The commercials, as viewers will know, have a distinct buddy cop vibe. “Hickey & Boggs” and “Freebie and the Bean” may not have been quite so emu-heavy, but otherwise these light-hearted commercials carry the torch of such movies very effectively. Just like the stars of those films, too, Doug and Limu Emu drive a wonderfully 1970’s car: a Plymouth Duster.
In the “Like Father Like Son” commercial, above, Doug and LiMu Emu are passing the torch to the new generation of Liberty Mutual experts: Doug’s son. With a ceremonial handing-over of the car keys, the young boy hops into his own miniature Plymouth Duster, barrels over some flowers in the front yard, and then departs.
Seeing a Duster and a lovingly-crafted Duster replica in the same shot is quite a treat for classic car lovers, as this bold, formidable model is fondly remembered by many drivers. For the uninitiated and enthusiasts alike, then, let’s turn the spotlight on the sometimes-underappreciated Plymouth Duster.
Introduced in 1970, the Plymouth Duster concept was admirable: to blend power, performance, and price in a way that was rather easier on the latter. It was dubbed the Plymouth Valiant Duster in its original guise for that year only. it would officially just be the Plymouth Duster from then on, a fact that made it absolutely clear that this model was closely based on the Valiant.
