'Been in storage too long': Dustin Hoffman's iconic Rain Man car hits auction

"Been in storage too long": Dustin Hoffman's Beloved Rain Man Car Steps into the Spotlight

The Hollywood landscape is no stranger to memorable prop sales, but this time it's a unique automobile capturing the limelight. The 1949 Roadmaster Convertible, a car that carried Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise through the journey of their acclaimed 1988 film, Rain Man, is being put up for auction, as reported by the Independent.

The Rain Man car, which Hoffman acquired after the completion of the film, is now set to change hands. Valued at an estimated £100,000 to £182,000, the actor felt that the car had "been in storage too long" and should be "driven, enjoyed, and cherished".

The Roadmaster Convertible is not just another film prop but is described as the “third character” in the film. Rain Man, which revolved around the cross-country, transformative journey of Charlie Babbitt (played by Cruise) and his autistic brother Raymond (played by Hoffman), positioned the car as a pivotal player. Barry Levinson, the film's director, echoed these sentiments, stating, "The car had a very strong visual presence in the film and was featured throughout. It became a character. Dustin, Tom Cruise, and the ’49 Buick. In essence, the car had ‘third billing’”.

The film won several Academy Awards, including Best Film, Best Director for Levinson, and Best Actor for Hoffman, cementing the car's historical value in Hollywood lore.

The treasured Buick is to go under the hammer at the Bonhams Scottsdale Auction in Arizona on January 27. Jakob Greisen, Bonhams head of US motoring, hailed the auction as an extraordinary chance for car enthusiasts and fans of the classic Rain Man movie to own a piece of film history.

While car auctions are common, this sale represents more than just an automobile. It's a piece of cinematic history, a character from a beloved film, and a testament to the unforgettable performances of Hoffman and Cruise. In Hoffman's words, it's now time for this 'character' to be "driven, enjoyed, and cherished" once again.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)