Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[VIDEO: It's <i>Footloose</i> with mimes... it's the 1985 Renault Alliance Convertible!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/24/video-its-i-footloose-i-with-mimes-its-the-1985-renault/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/24/video-its-i-footloose-i-with-mimes-its-the-1985-renault/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/24/video-its-i-footloose-i-with-mimes-its-the-1985-renault/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above to watch the video after the jump

When it comes to fashion and cars, the Eighties were not one of our better decades. Marketing efforts weren't so great either, and a long forgotten extended commercial for the 1985 Renault Alliance Convertible makes a case that all three elements should have never been combined. The Renault was a fuel efficient box with a penchant for breaking down on a regular basis, men and women wore two polo shirts at the same time with both collars up, and the jingles of the time inspired the singing career of Michael Bolton.

Hit the jump to watch the craziest nonsense you've ever seen. The video starts off on the beach, then moves to a deserted 1890s-style boom town littered with carriages, mimes, breakdancers, three very Eighties Footloosian dancers and some kick-ass neon signs.

At over three minutes long, we're not sure what the spot was used for (it's too long for television), but its period excellence leaves no doubt as to what decade it was filmed in. And make no mistake: This video won't make you any smarter and it might leave you with a rehash of those childhood mime nightmares, but this old Renault promotion is at least good for a laugh. Many of them. Hat tip to Duncan!

[Source: Renault via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: It's Footloose with mimes... it's the 1985 Renault Alliance Convertible!

VIDEO: It's Footloose with mimes... it's the 1985 Renault Alliance Convertible! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Growing up as a child in the '80s had its ups and its downs. Sure, every generation looks back at its past-self and wonders-out-loud, "What were you thinking," from time to time. Still, our generation sure did have plenty of cool cars, and many of those were featured on television. A rare day went by when we didn't lust for Magnum P.I.'s Ferrari 308; sitting in the movie theater being mesmerized by Doc's De Lorean (not that it's that great of a car, but it's iconic nonetheless) from Back to the Future; or salivating over the Ferrari Daytona and Testarossa from Miami Vice?

British television viewers have also had their fair share of hit shows with vehicular co-stars. According to a survey by HPI Limited, Porsche's peerless 911 has earned the top spot as the ultimate '80s car, followed only one percentage point in the rears by the original Audi Quattro -- a car featured on current U.K. television in the show Ashes to Ashes. British TV fans also have fond memories of the Ford Capri SLE 71R driven by Terry McCann in Minder, a long-running comedy-drama in the U.K.

With many of our readers residing in our own age bracket, we'd love to get your input on the ultimate '80s car in the comments, and feel free to mention more of your favorite cars made famous on TV.

[Source: HPI International]

Continue reading Porsche 911: Ultimate car from the '80s?

Porsche 911: Ultimate car from the '80s? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1980's1980's-cars1980s1980s cars1980sCars80's80s80s cars80s tv80s-cars80s-tv80sCars80sTvaudi quattroaudi-quattroAudiQuattroporsche 911porsche 911 turboporsche 911 turbo ca...porsche 911 turbo sporsche-911-turboPorsche911Porsche911TurboPorsche911TurboCa...Porsche911TurboSultimate 80s carultimate-80s-carUltimate80sCarThu, 27 Mar 2008 18:42:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1150008/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/03/27/porsche-911-ultimate-car-from-the-80s/1150008/article-detail.xml 1150008 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/porsche_911_930_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/porsche_911_930.jpg <![CDATA[VIDEO: Huey Lewis! Michael J. Fox! Integra?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/09/video-huey-lewis-michael-j-fox-integra/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/09/video-huey-lewis-michael-j-fox-integra/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/09/video-huey-lewis-michael-j-fox-integra/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Here it is folks, the ethos of at least the second half of the 1980s, neatly encapsulated in 30 seconds. This 1989 home-market commercial launching the DOHC VTEC engine in the Honda Integra plays up the American appeal baked into the car. Badged as an Acura here in the States, the Integra was cementing the reputation of Honda's upmarket rides in a market that still viewed Honda as a maker of economical, inexpensive cars. The bludgeon-y juxtaposition of an Integra zipping around and Alex P. Keaton Michael J. Fox doing backflips tells you how elated the Integra is supposed to make you feel, but this commercial just makes us feel old. From the opening chord stabs on the Yamaha DX7 to the Huey Lewis soundtrack, this little spot brings 1989 flooding back with a veangance. Many a sunny summer afternoon was whiled away cruising the bike lane with a mongrel Diamondback Viper picked from the trash and resurrected. Integras were starting to get noticed as cars enthusiasts could love, and being junior enthusiasts, we took notice when one motored by. They look especially good when sunset is near, on a winding road dappled with golden sunlight. Ahh, memories - white or red are particulary striking, too. What's nice to see is that MJF could handle something other than a DeLorean, but we still want to know, "hey kid, what's with the life preserver?"

Check the video after the jump.

[Source: Winding Road]

Continue reading VIDEO: Huey Lewis! Michael J. Fox! Integra?

VIDEO: Huey Lewis! Michael J. Fox! Integra? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1980s198980sacuraadvertisingcommercialhondaintegramichael j foxMichaelJFoxtvvtecThu, 09 Aug 2007 18:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/960631/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/08/09/video-huey-lewis-michael-j-fox-integra/960631/article-detail.xml 960631 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/08/mjf_integra_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/08/mjf_integra.jpg <![CDATA[Future Classic: Cadillac Cimarron]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/30/future-classic-cadillac-cimarron/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/30/future-classic-cadillac-cimarron/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/30/future-classic-cadillac-cimarron/#commentsFiled under: , ,



It seems that our Future Classics posts have spurred readers into dreaming up their own nominees. This time around, our Future Classic post was written by Autoblog guest writer Derek Kreindler. We know our choices are often offbeat, but Derek has taken a dive off the deep end. The piece has been edited by Autoblog staff for grammar, spelling and general spunkiness.

Who Killed The Entry Level Caddy? (By Derek Kreindler)

In the history of the automobile, there have been many cars inexplicably authorized for sale: the homely Edsel, firey Pinto, and who could forget the TC by Maserati, synonymous with "unholy alliance"? There is one car, however, that is met with sneers, jeers and other remarks so disparaging they would make a French waiter blush with embarrassment. That car is the Cadillac Cimarron.

Continue reading Future Classic: Cadillac Cimarron

Future Classic: Cadillac Cimarron originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jan 2007 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1980scadillaccimarronfuture classicFutureClassicj bodyj carJBodyJCarTue, 30 Jan 2007 18:06:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/745255/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/01/30/future-classic-cadillac-cimarron/745255/article-detail.xml 745255 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/01/cimarron-82-2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/01/cimarron-82-2.jpg <![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: KITT up for sale]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/30/ebay-find-of-the-day-kitt-up-for-sale/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/30/ebay-find-of-the-day-kitt-up-for-sale/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/30/ebay-find-of-the-day-kitt-up-for-sale/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



This is a picture-perfect reproduction of the Knight Industries 2000. Unfortunately, after all that money and man-hours, the gooey center is still an '80s F-Body. Canadian seller zapper80 has done an awesome job putting this car together, and claims a cost of over $40,000 CDN. Zapper80 cites original molds as the source for some of the body parts, which leads us to believe that the car was put together from the wealth of parts and information available from the enthusiastic Knight Rider fans on the web. The amount of information, and lines of communication back to KITT designer Michael Scheffe are truly astounding. No matter where everything came from, it's a hoot to see it all lit up, and even better, it all works. Well, maybe not the "Turbo Boost" function that'd send 3000 pounds of Trans-Am hurtling over bad guys. This car probably has more mojo under its hood than the original KITT the Hoff tooled around in while doing good for FLAG.

Still, even with all the effort expended, we think the reserve of $19,000 and the buy it now of $30,000 are kind of loony, even in Canadian dollars. Original fans of the series (some of us Autobloggers included) don't have the deep pockets boomers are using to push vintage musclecar prices sky-high; and perhaps our memories of Michael, Devon, and the gang aren't fond enough that we'd want to be extremely conspicuous. Perhaps the value of these cars will rise to meet zapper's hopes when the Weinsteins debut their Knight Rider movie. For the ulitmate 1984 smackdown, we envision a drag race between one of these, and a Delorean that's been defiled with all the time-machine crap. KITT would so totally kick McFly's ass.

More pictures after the jump

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: KITT up for sale

eBay Find of the Day: KITT up for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jan 2007 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1980s200080'sdavid hasselhoffDavidHasselhoffindustriesKITTknightknight industries 2000KnightIndustries2000michael knightMichaelKnightpontiacpop culturePopCulturetrans amTransAmtvtv cartv showsTvCarTvShowsTue, 30 Jan 2007 10:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/744104/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/01/30/ebay-find-of-the-day-kitt-up-for-sale/744104/article-detail.xml 744104 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/01/kitt-2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/01/kitt-2.jpg -1 2