Nov 7, 2023 It's a sad day in Chicago history. Victory Auto Wreckers announced that they will be closing at the end of the month after 80 years in business. This commercial, will live on.
Do they really? I moved to California in 2000. Funny how in Los Angeles they have all these old kind of commercials that mean the same thing to an entirely different people. Adee-Do. Or Jack Stevonavich…. Or Go see Cal, Go see Cal, etc.
For decades, Chicagoans have marveled at this Academy Award-level acting. Bemused and dejected, our hero looks around in subtle disbelief as if to say, “Why me? What now?” We don’t know the answer, but we feel the pain.
Scrap that clunker then go to Andrina Furs so your wife can feel the warm and luxury that she deserves..next, go to Moo & Oink and get some hot links and rib tips. That's Chicago.
“710 East Green in Bensenville, near O’Hare.” Those words were burned into my memory at the age of 6 and will be the last words I utter on my deathbed.
@@chrisw6164 He's right, damn near everything in cook country was 312 up until the late 80's when 708 came to being. You didn't see a change in prefix until you hit 815 going into Joliet.
***** - Sorry, but your memory is too fuzzy. You must be thinking of an earlier Victory Auto Wreckers commercial. This one with the door falling off absolutely premiered in 1985.
@@FuzzyMemoriesTV I grew up in Park Ridge (near O'hare!) in the 70's and 80's, and... I remember seeing this exact commercial, with the scruffy guy pulling the door off, on TV long before 1985.
There is a previous ad for Victory using an almost identical script. But it wasn’t the green car guy and the door didn’t fall off lol. I think this is what we are remembering.
30 years ago I would stay up super late during the summer watching tv in the basement. Every other commercial was either this or a phone sex hotline. Even with only 10 non-cable channels we had back then, it was still better than the 1000 channels you get today.
@barber747 - Nope, according to the company and all video evidence, it premiered in 1985. Back in 1980/81 Victory Auto Wreckers had a completely different commercial (you can find it on our main site).
Weird how a commercial can be almost part of your personality by the time you’re in adult. My friend and I just commiserated about empire carpets phone number how we know it better than our childhood phone numbers. I heard Mike David from Redbar make a reference to this commercial on his show and I think I might’ve been the only person in the entire audience to get it and it was hilarious.
I'm from Chicago and I can tell you that this commercial is way older than 1992... I mean I'm 42 presently and this commercial has been around my entire life.. "710 East Green In Bensonville Near O'hare"... Of course you have the Empire Carpet Commercials... 588-2300 Empire, lol....
That's the legendary voice of the young Dean Richards, that had started doing this commercial since he came into WGN-TV in 1991, my birth year. They closed their doors on November 18, 2023, and they stopped accepting cars on November 18th. May god rest their souls I will miss this iconic commercial of Chicagoan childhoods.. I hope it turns into a new extension of O'Hare Airport and extend it further if they do buy it out and gut the junkyard to make space for planes.
about to go out with family that i never really met tomorrow. one of my family members was this guy. I'm gonna walk into Durbins yelling "that old car is worth money"
Nawwww...... They still run this original ad. Added a couple of new 1’s, but this is the Best and longest running of all Chicago regional commercials. Tidbit: In 2005, WGN ( if you’re from Chicago) did an interview with the guy who worked for the company and opened the door. He said he actually hurt himself. Take a closer look, you can see it. And that’s how they compensated him. Every time you run a commercial, you get paid. TRUE FACTS ! 😉
Wow! This commercial has a 1971 Impala. I remember an earlier Victory commercial had a 1969 gold Impala and a guy handing this guy a hand full of money.
Why does this commercial resonnate for all Chicagoans decades later? This and the Empire jingle are the most memorable commericals for Chicagoans. If they gave Oscars for commercials, this would win Best Picture. The marketing/advertising company responsible for this commercial deserves global success for this gem alone.🤣😂🤣
I just heard about this place is about to close. As a person who lived in Chicago for 40 years. This is a commercial that I remember since I was like four.
Same here, I was just googling it to link the video in a message for nostalgic reasons, and then I heard the sad news. This commercial has been ingrained in my mind since I was a kid.
32 and remember this shit after the price is right went off, and they started putting on soap operas. The Young and the restless, days fo our lives and etc.
I first saw this commercial in 1987 in Chicago. I wonder how the guy whose feet almost smashed by the broken car door, looks like now 2022? Perhaps this commercial was much older when I first saw it. I hope he's still alive.
I remember me and my brother commenting on this when we first saw it back in the 80s that they probably didn't tell the dude the door was going to come all the way off when he opened it, hence it hitting him in the balls. His gesticulations after the fact seem to confirm this: "Hey man! I thought you said it was only going to drop down a little when I opened it! My balls, man! My balls!"
He spent the cash on a matching Erectile-Dysfunction-Chrono-Gauntlet for his right wrist. The set was finally complete. Power surged through his bong-water-scented Lee jeans. The ladies of Bensenville, Illinois, never knew what hit them.
I just read that Victory Auto Wreckers permanently closed this year (2023). Sad to hear that. This commercial was played so much when I was a kid. The only other one I watched as much was for 588-2300...Empire!
This commercial was always on Fox 32 during the day. I was born in 82 and I remember this commercial on days that I was too sick to go to school the most, probably 87-90
"Contrary to popular belief, this ad originated in May of 1985 - despite the 70s-looking wristband/watch the guy is wearing." In the mid-80's some of the real dirtbags were still sporting looks from the late 70's LOL
I call it the "Wash over effects" when you have a style of a period it lasts for a generation no matter how out of date it is. like people in the late nineties sporting jeri curl
@@pookiewookie01 im actually wearing a similar leather wristband/watch as i type this. But ive never really been a slave to trends. I like what i like.
WoW memories tucked between the pages if my mind . . Although I couldn't find the "oh what a beautiful morning oh what a beautiful day" what I thought was a al pemonte commercial . Son of svenghoulie , frazier thomas , ray raynor , all good times if growing up in Illinois :) Godbless
This commercial still played not too long ago, actually. I remember it all the way from the 80's. I think I heard somewhere the entertainment fella from wgn news did the voice for that.
I was born 1990 and remember seeing this mid-90's. Thank you for this, instant subscriber. The name is perfect. I will be angry if this channel doesn't include Eagleman. I'm going on my midlife crisis, I neeeeeed this from youuu! 😅
Just watched the commercial and it occurred to me, The door hits and actually probably hurt that dude. I also bet he didn't get any money and wishes he had an agent at the time. Truly The Kmart of all commercials.
Jotorn I've long said that the actor's reaction to the door falling off is real. They may have told him, "The door will fall off" but I'll bet he didn't realize it would drop the moment it opened, hence the reaction. His foot could have really been hurt on that heavy door.
He didn't get paid exclusively for the commercial. He was actually an employee for victory at the time. So he was on the clock when they slapped this together.
You know your from Chicago if you know this commercial lol
588-2300
🤣❤️
+ Eagle Man.
@@footiebloke I've got a deal for U
Squats down
...wow look at those big....I mean low rates.
MrManny304 lmao 😂 yea
Nov 7, 2023 It's a sad day in Chicago history. Victory Auto Wreckers announced that they will be closing at the end of the month after 80 years in business. This commercial, will live on.
78
This commercial stands the test of time. I mean they still show it today. Legendary.
They still show it because Victory Auto Wreckers can't afford a new one.
Do they really? I moved to California in 2000. Funny how in Los Angeles they have all these old kind of commercials that mean the same thing to an entirely different people. Adee-Do. Or Jack Stevonavich…. Or Go see Cal, Go see Cal, etc.
@@kisshooters69 they don't show it anymore they made a new commercial in 2015.
That's what I needed to know
For decades, Chicagoans have marveled at this Academy Award-level acting. Bemused and dejected, our hero looks around in subtle disbelief as if to say, “Why me? What now?” We don’t know the answer, but we feel the pain.
yet there is hope. That old car is worth money.
Hilarious post!
Scrap that clunker then go to Andrina Furs so your wife can feel the warm and luxury that she deserves..next, go to Moo & Oink and get some hot links and rib tips. That's Chicago.
*AndriAna
this brings a lot of memories from my childhood
Me 2. My brother looks like the kid in the commercial. Everyone thought it was him !
“710 East Green in Bensenville, near O’Hare.” Those words were burned into my memory at the age of 6 and will be the last words I utter on my deathbed.
I grew up watching Chicago basic cable. This ad is ingrained in my head forever.
That, Eagleman Insurance, every Menard's commercial, Empire Carpet...
Bert Weinman Ford, Cellozi Ettleson Chevrolet
basic rabbit ears UHF / VHF
Remember this commercial while watching Svengoolie. Rest in peace Victory Auto Wreckors!!! Took my old 97 Chevy Lumina to you guys!
This is easily the most famous commercial in Chicago history.
This version is the original, as evidenced by the 708 area code.
I dont know......Eagle Man is pretty classic as well.
The empire carpet guy too
It’s older than that, this commercial appeared before the 708 area code was invented.
@@chrisw6164 He's right, damn near everything in cook country was 312 up until the late 80's when 708 came to being. You didn't see a change in prefix until you hit 815 going into Joliet.
What about ol Peter geraci
Not to date myself but I remember seeing this commercial while watching tv after school and it was quite a few years before 1985.
***** - Sorry, but your memory is too fuzzy. You must be thinking of an earlier Victory Auto Wreckers commercial. This one with the door falling off absolutely premiered in 1985.
@@FuzzyMemoriesTV I grew up in Park Ridge (near O'hare!) in the 70's and 80's, and... I remember seeing this exact commercial, with the scruffy guy pulling the door off, on TV long before 1985.
@@ambientstereorecordings3528 - It's just not true, sorry - I have the video evidence. :-) This ad did not air before 1985.
The 708 area code did not go into effect until 1989. The commercial is older than that, they changed the graphics to include the 708 prefix.
There is a previous ad for Victory using an almost identical script. But it wasn’t the green car guy and the door didn’t fall off lol. I think this is what we are remembering.
30 years ago I would stay up super late during the summer watching tv in the basement. Every other commercial was either this or a phone sex hotline.
Even with only 10 non-cable channels we had back then, it was still better than the 1000 channels you get today.
My childhood commercial in the 2000s. Every 80s, 90s and 2000s kid remembers this one from childhood
Yup I remember this commercial back in the 90's
@barber747 - Nope, according to the company and all video evidence, it premiered in 1985. Back in 1980/81 Victory Auto Wreckers had a completely different commercial (you can find it on our main site).
Weird how a commercial can be almost part of your personality by the time you’re in adult. My friend and I just commiserated about empire carpets phone number how we know it better than our childhood phone numbers. I heard Mike David from Redbar make a reference to this commercial on his show and I think I might’ve been the only person in the entire audience to get it and it was hilarious.
Eight hundred 5-8-8 two three hundred EMPIRE
710 East Green in Bensenville, near O’Hare…..still rings in my head from my childhood.
I'm from Chicago and I can tell you that this commercial is way older than 1992... I mean I'm 42 presently and this commercial has been around my entire life.. "710 East Green In Bensonville Near O'hare"... Of course you have the Empire Carpet Commercials... 588-2300 Empire, lol....
This man deserves an award for best actor!
I turn 41 in July and this commercial takes me back
That's the legendary voice of the young Dean Richards, that had started doing this commercial since he came into WGN-TV in 1991, my birth year. They closed their doors on November 18, 2023, and they stopped accepting cars on November 18th. May god rest their souls I will miss this iconic commercial of Chicagoan childhoods.. I hope it turns into a new extension of O'Hare Airport and extend it further if they do buy it out and gut the junkyard to make space for planes.
I LOVE THIS COMMERCIAL🤣 Need a Pizza Puff back to Moo and Oinks!
God this literally never gets old. I love you.
about to go out with family that i never really met tomorrow. one of my family members was this guy. I'm gonna walk into Durbins yelling "that old car is worth money"
Don't update this commercial!!!!!
carmellac2000 they already did 😞
They did and it broke my heart
Nawwww......
They still run this original ad.
Added a couple of new 1’s, but this is the Best and longest running of all Chicago regional commercials. Tidbit:
In 2005, WGN ( if you’re from Chicago) did an interview with the guy who worked for the company and opened the door. He said he actually hurt himself.
Take a closer look, you can see it. And that’s how they compensated him. Every time you run a commercial, you get paid. TRUE FACTS ! 😉
Wow! This commercial has a 1971 Impala. I remember an earlier Victory commercial had a 1969 gold Impala and a guy handing this guy a hand full of money.
This commercial isn't dated at all. It's the world growing up and becoming futuristic that makes this commercial look old - nothing else.
Every Saturday morning watching WWF Superstars of Wrestling.
They must have played this commercial out till mid/ late 90's.. because I totally remember seeing this, and I was watching WWF around '97.
Eventhough This Commercial Was Filmed In The 80's... They Still Showed It During The 90's
Why does this commercial resonnate for all Chicagoans decades later? This and the Empire jingle are the most memorable commericals for Chicagoans. If they gave Oscars for commercials, this would win Best Picture. The marketing/advertising company responsible for this commercial deserves global success for this gem alone.🤣😂🤣
This commercial will live on for decades to come.
Grew up in northwest Indiana watching this
Fellow region rat here.
Victory auto wrecker is STILL showing this same commercial--40 years later!
I know him. His name is bob. Lol and he still works in bemsenville. Funny.
Im from Chicago and remember this the door falls off. You know your from Chicago when you see this
Best part of the ad -- that sweet leather watch band...
hahahahahahahah that poor guy. his door fell off for decades. This is the only ad I ever saw from Victory...maybe the only one they ever needed
I just heard about this place is about to close. As a person who lived in Chicago for 40 years. This is a commercial that I remember since I was like four.
Same here, I was just googling it to link the video in a message for nostalgic reasons, and then I heard the sad news.
This commercial has been ingrained in my mind since I was a kid.
I always remember this commercial they still play it lol btw I'm 31 yrs old so this is super old
32 and remember this shit after the price is right went off, and they started putting on soap operas. The Young and the restless, days fo our lives and etc.
I first saw this commercial in 1987 in Chicago. I wonder how the guy whose feet almost smashed by the broken car door, looks like now 2022? Perhaps this commercial was much older when I first saw it. I hope he's still alive.
No lie,
That is my Cousin, Bobby in that commercial.
Brian Culliney cool
Brian can you ask Bobby for the location where in Bensenville the commercial was shot? Much appreciated sir.
Don Henley has come a long way since this commercial.
RIP, Victory Auto Wreckers.
I remember me and my brother commenting on this when we first saw it back in the 80s that they probably didn't tell the dude the door was going to come all the way off when he opened it, hence it hitting him in the balls. His gesticulations after the fact seem to confirm this: "Hey man! I thought you said it was only going to drop down a little when I opened it! My balls, man! My balls!"
I never noticed it, but you re 100% right. That corner catches him right in the sack. What a pro, took a shot to the testes but stayed in character.
Brings back so many memories! :)
Lol remember seeing this commercial a lot in early 2000s.
He spent the cash on a matching Erectile-Dysfunction-Chrono-Gauntlet for his right wrist. The set was finally complete. Power surged through his bong-water-scented Lee jeans. The ladies of Bensenville, Illinois, never knew what hit them.
Lance Ehlers I thought those were the Cheap Jeans brand.
Dale Thelander, it turns out we were both wrong. A deeper analysis reveals he’s rocking a pair of Chuck Norris Action Jeans.
I just read that Victory Auto Wreckers permanently closed this year (2023).
Sad to hear that.
This commercial was played so much when I was a kid. The only other one I watched as much was for 588-2300...Empire!
I remembers seeing this commercial (and Eagleman commercial) every day on tv in the 90s.
Such a classic ad
They updated this commercial about 10 years ago. But the classic never gets old.
The guy opening the door and just waiving his hands after the door falls 😂 lives in my head rent free it’s burned into my memory
Fun fact: The door falling off wasn't planned. They just rolled with it, haha.
Legend has it that the guy still hasn’t had his door fixed yet
Can't believe this commercial still exists in 2022. Talk about extremely low budget here.
this came on every time I watched WWE!
You mean WWF? At least back then
@@TraceurDoc1 Pretty sure thats the only reason I remember this commercial.. and I didn't get into "WWF" until '97-'98.
Yep
Here you go buddy, 60 bucks, go get yourself a bucket of chicken🎸🐶😄
Todd Ryan bucket of chicken was probably like $5 back then
Browns chicken, mmm on the corner of Smith and Northwest Highway :)))))
@@Baghuul the one that got shot up right?
@@Baghuul I worked at allied heating and air on 14 and hicks
well, $60 when this was filmed was the equivalent of like $200. Which is still funny, but would buy a lot of chicken
Chicagoland lady here. There should be a compilation of this and the Empire Carpet man. 588-2300...
My boyfriend looked EXACTLy like this guy in the commercial. Everyone used to ask him if he was the guy.
My brother too!!
I still see this commercial every once in a while.
This and Eagleman are Chicagoland Institutions, and any Empire Carpet commercial.
My favorite commercial as a kid😂
1985 sounds right to me. Still LoL when I see this ad!
I saw this every morning on WGN Morning News in the ‘90s.
This commercial was always on Fox 32 during the day. I was born in 82 and I remember this commercial on days that I was too sick to go to school the most, probably 87-90
Fun fact: Tom Skilling did the voice over in the 70s and 80s for Victory Auto Wreckers. (YES! THAT TOM SKILLING!)
This is the voice I remember NOT Dean Richards
I grew up on this commercial from the 90s they would still air it into the late 2000s. lol
The greatest commercial of all time.
I remember this commercial from being a kid in the 70's
This lasted for years LMAO!!
Eagle man taking a steaming dump on the car was a good one too...
I wonder whatever happened to that car...or that guy...lol...i always stared at his watch......
Lol.....40 year old video!!! Love it!!!
"Contrary to popular belief, this ad originated in May of 1985 - despite the 70s-looking wristband/watch the guy is wearing." In the mid-80's some of the real dirtbags were still sporting looks from the late 70's LOL
I call it the "Wash over effects" when you have a style of a period it lasts for a generation no matter how out of date it is. like people in the late nineties sporting jeri curl
+Channel 6133 nThose watches and bands have made a comeback.
oh please!! some men still have mullets!
@@pookiewookie01 im actually wearing a similar leather wristband/watch as i type this. But ive never really been a slave to trends. I like what i like.
So nostalgic man, I miss my hometown
My girl from Chicago she grew up on this
I really remember this commercial.
Seven ACRES of used parts!
this commercial brings back memories lol!
Saw it yesterday
Who else just heard the sad news? 😢
I just did today. Such a bummer. 😔
WoW memories tucked between the pages if my mind . . Although I couldn't find the "oh what a beautiful morning oh what a beautiful day" what I thought was a al pemonte commercial . Son of svenghoulie , frazier thomas , ray raynor , all good times if growing up in Illinois :) Godbless
This commercial still played not too long ago, actually. I remember it all the way from the 80's. I think I heard somewhere the entertainment fella from wgn news did the voice for that.
Today I used them for my junk car. Feeling oddly nostalgic
"8lue Thee Diors OFF" ©
Yes I remember this as a kid this and eagle man lol
they have a contest to make a knew commercials for the 30 year anniversity this year
I would love to see the cars that they had back in the day
1992? I don't think so. This commercial goes back about a DECADE EARLIER than THAT...
Date of airing, not production date.
Lol the 708 area code really takes me back
my childhood 🥹
THAT OLD CAR IS WORTH MONEY
That almost got dudes shin 😂
I was born 1990 and remember seeing this mid-90's.
Thank you for this, instant subscriber.
The name is perfect. I will be angry if this channel doesn't include Eagleman. I'm going on my midlife crisis, I neeeeeed this from youuu! 😅
I love this commercial
Just watched the commercial and it occurred to me, The door hits and actually probably hurt that dude. I also bet he didn't get any money and wishes he had an agent at the time. Truly The Kmart of all commercials.
Jotorn I've long said that the actor's reaction to the door falling off is real. They may have told him, "The door will fall off" but I'll bet he didn't realize it would drop the moment it opened, hence the reaction. His foot could have really been hurt on that heavy door.
He didn't get paid exclusively for the commercial. He was actually an employee for victory at the time. So he was on the clock when they slapped this together.
the Spanish version is funnier because of the man's voice, saw both growing up
I remember this commercial
Today was The Last Day. 😢
Curse VAW for taking this off the air. Gold, pure gold.
I just saw the the Walter E smithe tribute parody of it
If you look closely, the door hit his junk....I'm assuming not that much, but enough to make him jump back. Lol