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Who wants leather-based when you’ll be able to have burgundy velour?
Considered top-of-the-line TV Westerns of all time, Gunsmoke loved an enviable 20-year run. The present was cancelled after the 1975 season, having earned quite a lot of awards, together with recognition for its progressive and respectful dealing with of points involving Native People.
Extra Favourite Automotive Advertisements
1974 Ford Thunderbird
Burgundy Particular Version
The present was not good, nevertheless. Starting in 1966, Gunsmoke was broadcast in coloration. Whereas this won’t look like a giant deal, all the pieces about this system modified consequently. For no matter cause, the solid of character actors who frequented this system modified, as did the music and the directing. Gone was Gunsmoke’s reasonable, gritty, frontier really feel, changed by the over-saturated coloration, sweaty-faced drama, and shrieky incidental music that might outline TV dramas nicely into the Seventies.
Certainly, if you’re conscious of each packages, the distinction in really feel between black-and-white Gunsmoke and coloration Gunsmoke was a lot the identical because the distinction between Rod Serling’s sensible Twilight Zone (1959-1964), and his later, creepier, icky Night time Gallery (1969-1973).
Which brings us to this 1974 Ford Thunderbird print advert. Every thing about this advert jogs my memory of the unusual and terrible issues that occurred to Gunsmoke when it went to paint. The darkish and over-saturated coloration, the extreme unnatural lighting, and the creepy man peering into the automotive via the sunroof. What the hell is with the man peering via the sunroof? This advert feels much less like a pitch for the T-Chook, and extra like proof for the issuance of a restraining order.
Much more Seventies, nevertheless, is the package deal this advert is selling. The Burgundy Luxurious Group, an extra-cost possibility on the 1974 Thunderbird, represents all the pieces about Seventies automobiles that causes auto fanatics to cringe. First, there’s the velour. The deep, plush, velvety cloth that briefly turned extra prized than leather-based—in burgundy. If there’s a particular stage of hell for naughty Mercedes-Benz house owners, it’s being damned to an eternity on this automotive. Velour, for many who don’t know, was well-known for trapping cigarette smoke, and subsequently endlessly smelling like a moist ashtray.
Additionally included within the package deal is the automotive’s burgundy paint job, like-colored vinyl roof, and the wire wheel covers. This nightmarish assortment of choices got here to a wide ranging $411 (about $2500 in 2024 {dollars}), including significantly to the ’74 T-Chook’s $7330 base value. Additionally obtainable for 1974 was the same White and Gold Luxurious Group, which listed for an eye-opening $546.
I assume I’m a bit unclear what bugs me most about this advert. The dude violating a restraining order, the worst-of-the-Seventies automotive décor package deal, or how a lot it jogs my memory of all the pieces that went improper with TV within the early Seventies. On the plus facet, the Thunderbird Burgundy Particular Version was solely supplied for 1974. So, whereas the automotive makes me uncomfortable, its can also be unlikely I’ll ever truly see one up shut.
1974 Jeep CJ-5: Favourite Automotive Advertisements (Levi’s content material)
Saturn Curve Gallery
(Click on under for enlarged photographs)
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