BRAKELIGHT: Spiffs from the 1970s (1976)

BRAKELIGHT: Spiffs from the 1970s (1976)

A spiff, SPIF (Sales Performance Incentive Fund) or spiv is typically given by a manufacturer or distributor for selling a specific product or for buying an assortment of parts. Special spiffs have been around since the start of Brake & Front End. Products that could be used outside of the shop were a little more pervasive in the 1970s.

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LEFT: In 1976, the Lee leisure suit was the height of fashion. By 1980, you could lose your job by wearing it to work. And you thought asbestos was a dangerous fiber. RIGHT: The Magnavox Odyssey was a Pong clone. The two-dimensional sports game was the first home video game console. In 1976, it was the equivalent of an Xbox or PlayStation. I am sure there were technicians saving their box tops to put one of these under the Christmas tree in 1976.

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