Ralph Williams had several car dealerships on the west coast. Here, spokesman Chick Lambert has some fun at Williams’ expense in an outtake from a commercial for a California location of the car dealership…
(Los Angeles Times – 1989) A fixture of late-night television in Southern California and the Pacific Northwest for decades, Williams started as pitchman for his own dealership in the early 1960s.
As a car dealer, however, Williams ran afoul of the DMV. Williams had his dealers’ license revoked on two separate occasions.
Williams also ran afoul of regulators in the state of Washington, where he once owned a dealership. He still owes consumers in that state millions of dollars awarded in a 1972 consumer fraud judgment against him and his company. The charges against Williams, according to Washington Assistant Atty. Gen. Jay Uchida, included false and misleading advertising in television ads in which Williams was the star.
July 22, 2024 at QZVX
T.K. says:
Here’s Lambert doing the same schtick at the Aurora dealership: https://youtu.be/DK6BksCzTKs
July 25, 2024 at QZVX
Mike Barer says:
Dig the car prices. So 70s.
July 25, 2024 at QZVX
T.K. says:
Ralph Williams didn’t make it in Seattle past 1970. The dealership was shut down by the state for tax evasion.
July 30, 2024 at QZVX
Mike Barer says:
That would have been Slade Gorton. The AG at the time.
July 23, 2024 at QZVX
louis says:
I again date myself by admitting remembering his commercials. 😉
July 24, 2024 at QZVX
Dick Ellingson says:
Wasn’t the phrase “I’m dating myself” once prohibited on the radio?
July 24, 2024 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
I dunno. It gets lonely out there.
July 24, 2024 at QZVX
Mike Barer says:
Then came Cal Worthington and his dog, Spot.
July 25, 2024 at QZVX
Mike Barer says:
https://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/federal-way-flashback-the-fast-life-and-high-times-of-dick-balch/
Before my time in Seattle, there was this guy.
July 25, 2024 at QZVX
T.K. says:
Don’t forget Glen Grant: https://youtu.be/F40QJgMLCEU
and Russ Dun-mi-re, Russ Dun-mi-re! https://youtu.be/1XkoVNzMMQo
July 25, 2024 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
Russ Dunmire was my favorite. Very old school car ads.
July 25, 2024 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
Russ Dunmire was my favorite. Very old school car ads.
July 25, 2024 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
Was $399 over invoice supposed to be incentive to buy? And what a bunch of crappy cars!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tcQ5ld2aE0
July 25, 2024 at QZVX
Mike Barer says:
I remember the jingle.
July 26, 2024 at QZVX
Mike Barer says:
There were also crazy commercials from Jack Roberts and Ivar. Creative seems to have disappeared from local advertising. National too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KAOioN1ZMw&list=FLbnxqwsIKNy6ahdL4vdlP8g
July 29, 2024 at QZVX
Mike Barer says:
Chick Lambert vid is now getting a lot of play on the internet.