OREGON - DEATH OF A CAR SELLER

Did you ever see that documentary John Landis made about used car dealers, Slasher? If not, you should put it on your queue/folded-up wallet-list. Basically, Landis just sets up camp in this Memphis car dealership whose sales are so bad they have to fly in an alcoholic version of John "Mighty Mouth" Moschitta from California and have him run around the lot with a bullhorn and tuxedo to get rid of all their overstock. It's extremely depressing, but it also provides some pretty crucial insight into one of the most well-mined veins of comedy of the last 30 years.

Like most members of my generation, I grew up inundated with the sort of local car ads which would go on to birth such masterpieces of choke-inducing laughter as Winnebago man and "Get out your fucking checkbook". Naively, I assumed that these TV and radio spots were the product of insidious marketing strategists. There's no way a fully-grown business owner would goon himself out to an entire state unless it was grounded in reams of extensive research studying the efficacy of irritating, low-budget goonistry on moving units.

It was years before I came to the realization that most car dealers are so jacked to the gills on closer's coffee that the idea of dressing up in a sumo suit and swinging around a tiny plastic sword to "Turning Japanese" is simply the most obvious answer to the question of "How are we going to sell all these cars, Harv?"

This moment of clarity has both increased my appreciation of stupefying car ads and transformed my understanding of the insane local car dealer from your garden variety snake-oil salesman to the last great American folk hero. At least when I'm stoned.

I was initially worried that the decline of the auto industry might spell the end of this precious, amped-up slice of Americana, but now I feel like the increasing air of desperation will only ratchet the magnifico up to unseen heights. And even if it does kill it off, can you begin to imagine how bitter and glorious its death rattles will be? If this new radio spot from TS&S Chrysler in Bend, Oregon is any indicator, extremely.

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Comments

[hahaha]

love the smooth jazz guitar

[jean luc picard]

bend is a bunch of faggots that ski

[Tara]

Winnebago Man is one of my all time favorites. Montgomery Minimall is another oldie but goodie.

[concerned customer]

i would never buy a car off someone dressed like that. i don't even like giving them a tip for handing me a piece of paper towel or squirting soap in my hands.

[no]

pure fucking GOLD!!!

[.]

"An elite dealership!"

[Memphis]

I worked as a p.a. on "Slasher". John Landis is a smug prick. He worships at the altar of Russ Meyer though so that's kind of cool. The sales guy was so coked out I thought he was going to explode.

[Safoin]

Huh, that TS&S ad was kinda funny at first, but they sound awfully bitter. Was thinking of dropping by and offering 25 bucks on a Neon. But now I'd be afraid they might sabotage the thing. I sure won't miss TS&S's dated echo mega deep voice epic ad's they used to do though...

[Me]

Hey Jean Luc, beam somewhere else... I realize skiing is too hard for your French fagot ass, but get a life.

[Van Sales]

I visited this blog first time and found it very interesting and informative.. Keep up the good work thanks..

[Nicole Vickers]

It's a good thing that those car dealers Indianapolis has are really true to what they say in their ads. They have great cars on sale. So great that you wouldn't be able to distinguish which is new or used. In every state, there has to be a good place where you can find awesome auto sales. Indianapolis has one. Michigan has one. Los Angeles has one. Most of the states have one.

[Nike Shox]

i agree with your views from here.