Victory Auto Wreckers
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Auto salvage yard |
| Founded | 1940s |
| Founder | Two World War II veterans |
| Fate | Ceased operations in November 2023 |
| Headquarters | Bensenville, Illinois , United States |
Area served | Chicago metropolitan area |
Key people | Kenneth Weisner (owner from 1967), Kyle Weisner (later owner) |
| Products | Used auto parts, scrap metal |
Victory Auto Wreckers operated as an auto salvage yard situated in Bensenville, Illinois, close to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. It became well-known locally due to a television advertisement that ran from 1985 until 2015, showcasing a young man dealing with a car door that unexpectedly came off its hinges. The Chicago Sun-Times referred to this commercial as "an unforgettable image familiar to nearly every TV viewer."
Business
Established in the 1940s by two veterans of World War II, Victory Auto Wreckers was purchased by Kenneth Weisner in 1967 and later overseen by his son, Kyle Weisner. The business focused on acquiring damaged or retired vehicles, providing customers the opportunity to retrieve functional parts from its premises. Parts deemed unusable were crushed and sold as scrap metal. By the year 2005, the yard handled around 14,000 cars annually.
In 2002, the Bensenville Community Development Commission attempted to shut down the operation under a zoning law prohibiting junkyards and wrecking yards. Nevertheless, an appellate court ruled that Victory qualified as a recycling facility, allowing it to continue functioning.
Victory Auto Wreckers announced in November 2023 that it would permanently cease operations by the end of the month, stopping vehicle intake after November 18.
Advertising
The company’s initial television advertisement aired in 1981. By 1985, deterioration of the original footage led Victory to commission director Ron Patris for a new version. This updated commercial was filmed on May 20, 1985, and remained on air for nearly three decades with only slight modifications. It reportedly appeared up to 30 times per week on WGN-TV and other channels. Television historian Steve Jajkowski remarked that the ad was "as integral to Chicago TV as Bozo the Clown, Fahey Flynn, and Svengoolie."
The 1985 advertisement, shot near the salvage yard itself, featured Bob Zajdel, an employee at the time. In the spot, Zajdel attempts to open his aged car when the door falls off, leading an announcer to promote Victory’s cash-for-cars program. The commercial concludes with Zajdel receiving payment as a tow truck arrives on scene.
From 1985 through 2015, Victory refreshed elements such as announcers—including Dean Richards on WGN and Rich Koz on WCIU-TV and MeTV—alongside updates to graphics, phone area codes, and eventually their website address. Despite these changes, the original footage showing Zajdel’s period-specific clothing and hairstyle remained intact. Radio host Steve Dahl humorously commented on Zajdel’s unique look. Although Zajdel received no additional compensation for his appearance, he gained local fame through interviews and showed interest in profiting from memorabilia related to the commercial.
Kyle Weisner noted that unlike companies such as Empire, which frequently refresh their advertisements, Victory consistently maintained its original message.
In May 2015, Victory retired this iconic commercial in favor of a new advertisement produced by Xpress Video Productions of Northbrook, Illinois, featuring computer animation that paid tribute to the classic footage.
See also
- Celozzi-Ettleson Chevrolet
- Eagle Insurance
- Empire Today
- Moo and Oink
- Peter Francis Geraci
- Walter E. Smithe