I’d say car and truck commercials don’t talk about toughness like they used to, but then I realized I haven’t seen a car or truck commercial in what feels like years. I see plenty of dealership commercials, mind you, but all they shout about is low prices, no one beats our low prices, the prices are low, check out our low prices. Actual “car / truck has features” talk? Yeah, no.
Now, back when I was seeing car commercials on the regular, they mostly just blended together. However, a few stood out because of some amazing and/or bizarre visuals (see the Robert Able-produced “Never Before” Corvette spot, this 1987 Corsica commercial, and the Plymouth Duster cocaine factory) or because the commercials were good for a laugh – Joe Isuzu, I’m looking at you.
A particular category of car-ad now seemingly long gone are ads that tout toughness, like this Subaru Justy spot that trades on the idea that everyone knows Subarus are tough:
Just go ahead and slam the shit out of this poor guy’s doors, eff him. Where does this poor Justy pilot live, downtown Bullyville? These people need to be maced.
Ford went SUPER hard on toughness with the F-150 ads that I most vividly recall from my childhood. Who can forget these high-concept stunts?
Big fan of Cinderblock Mountain:
Ours was once a land of cinderblock and log mountains pic.twitter.com/LX6iXVzs0G
— The Autopian (@the_autopian) November 6, 2022
Gotta say, the Twin I-Beam Suspension in mustard-and-ketchup paint is fantastic.
I’m inclined to say the ’78 Ford F-150 and ’88 Subaru Justy are the all-time toughest cars and trucks based on those spots alone, but surely you have your own opinions – and I can certainly attest to my 2000 Honda Civic being the toughest car I’ve ever owned, from a “logging nearly 200,000 miles with maybe three oil changes” perspective.
You tell me:
What Are The All-Time Toughest Cars And Trucks?
Willys MB, and Ford GPW. A whole lot of them survived the biggest war in history, and many of their descendants up until 2006 were nearly as tough.
Everything Toyota made in the 90s
Of course, the Hilux is a classic, and all the Japanese trucks in general
And don’t forget the legendary Altima LOL
1988 – 2007 Suburbans. Both generations.
In typical GM fashion, they’ll run poorly so much longer than most trucks will run at all.
Volvo 24x, redblocks are VERY tough engines. the rest of the car puts up with a lot of use and abuse.. also, old ford rangers, every wigged out scrapper I’ve ever seen has had one, completely ragged out and overloaded to the bump stops, but still moving under its own power.
Pre-2013 North American Ford Rangers and their brethren Mazda B-Series.
Toyota HiLux/Tacoma (the that don’t have frame rust issues)
Volvo 200 and 700/900 series.
Ford Raptors.
Geo Metros, Ford Aspires, Mazda Protégés, Toyota Corollas, etc., the old boxy ones that are still kicking despite all reason.
2026 “WWII” Jeep as built by David Tracy. Perhaps not for its own toughness, but for the toughness of its assembly, and its stubborn maker and wheeler.
4th and 5th gen Toyota Truck, before it was a Tacoma.
Ahem.
https://youtu.be/8bvjge4CSVU?t=557&si=qHXY_S6mL8u3LRRg
I raise your American Top Gear clip….
https://youtu.be/kFnVZXQD5_k?si=dUFq4NtSPITNSERE
Any rental car.
Air cooled VWs
You can beat the living hell out of a Jeep XJ with no ill effects.
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1974 Dodge Monaco. Can jump anything and outrun all of Chicago’s police AND run for several miles after throwing a rod.
It’s got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant,
cop tires,
cop suspension,
cop shocks,
and it’s made before catalytic converters so it’ll run good on regular gas!
Needs a new cigarette lighter
1990s Landcruisers, 7.3l diesel F series Ford Trucks.
Toyota Land Cruiser and Tacoma Pickup trucks, Add Volvo most anything.
Volvo most anything pre-1999! After Ford and Geely ownership, not so much.
Model T’s had a reputation for being pretty indestructible.
Truck. Toyota Hilux. You can thank Top Gear for that torture test.
Car Chrysler Imperial, one of the few cars to be banned from demolition derbies because of how strong they are
First thing I thought of was the Top Gear Hilux.