Watch CBS News

Voting Snag Means Everyone Wins Victory Auto Wreckers' Commercial Contest

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Something went awry with a contest to come up with a new ad to replace the iconic Victory Auto Wreckers television commercial, and now everyone's a winner.

The ad featuring the line "that old car is worth money" has been running since 1985, but soon will be replaced by eight new commercials submitted to Victory Auto Wreckers' competition on YouTube.

On its Facebook page, the company said its contest was supposed to be fun for people from the Chicago area who have been watching it – or more likely subjected to it – for the past 30 years. Somehow, people managed to artificially inflate votes for some of the entries.

"It was supposed to be for the people of the Chicago-land area, who have been watching (or, more likely, being subjected to) our commercial for the last 30 years. It was not meant for anyone OUTSIDE of the local area...California, Washington, Bangladesh.... It is a shame that some contestants felt that they needed to 'win at all costs,'" the company wrote.

As a result, all eight commercials submitted for the contest will air on TV, starting this weekend.

Each finalist will get a $500 prize.

You can watch all eight winners here.

Podcast

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.