‘Mel Farr Superstar’ Car Dealer Passes Away at Age 70
Farr played with the Detroit Lions from 1967-73.
Photo: ronnyber via YouTube
Former Detroit Lions running back and popular car dealer Mel Farr passed away in his home on August 3rd due to unknown causes.
Farr won NFL Rookie of the Year in 1967 and was elected to two Pro-Bowls, but he is probably best known for the eccentric commercials he made to support his Ford dealerships, after he stepped away from football.
In his commercials, Farr would wear a red cape and pretend that he was flying around through space to “fight high prices to bring you a far better deal.” Farr went into the car business after spending seven NFL off-seasons working in dealer development for the Ford Motor Co. and also because his father worked as a used car salesman, when Farr was growing up in Texas.
At one point, Farr owned 11 Ford dealerships, but lost them all due to various lawsuits.
Rest in peace to the quintessential dealership pitchman and NFL great, Mel Farr.
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