1969 Plymouth Commercial

Come look what Plymouth's up to now!
Driving will never be the same again for you...

[@cliffrenner9171]

Had a 68 Road Runner in 1970. Lots of fun driving and working on. There was a train wreck in the nearby Ohio town where we lived. The train was similar to the one in this commercial. There were damaged Mopars all over the place! The area was all roped off unfortunately. We were very willing to help with the cleanup, by removing usable muscle car parts to "help them out". They didn't think that was a good idea, so we just stood there drooling looking at those Cudas, Road Runners and Chargers laying there in a pile!

[@johnblair8146]

A nearly pure NYC auto rack train. The lead unit is a GE U-25-B which could be either PRR or NYC but the second unit is an ex-NYC GP35 (No dynamic brake hatch). The auto racks are ex NYC/ Merchants Despatch Whitehead & Kales Low Profile (Reporting Mark MDAX) cars and the caboose is an N-7 as pointed out earlier. This is one of the nicest rail videos on the whole internet.

[@kurtkauffman4326]

***** Indeed!

[@selfdo]

I recall in '69, along with the "Miracle" Mets, Shea Stadium had an ad touting Plymouth as the team's "official" car make, with that heart and "devil tail" logo.

[@sableminer8133]

Wow!

[@chatanugadotorg]

Gotta love seeing open autoracks on trains. While I understand why they're all enclosed now, seeing all of the different types of vehicles hauled by the railroads sure made them interesting to see.

[@orwellknew9112]

You can hear the optimism and joy in their advertisement music. But the optimism really was everywhere you looked and listened in those days. Today we live in the shadow of evil. You can feel it and see it. Imagine being born in the late 1940’s’ and dying in the 1990’s. You would have dyed believing everything was going to continue getting better,

[@crownprinceofgroovy]

Actually the title of the song the background music is based is "Sunday Will Never be the Same." I also liked the very large Penn Central herald on the N7 (ex New York Central)caboose.

[@robertthamsen3937]

I remember in the summer of '68 watch a northbound on the River Line that practically ran thru my backyard. The train had 2 units and 10 multi-levels plus cab. It was unusual to see northbound multi-levels especially in a solid block and only that short a train. The next afternoon I was surprised to see the same consist going south. Fast forward to mid-Sept '68 when I was getting ready to leave for Minnesota. It was a Sunday night and my Dad and Sister were watching TV and I walked in to talk to them. My Sister motioned with her head to call my attention to the TV and there was this commercial which took me a few seconds to recognize. Afterwards I made contact with my River Line connections as my original sitings seemed inconsequencial. On the southbound run, when the filming was being done, Fred "Pete" Peterson was the Engineer and supposedly made difficulties by repeatedly waving at the helicopter doing the filming.

[@illxtra]

I'm here for the Penn Central commercial, lol.

[@777fuzzypeach]

+illxtra Now, go watch the Green Frog PC video where PC tries to throw the cars off the racks because they are rocking so badly!

[@RaisedLetter]

Probably the only positive publicity you'd ever get out of Penn Central

[@RaisedLetter]

Based off of Spanky & Our Gang's: Sunday Will Never Be The Same

[@Miradart]

Belvedere - 76 Interiors!!!! Today, you get; Cloth seats in Sand, or Granite, Leather seats in Sand or Granite, and if you've been a REALLY good boy - Faux Suede in Black! Wow! ;)

[@ZachPumphery]

Damn, 76 interiors!? Nice video. Trains rule!

[@APA2Channel]

RIP plymouth.... and Penn Central

[@boardskins]

Your point? That's like saying the bicycle sucks compared to a Model T. Why even compare the two? Chrysler had some of the most advanced technology of its day, and they still do.

[@clydeferguson519]

The shot was definitely set up, the cars were prepped for delivery ( wheelcovers, washed, windows cleaned) ,and they were not tightly lashed to the decks for transport. Also the whole consist was one railroad. The cars would have come from various plants on different railroad cars.

[@sst568]

Hey, PC needed the money!

[@mistersnapon]

Even though the Penn Central never made a profit...they still rule!

[@andygranitto9396]

The Rondout Creek trestle in Kingston, NY! A wonderful place to scare the crap out of yourself playing chicken with freight trains.

[@Miradart]

I just saw video on TV of a crash test of a 2009 Malibu (I think) and a 1959 Chev Impala 4 door sedan. It was done at 40 mph with a 40% offset vehicle to vehicle. Apparently that is the most style common fatal crash. The old Impala was DESTROYED, with the driver definitely killed. The seat even detatched from the floor! Everyone in the Malibu would have survived with nothing more than some belt burn and a bloody nose. It was UNREAL! All that said, I still REALLY like my 69 Dart GT :)

[@Miradart]

There may have been some minor rust, but the old car wasn't a rust wagon. Even when you go back and look at the original crash tests of the 50's and early 60's, seat detachment and massive floor buckling was very common. There was no fastener failure. The bolts were torn through the floorboards, Crash testing really wasn't engineered into those vehicles. Back then it was all about the yearly styling update, the horsepower, and the ride.

[@ab348]

As opposaed to todays choice of silver, gray, black, white or beige all with a gray interior. Give me the 70s any day!!!

[@andybuzz2u]

How things have changed! Chrysler corp was the 3 rd largest car manufactureing company in the world, Penn central railroad was one of the biggest railroads from the time. Now Chrysler is fighting for 5th place in north america, Plymouth is a fallin flag just like the penn central railroad, but unlike Plymouth, penn central is still around, but wearing CSX colors..A railroad auto carrier is 12 feet three inches wide, note the Fury, big car! B 26 models, 18 colors, 76 interiors! no taupe!

[@BossaNossa1]

This looks like my Hot Wheels Collection from the 60's!!!

[@johnblair8146]

Notice that the second track has recently been lifted in this commercial? Now CSX has reinstalled it. Too bad today's auto racks are enclosed, A 2015 version of this commercial; complete with Hellcats and Whitehead & Kales Low Profile Tri Levels (The same racks as in this 1969 commercial) would be worthy of PAYING to see!!!

[@RaisedLetter]

Which line is it? But I bet that any reenactment would be hard to 100% replicate (for obivous reasons)

[@johnblair8146]

The Bigmindcreator AKA Elliot The CSX River line (originally the NY West Shore & Buffalo)

[@RaisedLetter]

+John Blair Which bridge is that?

[@johnblair8146]

Rondout Creek Trestle.

[@mikehuesser1058]

I had a yellow 69 roadrunner that I met my first and only true love in. Great memories and a decent car.

[@thehernandezmediacorporation]

The best way to pay tribute with a new commercial is to have Charger and Challenger Hellcats strapped to 50FT flat cars on a long train hauled by the three Norfolk Southern heritage units representing the Penn Central, Pennsylvania, and New York Central

[@CycolacFan]

What a cool ad! Wonder if they managed to get those shots first time, or did they have to follow the train all day? "Dammit they didn't load a Barracuda on the top deck, stop the train and get 'em to swap some round..."

[@1969pontiac1]

@boardskins Chrysler, did have some advanced technology, for the late 60s and early 70s. First American car to have as a option, then what they called anti-skid brakes, first to come out with ignition with no points, standard in 73. They had gauges for Alt, Temp, My dad had a 69 Fury III. Very nice dash, space age looking for its time. Ting flood lights lite the dash at night. 23 cubic feet of trunk space, fold down center armrest, clock, all standard, light on the steering column find ignition

[@5610winston]

No, the first lock-up torque converter was in the Packard Ultramatic in 1950-models, follower very shortly thereafter by Studebaker's three-speed air cooled "Automatic Drive" transmission, also in 1950 models.

[@part1801]

69 Fury was my first car. Total boat

[@Nickthedukefan69]

I currently own a '69 Fury III, had two at one point, In reply to the first guy about uncomfortable bench seat, It has one of THE most comfortable seats I have ever sat in, I've driven lots of modern vehicles infact I spend my days in and out of various brand and types of vehicles all day, Unless you have actually owned one, you cannot comment accuratley, your just making speculations, and that's just ignorant, This is of course to the first person there.

[@selfdo]

It seemed the front bench was the "thing" in those times, even on two-door cars (split seat backs that pivoted on the center, the larger cars often had either a fold-down plush armrest or even a small "third" seat). The "SOB" style...a pain to adjust, and w/o the "split" bench style, the one "riding shotgun" had to go with what the driver wanted.

[@plumbingstuffinoregon2471]

Wow! Open auto racks. In my entire life I have never seen those.

[@peterprincipe493]

I'm probably a little older than you ,but as kids we use to stop everything to watch the new cars on the rails pass us by dreaming of owning one. I'm thinking they had to place them in closet containers later because of kids throwing rocks at them or parts being stolen in rail yards. Those were the days!

[@fcrr210]

what do you know, a commerial with the Penn Central RR and no derailments.....

[@iamgermane]

If you had a color TV back and good reception this was a good commercial!

[@jinggo78]

I have a 1965 baracuda. It's hard to believe people thought those were acceptable colors for cars back then.

[@selfdo]

"Metallic" everything. Automotive finishes have come a long way since.

[@Nickthedukefan69]

Fury I, II and III

[@williamflack5767]

I have the sales material from 69. The Fury 3 had the nicer interior. They all had the 318. Gauges, and larger than the Catalina and Impala. Interior. Dad had a 69 Fury 3. Nice for it's class. It was a tank.

[@kenchester3705]

They should have been scared filming that commercial. The Penn Central was weeks away from bankruptcy and their physical plant was dilapidated! It was a miracle if those cars actually made it to their destination without derailing!

[@Karnydoc]

I'd like to know where the commercial was filmed, because the opening scene looks like it was done at Kingston, NY, on the River Line.

[@johnblair8146]

It was.

[@MrThebull09]

Driving will never be the same again for you!

[@kurtkauffman4326]

1969.Penn Central celebrated its one year anniversary on 2/1 of that year.

[@ingledude]

Better times for Chrysler but the glory days were already behind them. It took them 40 years to get to bankruptcy. Sad really. We were a "Chrysler" family growing up, it's a shame to see what's happening to them.

[@povertyspec9651]

Penn-Central Railroad- it's amazing the train didn't derail.

[@sst568]

it's only a 60 second clip, who knows what happened a few minutes later!

[@jamespn]

New cars weren’t shipped with hub cabs on the wheels, but for the commercial they want to show the cars with full trim.

[@davehyer7707]

That is not S&OG singing the jingle, although it is based on a song they recorded.

[@R36Coach]

@Karnydoc It is the NYC West Shore (River Line) at Kingston.

[@DTD110865]

Ahh, originally, I thought it was the Hudson Line.

[@gli7utubeo]

I love the Spanky and Our Gang song. They also did Give a Damn. Remember? Give a Damn about our fellow man...? Wow, even they sold out.

[@richduquette2289]

Could have just as easily been a Penn Central commercial LOL. I'd sure like see of these.

[@Karnydoc]

@R36coach I thought so! Thanks!

[@mitchelmcgarry1718]

I might take a trip to the bridge I live 30 minutes from it who knew.

[@1969pontiac1]

Plymouth, was a first with to come out with the starter that did not require points and in 1989 they made driver side air bags standard on all cars. IN the 60s and 70 Plymouth also used gauges instead of warning lamps for Temp and volts.

[@79tazman]

I wish trains still hauled the cars open like that but now they are inclosed and you can't even see what cars that got in them

[@dd16v71]

Look at the RR name(PC) gone just like the Plymouth.

[@HOTRAILProductions]

These were the days before the closed auto racks to protect the autos from weather and vandalism. BTW, 1969 was the only full year that Penn Central made a profit!

[@DTD110865]

It was also the year they bought out New Haven Railroad. And in 1970 they faced a huge bankruptcy.

[@kurtkauffman4326]

The former Penn Central is now Norfolk Southern.

[@777fuzzypeach]

+Kurt Kauffman Not this part. CSX got the West Shore line where this was filmed.

[@UndergroundMasterify]

The cars that a gentlemen wants

[@alanstrong3295]

A 69 Cuda with a 340 was one car that could move briskly. Make mine purple!

[@filagenoir]

Plymouth was a brand, not a company. The brand has been retired. The company that created it is alive and well. Also, "they're . . ." not "there . . ."

[@selfdo]

The funny thing was, back in the 1920's, when Walter Chrysler bought out the Dodge Brothers, Dodge was a larger company than was Chrysler. The Dodge brothers themselves had left Ford, tired of Henry's ways, and for decades the old man complained that "those damned Dodge Boys" had stolen many of HIS ideas. Plymouth was created as a make to compete with the Ford Model A and B lines; Dodge adopted exclusively six-cylinder engines while the Plymouth had only four-bangers for awhile, also; only Dodge would have trucks, it would compete with six-cylinder Chevrolets and Pontiacs, while DeSoto was to go up against Mercurys and Oldmobile. Chrysler cars were meant to compete with Buicks and the lesser Cadillacs, while Imperial went back and forth between being a Chrysler make or its own brand, going up against Caddys and Lincolns. Despite being Mopar's "low end", it doesn't mean that they were "el cheapo" in all ways. I believe Plymouth was the first make to have all-hydraulic brakes, and in 1939, it had the "safety" speedometer, though I'm not sure how the color change as the car went faster promoted "safety". As cars got larger, although some of the late 1950s and early 1960s Plymouths were good-looking cars (and some of Virgil Exner's styling exercises were, eh...), in the era of tail fins, which the "low-end" Mopar also freely indulged in, it was getting to the point where it was competing with the more expensive Mopar lines, and probably accelerated the demise of DeSoto! So, once the sixties hit, with the Valiant (it's own brand for 1960, and 1961, I think), and after 1963, the Belvedere and later Satellite lines, Plymouth went "back to the basics", though the Fury was kept as the full-size line, and quite a few Fury sedans and especially station wagons got sold. But once the subcompacts and the personal luxury cars came aboard, Plymouth was left out (two different "captive imports" were used to supplement the Plymouth line). Both the "A" body Valiant and the "B" Body Satellite got kinda "long in the tooth", though those early 70's Satellite Sebrings are, IMO, some of the best looking and running cars ever built. With the gas crises of 1973 and 1979, the Fury "C" body went out after 1978 (it was renamed the "Gran Fury" for the 1975-78 years), and likewise the "B" body, also renamed "Fury" for 1975 through 1978 This left Plymouth with just the subcompact Horizon and the Aspen "F" body sedans and wagons, both which acquired a bad reputation for poor build quality and unreliability, and a re-badged full-size van only, as well as the Mitsubishi-built Colt and Sapporo imports. Plymouth was even left out of Mopar's ill-fated "R"-body attempt to keep the "full-sized" RWD car alive for 1979, and most of the 1980-81 Gran Fury sales were fleet (police and taxi) in nature. However, the line would get revitalized with the "K" car Reliant series, which saved Chrysler and sold well, and in 1984, the Voyager mini-vans. The models derived from the "K" platforms and its extensions did well, but as Mopar went into the mid-90s, there simply was little to distinguish Dodges from Plymouths, and little reason to continue TWO makes, so it was Plymouth that was done away with in 2001.

[@jimnolan4105]

Plymouth had the market on CHP and local municipal police cars back in the day.

[@pennydog567]

Funny how both of these icons of American industry have fallen. Sad.

[@thelanceman]

Love those 69 Plymouths! Think our old Satellite was on that train?

[@garrypalahitski799]

Sad all these cars are nothing but dust in the wind today.

[@careks]

Those were the days, some things (cars) dont get better...

[@hep2jive]

i feel so trapped watching this!

[@MichiganPeatMoss]

2023: Dammit - commercial jingles were just BETTER back then. It's all gone to crap since then, on so many levels.

[@Nickthedukefan69]

You see the cloud of rust when the new malibu impacted the old impala, I don't think the car was very structurally sound to begin with and that would explain the seat unbolting. You of all people should know that over time fasteners weaken.

[@publicatdamagnificen]

1968 WORLD SERIES!

[@barberjeff67]

Where is the location of this bridge? I've had this commercial in a collection on vhs for 30 years !

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Kingston, NY on the West Shore Line of former NYC.

[@barberjeff67]

​@lostrailbeds8289 thank you!

[@timpriddy73]

I MISS VINYL TOPS

[@bobareeniobobareenio2935]

HA! 1969: “Longer and wider” and now? Smaller and shorter.

[@boardskins]

Just because you can't afford a car, don't come crying to me.

[@Russ4114]

i feel safer in my 70 nova or my 66 lincoln continental, its a boat but the only thing im afraid of are hummers and big rigs, i would go play chicken with any car and win, there car would be crushed like an empty soda can while mine would have front fender damage, granted the milage sucks on the continental

[@timpriddy349]

Plymouth and Penn Central......gone

[@Miradart]

REALLY? A new import is better made than an old domestic? Ugh. Please compare apples to apples. Frankly I think that is where most of the automotive journalists are stuck today. 30 years ago. Which new mid size car gets the best mileage? Ford Fusion. Which full size truck gets the worst mileage? Toyota Tundra. And they have weak rear diffs. At the end of the day, within their closest competition, import or domestic, they all drive the same anyways. Today, it's about style and features.