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May 18, 2009

The 1985 Plymouth Duster Commercial Is Officially The Most '80s Thing Ever

This unbelievable 1985 commercial for the Plymouth Duster starring Finola Hughes and every '80s cliche except the Rubik's Cube has just completely blown my mind. We cannot parody the '80s. The people of the '80s did it all first, in this one commercial. I can't stop watching this:

This commenter might be right:

They should have just shown this instead of the '80s flashbacks on last week's Gossip Girl. I have to go watch Girls Just Wanna Have Fun now. (Via Jalopnik.)

Posted by Lindsay at 5:00 PM in ,
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26 Comments

Finola isn't the only one that's had to leave it all behind because of a Plymouth Duster.

(I really want that Finola Hughes tag to get more use than it's going to)

Posted by: glass_family profile link at 05/18/09 5:06 PM | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down

I'd strongly consider buying an American car if I knew that some of the profits they made would go into more of this kind of advertising.

Posted by: Joel at 05/18/09 5:11 PM | Reply
Score = 7 Vote up Vote down
inglorius basTURD

Where's Zabka?

Posted by: inglorius basTURD profile link at 05/18/09 5:13 PM | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down

Mind=blown.

Posted by: Jeff at 05/18/09 5:29 PM | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down
Jeb

i want to go to there.

Posted by: Jeb profile link at 05/18/09 5:32 PM | Reply
Score = 6 Vote up Vote down
Becca

these are like outtakes from Barry Gordy's The Last Dragon.

PRO TIP: Skip to 3:15.

Posted by: Becca profile link at 05/18/09 5:43 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down
Ashley

I love the humongous stick shift. It looks like she's driving a tractor.

Posted by: Ashley profile link at 05/18/09 5:53 PM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down
Mittens

Great, I'm going to be singing that all day now. Mah duster, Mah Duster!

Posted by: Mittens profile link at 05/18/09 6:02 PM | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down
She-Ra, P.O.P.

And this is why no one buys American anymore.

Posted by: She-Ra, P.O.P. profile link at 05/18/09 6:17 PM | Reply
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Pants? Meet crap!

Posted by: Turner profile link at 05/18/09 6:21 PM | Reply
Score = 5 Vote up Vote down
compression.shorts.mogul

I want to drive a Plymouth Duster™. It sure looks like a lot of fun!

Posted by: compression.shorts.mogul profile link at 05/18/09 6:35 PM | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down

Would someone tell me where you get a Polaroid that dispenses already developed pictures k thanks.

Posted by: jdeuel at 05/18/09 6:44 PM | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down

I just pulled the cord on my parachute pants.

Posted by: Flock of Me-gulls at 05/18/09 6:47 PM | Reply
Score = 10 Vote up Vote down

The song is like a collaboration between Missing Persons and Elvis Costello = me listening over and over again.

Posted by: Spencer at 05/18/09 7:08 PM | Reply
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I'd also like to add that the first line of the song is "I don't wanna be safe no more."

I'd like to add in addition to that that this commercial is a car commercial.

Posted by: Spencer in reply to Spencer's comment at 05/18/09 7:18 PM | Reply
Score = 17 Vote up Vote down
disgruntled hipster no. 416

Unfortunately, as wonderfully ironic as that would be, the line is "I don't wanna be SAD no more". Hence, the extreme close up of a glycerined tear on Finola's face.

And I'm a buzzkill, dude.

Posted by: disgruntled hipster no. 416 profile link in reply to Spencer's comment at 05/19/09 2:33 PM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down

It seriously is "sad," isn't it.

Ugh. Buzzzzzzzzz*CHOKE*

That's very fine, I often choose being right over being fun any day. (True story.) Either way the commercial continues to unfold before my mind upon the tens of viewings.

Posted by: Spencer in reply to disgruntled hipster no. 416's comment at 05/19/09 7:18 PM | Reply
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Chris

I think the biggest cliche is the fact that her name is Finola.

Posted by: Chris profile link at 05/18/09 7:28 PM | Reply
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Paper Werewolf

"Satisfy me! My Duster!"

My car never makes me break out in song. :(

Posted by: Paper Werewolf profile link at 05/18/09 8:24 PM | Reply
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This is better than anything Vivian Girls ever did or ever will do.

Posted by: DJ Max Power at 05/18/09 8:26 PM | Reply
Score = 8 Vote up Vote down
heronimous

it's like duran duran ran a dealership!

Posted by: heronimous profile link at 05/18/09 10:45 PM | Reply
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It's like the entire set is made out of cocaine. Look at the guy at 0:41 - no need to use a razor!

Posted by: flock of bagels at 05/19/09 12:46 AM | Reply
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Detroit Dutchgirl

I actually owned this car, my first. Jealous?

Posted by: Detroit Dutchgirl profile link at 05/19/09 9:07 AM | Reply
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Elvis vs. Shark

I would have loved to hear the director on the set of filming this commercial, particularly for the moment at 1:07, which is both intensely terrifying and the funniest thing ever.

Posted by: Elvis vs. Shark profile link at 05/19/09 2:06 PM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down
Trouble Downstream

i owned a sweet red duster with the purple graffiti style "duster" stickers on the side panels and it was a huge piece of shit. the poor man's Dodge Shadow, literally. i can't tell if this commercial makes me like that car more or less.

Posted by: Trouble Downstream profile link at 05/21/09 12:38 AM | Reply
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0:37: The first recorded instance of ghost riding the whip.

Also, the pitch for this commercial? "There's these dancers. And they're dancing in all of this...dust! Gettit?

Posted by: Chadams at 05/27/09 11:24 PM | Reply
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