Maybe it’s a mid-life crisis. Maybe it’s simply that I’ve never completely lost my immaturity. Maybe it’s nostalgia.
However, it may be a well planned and executed marketing strategy.
Whatever the reason, it seems that things are becoming more cyclical and every thing old is new again.
The other night I was wasting time online – I mean, researching for possible writing projects – and discovered I was looking at cars for sale. Not just any cars. Chevys. More specifically, Chevy Novas. Even more specifically 1971 Chevy Novas with a V8, gold color, black vinyl top, automatic transmission, and a decent interior. Okay, I was looking for my first car.
That in itself is a bit ridiculous, because I totaled that car in 1978 by plowing through two guardrails, spinning the car around 180 degrees and hanging its ass end up in a tree. The last time I saw the car, it was in the wrecking yard giving me a bent, twisted, but decidedly guilty look as though to say, “How could you do this to me?” I grabbed all my cassettes off of the floor and quickly left, trying very hard not to look back
But that’s another story.
I began to realize that many of the cars available now are “re-creations” or “tributes” or simply cars being re-introduced. Camaros, Mustangs, Chargers…they all have the latest gadgets and safety features but resemble those models from the sixties or seventies. Then I realized that when I was a kid in the 1970’s one of the most popular shows on television was “Happy Days” which took place in the 1950’s. As we moved into the 1990’s “That ‘70’s Show” became very popular. Now that we’re moving into the 2010’s (or is it 20’teens or…hell, who knows?) everyone is starting to get all goo-goo over “Seinfeld” and “Friends” again. (By the way, goo-goo is a technical literary term that writers sometimes use, but it should be left to professionals.)
That’s when I had the epiphany. Sure, I’ve had a ton of epiphanies that people seem to quickly judge as simple, weird thinking, but this is different.
If everything old is new again, why not resurrect other things people are nostalgic for and make some bank from it? It’s brilliant. I hope manufacturers are reading this when I suggest the following:
* Re-introduce Mt. Dew the way it was originally marketed –with a hillbilly laying down drunk and swiggin’ from a moonshine jug.
* Bring back the Pillsbury knock-off of Kool-Aid that had such colorful flavors like “Injun Orange” or “Chinese Cherry.”
* “The Frito Bandito.” ‘Nuff said.
* That beautiful old pickup from the 1950’s Chevy made and called “The Apache.”
* Bring back the Chevy Impala. Okay, I know they did that, but they brought it back as an even cheesier version of a current Ford Taurus. Bring it back
in all its 1960’s muscle car glory.
* Resurrect the Trans-Am. There could even be a remake of “Smokey and the Bandit” to help sell a gazillion of them. (By the way, gazillion is another
technical literary term that should be left to professionals.)
* BRING BACK “KNOCKER-BOCKERS”!!! You remember the greatest toy ever made. It consisted of two hard-plastic, golf-ball sized balls connected by a string with a small ring in the middle. You clacked them together faster and faster
until one shattered and threw plastic shrapnel everywhere. They were even
more fun than Superballs (I won’t even try to explain those to anyone who
hasn’t experienced them. I’d probably end up being arrested.)
But most of all bring back the 1971 Chevy Nova. I think I could even deal with it not having any safety features. I’ve matured –a little. And I can even guarantee that I won’t end up hanging its ass end up in a tree.
However, it may be a well planned and executed marketing strategy.
Whatever the reason, it seems that things are becoming more cyclical and every thing old is new again.
The other night I was wasting time online – I mean, researching for possible writing projects – and discovered I was looking at cars for sale. Not just any cars. Chevys. More specifically, Chevy Novas. Even more specifically 1971 Chevy Novas with a V8, gold color, black vinyl top, automatic transmission, and a decent interior. Okay, I was looking for my first car.
That in itself is a bit ridiculous, because I totaled that car in 1978 by plowing through two guardrails, spinning the car around 180 degrees and hanging its ass end up in a tree. The last time I saw the car, it was in the wrecking yard giving me a bent, twisted, but decidedly guilty look as though to say, “How could you do this to me?” I grabbed all my cassettes off of the floor and quickly left, trying very hard not to look back
But that’s another story.
I began to realize that many of the cars available now are “re-creations” or “tributes” or simply cars being re-introduced. Camaros, Mustangs, Chargers…they all have the latest gadgets and safety features but resemble those models from the sixties or seventies. Then I realized that when I was a kid in the 1970’s one of the most popular shows on television was “Happy Days” which took place in the 1950’s. As we moved into the 1990’s “That ‘70’s Show” became very popular. Now that we’re moving into the 2010’s (or is it 20’teens or…hell, who knows?) everyone is starting to get all goo-goo over “Seinfeld” and “Friends” again. (By the way, goo-goo is a technical literary term that writers sometimes use, but it should be left to professionals.)
That’s when I had the epiphany. Sure, I’ve had a ton of epiphanies that people seem to quickly judge as simple, weird thinking, but this is different.
If everything old is new again, why not resurrect other things people are nostalgic for and make some bank from it? It’s brilliant. I hope manufacturers are reading this when I suggest the following:
* Re-introduce Mt. Dew the way it was originally marketed –with a hillbilly laying down drunk and swiggin’ from a moonshine jug.
* Bring back the Pillsbury knock-off of Kool-Aid that had such colorful flavors like “Injun Orange” or “Chinese Cherry.”
* “The Frito Bandito.” ‘Nuff said.
* That beautiful old pickup from the 1950’s Chevy made and called “The Apache.”
* Bring back the Chevy Impala. Okay, I know they did that, but they brought it back as an even cheesier version of a current Ford Taurus. Bring it back
in all its 1960’s muscle car glory.
* Resurrect the Trans-Am. There could even be a remake of “Smokey and the Bandit” to help sell a gazillion of them. (By the way, gazillion is another
technical literary term that should be left to professionals.)
* BRING BACK “KNOCKER-BOCKERS”!!! You remember the greatest toy ever made. It consisted of two hard-plastic, golf-ball sized balls connected by a string with a small ring in the middle. You clacked them together faster and faster
until one shattered and threw plastic shrapnel everywhere. They were even
more fun than Superballs (I won’t even try to explain those to anyone who
hasn’t experienced them. I’d probably end up being arrested.)
But most of all bring back the 1971 Chevy Nova. I think I could even deal with it not having any safety features. I’ve matured –a little. And I can even guarantee that I won’t end up hanging its ass end up in a tree.
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