Used Cars

In the sun-scorched desert landscape of Mesa, Arizona, Rudy Russo, a cunning and ambitious car salesman with his sights set on the state senate, navigates the treacherous terrain of small-town politics at New Deal used car lot, owned by the venerable Luke Fuchs. As Rudy courts favor with Luke, securing a promise to invest $10,000 in his campaign if he agrees to keep the struggling business afloat, the seeds of deceit are sown across the street, where Roy L. Fuchs, Luke's twin brother and arch-rival, plots to destroy their shared legacy.

Roy's Machiavellian machinations come to a head when he orchestrates the "accidental" demise of Luke's prized 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, leaving Rudy with the damning evidence that will forever alter the power dynamic between the two brothers. In a desperate bid to thwart Roy's inheritance and secure the New Deal empire for himself, Rudy enlists the help of his superstitious co-worker Jeff and mechanic Jim, who conspire to bury Luke on the dealership's backlot in a vintage Edsel, once the iconic symbol of their business.

As the night of reckoning approaches, Rudy and his cohorts concoct a brazen plan to hijack a major network football game with a live commercial broadcast, featuring Margaret, a sultry female model, and the lovable mascot dog Toby. The ruse, however, falters when Jeff's superstitions are piqued by the red hue of the featured car, while Margaret's dress becomes stuck on the Edsel's hood ornament, resulting in an unceremonious strip-tease for millions of viewers.

Meanwhile, Roy retaliates with a menagerie of circus animals, prompting Rudy to counter with a striptease spectacle of his own. Amidst this whirlwind of deception and one-upmanship, Luke's estranged daughter Barbara Jane appears at the lot, seeking closure after abandoning her college studies to live on a hippie commune. As Rudy navigates the treacherous waters of small-town politics, he inadvertently convinces Barbara Jane to stay in town, further complicating his already precarious situation.

As the chaos unfolds on live television, Rudy's gang airs another provocative commercial during President Jimmy Carter's address, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, including the demolition of Roy's prized Mercedes SL. Seething with rage, Roy storms into New Deal, targeting Jeff before stumbling upon Luke's final resting place amidst the backlot's makeshift set. In a fit of vengeance, he summons the authorities to exhume the rearlot, only to discover that Jim has masterminded a daring heist: Luke's lifeless body is now seated in an Edsel, rigged to collide with a nearby power transformer and ignite a pyrotechnic display.

The subsequent explosion convincingly depicts Luke as another casualty of the inferno, obliterating any potential evidence contradicting this narrative. Roy, believing he has gained control over New Deal, is met with resistance from Rudy, who reminds him that Barbara, as Luke's daughter, now holds the reins. As the truth about Luke's demise begins to unravel, Barbara seizes the opportunity to terminate Rudy, Jeff, and Jim for their complicity in covering up the tragedy.

In a last-ditch effort to shutter New Deal forever, Roy leverages his connections at KFUK television station to manipulate Barbara's commercial, insinuating she possesses an astonishing "mile of cars," while also leveling a charge of false advertising. However, fate intervenes when Rudy wins a football bet, securing the funds needed to fuel his campaign. Upon learning that Barbara is facing prosecution for false advertising, Rudy persuades her to assert her claim in court, stipulating that she must demonstrate possession of over 250 vehicles on her lot by 2:45 pm.

Rudy invests his winnings in purchasing 250 cars from Mexican dealer Manuel and employing a legion of student drivers to deliver them to New Deal's lot within an impossibly short timeframe. Amidst the ensuing chaos, Jeff confronts his superstition surrounding red cars, while Roy attempts to disrupt the procession. Miraculously, the convoy arrives just in time, measuring precisely one mile in length and saving Barbara from prosecution. As construction on the freeway ramp across the street approaches, New Deal is poised to become the largest dealership in the state, a triumph celebrated by all except Roy. Amidst the jubilation, Rudy and Barbara share a romantic kiss, their partnership solidified amidst the whirlwind of chaos.