What on Earth Was Homer Simpson Driving?
If we all designed cars the way Homer Simpson did, it might just ruin the auto economy.
Written by Alex Reale
Reviewed by Lisa Steuer McArdle
Predicting the automotive future is a favorite pastime of many
TV
and film writers. The Jetsons had their flying car, and Batman gunned around Gotham City in a variety of menacing Batmobiles
. The futuristic automobiles of the silver screen tend to ratchet up the wow factor—we’re seeing what’s possible for humankind to build.But if you write for “The Simpsons,” the starry-eyed angle doesn’t typically appeal. Here’s what happened when Homer Simpson designed a car.
The Homer car: Builds a (terrible) automobile
In this episode of the iconic cartoon depiction of suburban American life, titled “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?,” Homer discovers his long-lost adopted brother Herbert, now a successful automotive executive.
The Simpsons travel to Detroit to meet their “Uncie Herb,” and as the kids are introduced to croquet and butlers, Herbert seizes on a marketing opportunity. His “average schmo” brother Homer is, as
Wired
points out, the key to changing the designs of his engineers, who “have lost touch with the common folk.”As the bemused engineers take notes, Homer ticks off his requirements for his car. He wants a cup holder that can fit his oversize drink, a little ball on the aerial for easier spotting in the parking lot (this episode aired in 1991) multiple “La Cucaracha”-playing horns, a separated soundproof backseat bubble, an incredibly loud motor, and the pièces de résistance: tail fins, bubble domes, and shag carpeting.
The Homer car might be all of our cars
When Homer’s unique design is revealed at the auto expo, Herbert knows immediately that his reputation and finances are ruined. The thing is grotesque, an overstuffed and ridiculous Frankenstein’s monster of a vehicle. But of course—it’s exactly what Homer asked for. Herbert’s condescension to the common man turned out to be an overcorrection.
Like many episodes of “The Simpsons,” “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” was ahead of its time. Marketing data in the 2020s is an embarrassment of riches, and automakers have to figure out ways to sift through the wants and needs of millions of voices to make cars that appeal to broad audiences. Of course, most of the time, they just arrive at a thoroughly non-threatening Toyota Camry. Which, famously, does not have shag carpeting.
Saving money on your Homer car, or your own car
If you want to build a Homer car, we can’t help you. But if you want to save money on
car insurance
, the Jerry
app is a good place to start. A licensed broker
, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.7/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.
4.7
