That the drug-pushing "Mr. Elias" is driving 1:20 into the movie? It's blue-green with great taillights?
1m20s into the movie or 1h20m into the movie?
The black car at the beginning is a '73 Pontiac Bonneville or Grand Prix. I'm watching the movie on TCM right now. If you mean at the 1h20m mark.... you'll have to wait. It JUST started.
That's a 1963 Ford Thunderbird. That particular model is the "Hardtop". In 1974 it would be considered an "older car", but in it's day, it was an amazing machine and in mint condition today, they are very valuable and collectable. The 1961, 62 and 63 had the same body styles. The only difference was the trim on the sides and slight variations in the grill and taillight lenses, otherwise, they were basically the same car. The "great" tail lights you noticed were supposed to resemble jet airplane engine afterburners.
In 1964 we got a totally new body style with more streamlined headlight housings, grille and horizontal tail lights.
The 1963 Thunderbird came in 4 models. The Hardtop shown in the film, the Landau (which was the hardtop covered in vinyl fabric and an S shaped chrome trim), the convertible and the "sports roadster" which had open rear wheel wells, wire wheel covers and a cover that went over the rear seats with built in headrests for the front passengers which gave the car the illusion it was a 2 seater. The "sports roadster" is the most valuable today because by comparison, very few of them were produced. The cars featured a top of the line 425 horsepower engine, which makes modern car engines look puny in comparison. It was a big heavy and very powerful car. It only came in 2 door models. Although it was considered a "luxury car", it was for those who loved to drive themselves and did not have a big family. It's niche was a single, well to do man who loved driving, but did not want a small sportscar, but rather a big elegant and powerful machine.
The big innovations and features on the car included "flow through ventilation" where the air came in under the windshield and out a horizontal vent directly under the rear window. There was also a "wrap around rear seat", which looked like a sofa with curved sides. It also had a "swing away" steering wheel which would swing aside to allow easier access. The car featured a specially designed dashboard that was recessed so there was LOTS of leg room for driver and passenger, which made the car very popular with drivers who were big or tall.
That's probably more info than you were looking for, but that car is one of my very favorites! Cheers!