Picture Car Glossary
Era vehicle or period car
What is an era vehicle or period car?
Updated June 2026 · Revolution Picture Cars
Also called period vehicle.
An era vehicle or period car is a picture car specifically sourced because its design, manufacture date, and appearance accurately represents a particular historical time period required by the script.
Era vehicles may require additional modification to remove anachronistic details (modern safety stickers, contemporary-style wheels) and must often be verified by the production designer and historical consultant before camera. Period cars demand extra care during use because their rarity and irreplaceability increases their value and raises insurance considerations significantly.
Example
A 1972-set scene needs cars registered no later than 1972, in period-correct colors, with period plates and no modern aftermarket wheels. One 1978 sedan in the background is the detail that dates the whole shot wrongly.
Figures are illustrative, chosen to show the mechanics rather than to quote market rates.
Where you'll see it
Sourced against the production design reference, and checked by the coordinator before the day.
Common mistake
Checking the model year and nothing else. Modern wheels, a later plate, or an anachronistic color will date a shot even when the car itself is correct.
Related questions
- How accurate does a period car have to be?
- Accurate to the year the story is set, including plates, wheels, and color, because one later vehicle in frame undermines the whole shot.
- Where do period picture cars come from?
- Private owners, collectors, and specialist vendors, sourced against the production design reference rather than on availability alone.
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