s director Ruben Fleischer choosing the most suitable vehicles. Woods donated several cars from his personal collection to the film, while the remainder came from Southern California car collectors. In some cases, the owners of the donated cars drove their personal vehicles during filming.

“It’s always good to have the owner of the vehicle to drive the car, because it’s their baby,” said Woods, whose 1941 Ford Deluxe Convertible, 1947 Ford sedan and 1946 Chevy pickup play roles in Gangster Squad.

Not surprisingly, several cars in the film had to be destroyed. Woods, as the picture car coordinator, had to wreck four classic 1949 Cadillacs and eight other vintage cars. Luckily, for the film’s classic car lenders, all of the wrecked vehicles came from local junkyards. Woods and his team purchase vehicles at junkyards that do not run then customize them for stunts and ultimately destroy them.

As for the loaned classic cars, not one was harmed during filming. All bullet holes were CG said Woods, who was dead set on maintaining the integrity of the cars. There was one accident, however, which involved a classic vehicle colliding with a 2010 Ford taxi in the middle of the night.

Gangster Squad centers on a group of LAPD officers and detectives known as the “Gangster Squad” who are trying to keep Los Angeles safe from notorious gangster Mickey Cohen. The film features an all-star cast including Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, Emma Stone and Sean Penn. Gangster Squad is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Image: Warner Bros