Jalopnik
-
classic ad watch
Some Of The Classic British VW Commercials We Missed Last Week
We had the predictable uproar about all the great VW ads we overlooked in our 20 Classic Volkswagen Commercials post last week, because VW has always done great advertising and you can't possibly cover everything. More »
487
11
Comment by volksdragon: that was pretty, but not as good as the cabrio AD with nick drake's "pink moon." 1 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
Jalopnik's 20 Favorite Classic Volkswagen Commercials
The Datsun ads were fun, as were the Toyota ads, but it was Volkswagen that first made an art form out of the automotive television advertisement. More »
9,420
Comment by nollid51: I've always lived VW commercials. They seem to have a better sense of humor. The recent 'Un-pimp ze auto' GTI... 5 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
Honda Honda Honda Honda! Madness Goes JDM To Pitch The '83 City
What's the best way to sell the 1983 Honda City Hyper Turbo? Honda's Japanese-market admen figured that the ska popmasters of Madness would be just perfect for a series of super-frantic TV spots. More »
3,086
Comment by RCN8: How can Honda go from making nifty, quirky, useful little cars like this to making the Element? 7 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
1982: It's A Malaise-O-Rama $2188 Sale At Bert Weinman Ford!
Now, Bert Weinman Ford in Chicago was sacrificing those new '82s at below dealer cost, but who cared when you could pick up an air-conditioned '77 LTD Country Squire 9-passenger wagon for $2,188? More »
4,427
Comment by smalleyxb122: When I saw that there were Sunday hours, I had to do a little research, because as far back as... 6 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
From The World Rally Championship To Your Driveway: 1987 Peugeot 505 Turbo
Back in 1986, car shoppers looking to buy a hot European sedan didn't necessarily head straight to their nearest BMW dealership for a 325i. No, some of them bought Peugeot 505 Turbos! More »
2,447
Comment by Rican5.0: I'm not sure I could live with a car that would be constantly surrendering and collaborating with Benzes and BMWs. 7 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
Big Fins, Dual-Quad Carbs, Seats Nine: The 1957 Plymouth Suburban
Could the '57 Suburban be the greatest family hauler ever made? It got better gas mileage than present-day monster SUVs, while seating more passengers and looking orders of magnitude more attractive. More »
4,432
Comment by MadHungarian: With the wild rear overhang, the second seat passengers are practically in the middle of the car! Please take note,... 4 Responses | Other threads
-
ad watch
Ten Worst Car Commercials Of All Time
Curious why automakers are struggling? Look no further than these ten terrible car commercials. Celine Dion, suicidal robots, and contagious catchphrases combine to make us want to never buy another new car again. More » -
classic ad watch
Is Your Butt Knocking? Gulf No-Nox!
Back when Super 8 movie cameras often fell into the hands of 10-year-olds- say, 1965 to 1985- the stop-motion "invisible car" movie was a classic genre. Here's Gulf's higher-production-value 1968 version. More »
2,941
Comment by Steve Neill: The guy with the pipe definitely drives this: AC Cobra 260, 1963. 3 Responses | Other threads
-
-
classic ad watch
Pontiac Unleashes The '84 2000 Sunbird Turbo: Oh Yeah!
In the mid-80s, there was no word more magical in automotive-marketing circles than TURBO! In the '84 2000's case, the turbo "pumps in huge quantities of air… and pumps out one hundred fifty horsepower." More »
4,188
Comment by pauljones: Wait...Pontiac had a version of the original Vega? I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise, but even being a GM... 11 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
50 Classic Pontiac Print Ads
Pontiac made some pretty good television ads, but we mustn't overlook the print ads. Franzouse has found a treasure trove — here are 50 Pontiac classics. More »
7,623
Comment by Novaload Misses Murilee: Not worthy of a DOTS post but in keeping with the nostalgic Pontiac tribute... 6 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
If You Can Stand It This Hot: The 1990 Pontiac Grand Am
How could The General bring himself to axe Pontiac, with a history like this? We'll admit the N-body Grand Am wasn't Pontiac's finest hour, but it was orders of magnitude better than the execrable Phoenix! More »
5,201
Comment by TwilightSentinel: We often think of the 70s or mid-80s as the heights of cheesiness. But this just goes to show that... 6 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The 1932 Ford: As Many Ball Bearings As Cars Costing Four Times As Much!
Les Firestine Ford disappeared from Oakland's Auto Row many decades ago, but this promo film- apparently shown in theaters around the East Bay- makes the Deuce Coupe seem like a pretty good deal, even now. More »
3,748
Comment by .357: Anyone else suddenly feel like becoming the proud owner of a 1932 Ford? 19 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
Nissan Bluebird-U Makes The Ladies Crave Your Essence!
We think Nissan should drag the admen who made this series of Bluebird commercials out of retirement and put them to work on their current product line. Yes, they're that good! More »
4,846
Comment by Bad Juju: That last one might not fly on TV today, but maybe they can just rename the 370Z the Nissan Bukkake.. 11 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
Insufficiently Festive Festiva Doomed To Crusher By Québécois Quality-Control Team
When you're inspecting cars fresh off the line, what do you look for? Well, if you're working at the Van Nuys plant building third-gen Camaros… well, no need to go there, eh? More »
3,523
Comment by .357: This is a pretty good commercial, even though the only word I understood was "Festiva!" The sad part is that... 8 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The Jalopnik Top 10 Vintage Ford Mustang TV Commercials
More than any car we've seen, the Mustang has always been marketed as a product that can transform its owner's entire life. A Mustang buyer becomes somebody different, according to Ford.
More »
7,323
Comment by FromaBuick6: I'm going to go ahead and throw this out there: '80s Fox Mustangs > current Mustang. Why? Because it was smaller... 10 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The Jalopnik Top 20 Classic Renault TV Commercials
Even though Renault never had a big presence here in North America, we can still admire the TV commercials for their cars. Spanning the spectrum from salacious to surreal, Renault ads rarely fail to entertain.
More » -
classic ad watch
Big In Japan: When Western Stars Make JDM Commercials
The money's great, babe, and they'll never see it back home. Yeah, but then came the internet, and now those agents' promises to their clients have turned out to be lies. More »
5,772
Comment by leavethegun-takethecannoli: I don't know, I find the idea of Ray Charles shilling for any car other than a limousine, disturbing. Then... 5 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The 1980 Porsche 924: Kicks Ass At Le Mans, Hauls Your Scuba Gear
Here's what appears to be a late-night German infomercial for the 1980 Porsche 924 and 924 Turbo. Outdoorsy young Porsche owners, dedicated Porsche factory workers, and Porsche Le Mans racers all make appearances.
More »
3,050
Comment by jduffy13: Agreed, it's the S or no 924 at all. Even then, timing belt replacement is like $3,000 in these things. 2 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The 1984 Nissan Fairlady Z, Now With Plasma VG30DET And T-Bar Roof!
Sure, you could get a Z with T-tops in North America, but somehow the Japanese-market "T-Bar Roof" just sounds better. More » -
classic ad watch
Jalopnik's Top 28 Vintage GM Car Commercials
We've shown our favorite Vintage Chevrolet commercials, but what about GM's other car divisions? And we don't just mean Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile; Vauxhall, Holden, and Opel did some great ads as well!
More » -
classic ad watch
1988 Geo Metro: No Matter What!
Unless you put a CBR900RR engine in one, the '88 Geo Metro hatchback is a downright cute little gas sipper. It's tough to argue with 53 city MPG, though we remain skeptical about that figure.
4,040
Comment by v8corvairpickup: Tell me again...Why can't we get modern cars in the Good 'OL U S of A that come close to... 10 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The Only Way To Travel Is Cadillac Style: 1989 Allanté By Cadillac
Priced at $57,183 (about $98,000 in 2009 dollars) the 1989 Cadillac Allanté had a gorgeous, built-in-Italy Pininfarina body… and approximately zero buyers. This ad features the famous Cadillac Polo Team, yet somehow didn't boost sales.
3,067
Comment by smalleyxb122: It was a really pretty car. Still is. The only real shortcomings were the price, FWD, and the... 5 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The 1962 Plymouths Deliver A Kick In The Teeth, Frankie Fontaine Weeps
When Chrysler made the '62 Plymouths get better mileage and require less maintenance, it was really all about crushing the American small businessman. At least, that's the message Frank Fontaine delivers in this ad. More »
1,501
Comment by Graverobber: Stan Freeberg based his Pete Puma voice on that of Frank Fontaine. Mostly from the Crazy Guggenheim character he played... 2 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
Smooth And Fast As A Bullet Train: The 1981 Renault Le Car
Was the Renault Le Car (aka Renault 5) really the best-selling front-wheel-drive car in the world in 1981? From the country that brought us the bullet train, here comes the Le Car!
3,316
Comment by Ash78: Passing maneuver simulated. Do not attempt in LeCar. 7 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The Jalopnik Top 20 Vintage Chevrolet TV Commercials
We followed up our favorite Datsun ads and Toyota ads with the best Chrysler ads, and now it's Chevrolet's turn!
More » -
classic ad watch
Mickey Rourke Is Impressed By The '88 Daihatsu Charade's New 1300cc Engine
The Daihatsu Charade didn't sell at all well in North America, for reasons that started with the ill-considered name and snowballed from there. Back in Japan, however, the Charade had Mickey Rourke behind it. More »
2,573
Comment by Ash78: If it can't be beaten, maybe he should marry it. 2 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The Jalopnik Top 20 Vintage Chrysler, Dodge, And Plymouth Commercials
We've seen our favorite vintage Datsun commercials and the top 20 Toyota commercials, but how about those machines from Dee-troit? Get ready for our most beloved vintage Chrysler commercials! More »
5,163
Comment by leavethegun-takethecannoli: Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán Merino and the soft Corinthian leather, one of the best car commericals ever. He was in... 6 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The 1978 Datsun Stanza: Proving Australian Hoonage Potential The Best Way Possible
The Nissan Stanza- which sported 510 badges on these shores- won the 1978 Southern Cross Rally… but you don't see the Lord Humungus driving one, do you?
2,097
Comment by Number_Six: Those were the days: driving gloves before the term "douche" became widely used in the pejorative, boot-clad ladies, and aircraft... 6 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The Jalopnik Top 20 Vintage Datsun/Nissan Ads
First, we had our Top 20 Vintage Toyota ads. Now it's Nissan's turn. Here's our favorite ads from the 70s through the 90s, from North America and Japan.
-
classic ad watch
Ricardo Montalban Says It Blows Away The BMW 528e: 1985 Chrysler LeBaron GTS
What we really want to know here is: does "available leather-fitted cabin" mean the '85 LeBaron GTS has Soft Corinthian Leather? Or did you actually get basketball leather?
4,174
Comment by Nitrous Oxide: Ah... the authoritative iberian voice of corporate America... 4 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The Cheapest Import Hatchback Your 1978 Dollars Could Buy: Mazda GLC
$3,480 sounds cheap, but the '78 Chevette Scooter went for $2,999. Still, the Mazda GLC was a good deal. Can you imagine a carmaker using the word "little" in their marketing today?
2,575
Comment by Jellodyne: My mom bought one of these in '80 and all they had was the sport package in white with a... 5 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The 1970 Subarus: Driven By Very Groovy Chicks, Very Brave Hoons
If you're young where it counts, the Subaru Sport is a grabber! We've got the whole line of Malcolm Bricklin's little imports, including the 360, microtrucks, and the innovative front-drive, boxer-engined Star.
4,406
Comment by Timtoolman, now with power tools!: "SooBARoo." I don't think I'd take it over that jump for fear of blowing out those bicycle tires. The truck... 4 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
T-Tops, Turbo, And Whitewall Tires: Chevrolet Monte Carlo For 1980!
Back when Chrysler was getting bailed out by Uncle Sam and frantically readying their new K Car saviors, The General replied by re-blinging the Monte and adding a Malaise Grade 170-horsepower Buick V6. Nice redline! -
classic ad watch
15 Inches Of Snow Can't Stop The 1979 Jeep Cherokee!
Imagine a time when four-wheel-drive trucks were sold for their ability to slog through snow and mud, not their ability to repel urban criminals and perform minivan tasks without minivan stigma. -
classic ad watch
The Jalopnik Top 20 Vintage Toyota Commercials
While we've put together our Top Car Ads for the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, it still seems wrong so many great Toyota ads got overlooked. That's why we've got our favorite 20 here.
-
classic ad watch
The 1983 Mazda Cosmo Big Run: Instant VIP Treatment At The Playboy Club!
Roll up to the Playboy club in a Mazda Cosmo Big Run Genteel back in '83, and you'd be sure to get some special treatment from the bunnies.
2,355
Comment by dynamho: FWIW, the 12A turbo rotary engine made this car the fastest Japanese sedan at its time before being overtaken by... 3 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The Ladies Dig Turbo Rocket Fluid: 1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
The 1962 Olds Jetfire was the first American production car to get a turbocharged V8, and it produced 215 horsepower out of its 215-cubic-inch aluminum V8 (yes, the same engine family that became the Rover V8). Here we see an Olds-drivin' stud getting his lady friend in the mood by stomping on the go pedal and sending the boost gauge into happy territory. Just don't run out of "Turbo Rocket Fluid," which later generations came to know as "water and methanol." Thanks to SOS10 for the tip!
6,305
Comment by Mad_Science: So, um...why are those two guys riding in front winking at each other while their wives ride in the back? 6 Responses | Other threads
-
2,094
Comment by pleco believes in FOTA: An engine for $100? Not anymore you can't. [www.pickapart.com] Check the price listings, LeMons teams. Oh, and I personally recommend the ridiculously... 4 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
Drive Like An Egyptian In Your Renault 5!
British car buyers felt alive in a Renault 5, the Germans rocked out in their 5s, but only the Spanish could drive a 5 right into a world of hieroglyphs and ancient Egyptian cassette decks. ¡Comprate un oasis!
2,149
Comment by TampaRon: I have no idea what he is saying to me! This is America for Gods sake so learn how to... 5 Responses | Other threads
-
classic ad watch
The Citroën XM Pallas Braves Earthquakes, Wild Horses, Raging Lava Torrents!
The best ads tell a story, and this one for the mid-90s Citroën XM Pallas certainly does that. In fact, it's more of an informercial than an regular car ad, with inspiring music right out of an Early Dot-Com Era shareholder's meeting. Best as we can tell, the Citroën driver here is bringing a box containing a critical mass of our favorite off-brand fissionable material, Uranium 233 (cast in a ring shape, of course, to avoid troublesome criticality events in the back seat) to the local warlord's headquarters in a Damnation Alley-esque post-disaster world. More »
1,196
Comment by Rust-MyEnemy: Unbridled in its awesomeness. I am fast running out of reasons not to buy one of these before they are... 8 Responses | Other threads
classic ad watch
Detroit, 7:57 PM
Sat Jul 11
18 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip your editors:
tips@jalopnik.com
Editor-in-Chief:
Ray Wert | Email | AIM
Road Test Editor:
Wes Siler | Email
Weekend Editor:
Murilee Martin | Email
Associate Editor - Houston:
Matt Hardigree
Associate Editor - Detroit:
Ben Wojdyla
Editor-at-Large:
Mike Spinelli
Contributors:
Mark Arnold
John Krewson | Email
Andy Didorosi
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
