Normally “national sales events” ads are pretty boring. You have the latest models zipping along a city street while APR financing options are recited at Micro Machine Man speed. For this summer’s Toyotathon, however, Toyota is pulling out the classics for a multi-generational tale of Toyota ownership.
The spot starts out with a father and son going camping in an FJ55 Land Cruiser. It then flashes forward to the same kid, now in his teens sometime in the 80s. He’s off to a beach party in a surprisingly prescient AE86 and a gorgeous Toyota Van. He must be clairvoyant, because the TRD wing and JDM bumpers on his Hachiroku would not be in fashion for another 15 years. By the bonfire he meets his future wife, who is with him in middle age and two kids as they pull a brand new Tundra off the dealer lot in present day.
It’s remarkably simple but effective. Summers are for adventures in Toyotas, the ad says. But instead of babbling on in our own review, we’re going to do a new thing and ask you, our dear readers, to rate this ad. What did you think? Toyota ads are on a roll these days. Is this one worthy of inclusion on that list?
Like any good ad, you are selling the sizzle not the steak! This one sizzled!
Kourtney: I’m Courtney…
Bryann: ::eyes open up, posture stiffens up, smiles stretches out, heart thumps, camera zooms in harder:: I’m Brian!
Hollywood there he goes!
Seems like Toyota is trying to follow suit with what Honda did and their vehicles legacy commercial. It’s great, but man, what a way to further fuel that concept of “America’s car” being the truck. They couldn’t have put the family of four into a Camry, Corolla, Prius, Avalon… nope, it would have looked too small.
Further, I didn’t think it would have the “hurry to your local Toyota dealer” script at the end; I felt that ruined what could’ve been a truly nostalgic commercial.
Is the Micro Machine Man the same as the Fed Ex Man from long ago?
Props for the AE86 but like the post said those mods would have been wrong for the time period. Gold pizza cutters are kinda funny too 😀
I really don’t think the person who buys a new Toyota Truck is being nostalgic. Also, what teenager could afford a brand new, or fairly new, AE86 back in the day? I know that was unobtanium for me and I was a teenager during that time period.
I think Mazda did a fantastic job with their Miata ND commercial a while back. the guy goes through a 626?, then Miata, then a 3, then a 6, then a CX-5, and then finally he opens the garage door to his red ND, at which he blasts it through a corner. That commercial was actually pretty emotional.
https://www.youtu be.com/watch?v=Rt0z6tOGWlU