Car advertising has changed a bit in 50 years. Maybe people had longer attention spans for sales pitches in 1966 or maybe ad agencies were more willing to go out of their way to do weird stuff, but this consumer film for the ‘66 Impala, called “Impact ‘66,” includes both a demo derby and a trip to the junkyard. Today, car companies would probably be mortified at the suggestion of either, but the long-run ad was trying to get to the fact that there were fewer Chevys in the junkyard than Fords. Whatever you think of the ad techniques, the classic demo derby sequence (about 3:30 into it after the bit about the Chevy II taxis) is some quality bloodsport-style smash ‘em up on a Figure-8 course.
After the demo derby and junkyard visits, the film then switches to a series of pseudoscientific experiments. I’m reasonably sure it’s not real science, but it looks convincing enough, doesn’t it? Ad men never lied or exaggerated in the 1960s, surely. Regardless, the real payoff comes with a dozen or so cars racing across the desert with a bright-red ‘66 Impala SS leading (of course). They don’t make ‘em—the cars or the ads—like this anymore.
somebody doesnt know the difference between Figure 8 racing and demolition derbies. Tsk, tsk.
Handles like a baby carriage , that’s important.