VIDEO: Priceless 1989 Ford dealer training films offer timeless amusement
1989 Ford dealer training clip - click above image to watch the videos
Y'all remember Robocop? You know, the really excellent Eighties action masterpiece about a shot-to-hell cop that comes back as a bulletproof robot to rid Detroit of über baddies like the ruthless Clarence Boddiker and super villain Dick Jones? Well, what you may not remember about Paul Verhoeven's 1987 masterpiece is all the social satire. From the 6000 SUX (8 mpg!) to the slaps at very privatized health care (Jensen Sport model heart!) to the Nuke 'Em family home game, the satire was rich and sardonic.
But where did Verhoeven get the fodder for his gags? Dunno, but it's been said that 49% of the population doesn't get sarcasm. Which explains how these 1989 Ford dealer training ads got made. Someone at Ford saw Robocop and said, "Yes! That's the medium we've been looking for." Don't believe us? Make the jump and watch two of them (one on the Festiva and Escort, and another on the Crown Victoria) for yourself.
[Source: YouTube via Michael Banovsky]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
KeatMP 7:39PM (8/20/2009)
Shoot me now.
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Radix 7:57PM (8/20/2009)
You have twenty seconds to comply.
Mike 7:49PM (8/20/2009)
Did you see that Excel? I love when the Asian contingent here comes on and tells how domestic cars have been crap for so long, and the domestics have been screwing customers with crappy cars for 30 years. Guess what? Everything in the '80s was crap.
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MachinaDC5 7:58PM (8/20/2009)
What do you mean? The 1988 Hyundai Excel is a work of art and engineering mastery. Just look at that beauty! Now I know it's no illustrious Festiva, but it's a total supercar fighter.
Iwa 8:18PM (8/20/2009)
My old '89 Honda Accord LX-i begs to differ.
nrb 8:50PM (8/20/2009)
Mike, I don't know where you were back in '89. The '89 Excel was pure crap in every sense of the word. Hyundai didn't start getting their act together until very recently. It seemed to coincide with their purchase of Kia. Historically, Kia had much better build quality than Hyundai.
Jrejre 9:09PM (8/20/2009)
I agree that almost everything in the 80s was crap. Considering everyone in that decade was clearly blind and on crack, it's amazing that any good looking cars came out of that era at all. (porsche 928)
Ray 1:57AM (8/21/2009)
Hey my '85 Alfa Romeo GTV6 was NOT crap just because it was built in the '80s!
cWj 3:39AM (8/21/2009)
+1 mother's '89 Camry (which would still be around had it not been passed to sister)
She was close to getting a Corolla GT-S when we were looking; still want one of those. Airbag? Pfft. I'll rock the 5-point and HJC.
c g 9:41AM (8/21/2009)
To Ray about your Alfa Romeo,
You are correct in saying that your GTV6 was not crap because it was built in the 80's. The truth is that it was a large turd because it was partially owned and distributed by GM in the 80's. GM was to Alfa Romeo what AMF was to Harley Davidson.
the4thheat 6:52PM (8/21/2009)
Uh...I don't think the Japanese import fans think that 1988 Hyundai Excels were reliable. Similarly, if you think BMWs are nice cars that doesn't mean that you think the Yugo was a great car just because it was technically made in Europe.
And anyways, anybody with half a brain wouldn't just lump cars into such huge categories. Even amongst each country's brands there's the decent car companies and companies that put out more questionably reliable vehicles. Only an idiot would think that Mitsubishi has the same reliability record as Lexus just because they're both Japanese.
Tyler 3:15PM (8/29/2009)
Yes everything from the mid 70's to the mid 90's was a nightmare for the auto industry. Worst ever engineered and fugliest too.
TheClassic 8:07PM (8/20/2009)
I just watched the first video and didn't notice any sarcasm
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Farris 8:08PM (8/20/2009)
I like how at 4:26 he says that the Festiva offers more features, and the graphic shows the exact opposite. :D
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Bobby 12:06AM (8/21/2009)
lol.... yupe .... everyone would've ditched the 5 speed gearbox and tinted windows to safe themselves $295 for a FM stereo ... kudos Ford ... happy number 5. ....
nardvark 8:29PM (8/20/2009)
Until I watched this, I think I had completely forgotten that people used to tow things with cars. That's unpossible isn't it? Don't we all need Tahoes?
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Neil Schelly 9:06AM (8/21/2009)
There are very few sedans capable of towing now. Unibodies and FWD are highly inadequate for towing larger rigs over 2000-3000 lbs. You can certainly tow small trailers with just about anything though.
-N
RMN 8:46PM (8/20/2009)
Found:
Ford Dealer Training: 1989 Ford Taurus vs 1989 Honda Accord
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO7qGM9lU44
Ford Dealer Training: 1989 Ford Tempo Competition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIGfIcugrzc
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Jrejre 8:59PM (8/20/2009)
EPA mileage estimates:
38/40
Oh how far we've come.
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bh 9:29PM (8/20/2009)
We've come to change the test procedures. According to fueleconomy.gov, that translates to 32 city / 36 highway in today's figures -- just two miles per gallon ahead of a Yaris that meets modern safety requirements.