Classic Automotive Television Commercials and Video


The 1959 Chevy Wagon Commercial...


American Motors Rambler

American Motors:

Through its 34-year existence as the last independent American auto manufacturer, AMC created some of the most memorable, inspirational, and exciting cars and Jeeps the world has ever seen. Formed from the merger of Hudson Motors and Nash-Kelvinator (the deal was the largest corporate merger up to that point, and reportedly worth US$197,793,366), it would struggle on until 1987 when merged with Chrysler Canada Limited. Here is a commercial for the '67 Wagon, big enough to challenge the Ark. View >>

Audi 4000

Audi:

A regular feature of Road and Track Magazine throughout the 1970's was the "Letter from Europe", a chance for their European correspondent to report back on the latest offerings from Germany, Sweden and the UK - and when it came to the new Audi 4000 the correspondent was obviously very impressed, declaring it the best European 2 liter large car in its class! View >>

Austin A40 Farina

Austin:

There was a time when Austin were one of Australia's favorite automobiles. Affordable and good quality, the A40 Farina set new benchmarks in style, design and practicality - and is today regarded as the worlds first "hatchback". The 1800 was a marvel, offering an unbelievably good ride courtesy of "Hydrolastic" suspension, and the roominess for a car of its size was unparalleled. View >>

Buick

Buick:

While the Buick T-Type Regal coupes were aimed at the performance market, 1982's Regal Grand National signalled a change for the better. Named for the NASCAR Grand National racing series, this car incorporated a 4.1 liter V6 with 125 hp, or an optional 180 hp turbocharged 3.8 V6. It also featured T-tops, front and rear spoilers and a striking gray over silver paint job. There was no Grand National in 1983, but it returned in 1984 wrapped in its familiar all black paint. The turbocharged 3.8 became standard and would continue to be refined with fuel injection and intercooling, and by '87 was good for 245hp (182kw). View >>

Chevrolet Presents

Chevrolet Presents:

For a time the major US manufacturers treated their advertising in much the same way as Hollywood - their advertising consisting of smaller style productions out to tell a story as much as sell a car. Jam Handy productions became increasingly popular, and GM created a series of productions known as "Chevrolet Presents", similar in style to Ford's "Ford Theatre". View >>

Chevrolet Corvair

Chevrolet:

A selection of Chevy TV and promotional advertisments, starting with the 1955 Motoramic model and going through to the Chev Highlander, our favorites are for the Corvair Monza where, it seems, the marketers felt the car best promoted by driving it along the beach and across sand dunes. Ralph Nader probably would have preferred that's where they stayed, but that would be selling the Corvair short. View >>

Groucho Marx for DeSoto
DeSoto:

DeSoto famously sponsored one of the most enduring television quiz shows to air during the 1950's, "You Bet Your Life". DeSoto originally thought Groucho would appear in his traditional costume, complete with painted on moustache, but the contract did not require him to do so, and Groucho was adamant that if he could not be funny on television without makeup, he should not bother. Click here to watch an episode and see if you agree, then watch one of the famous Groucho DeSoto commercials for '58, and Groucho without his trademark tails and mustache. View >>
Dodge
Dodge:

John and Horace Dodge may have started out as cycle makers, but the savvy brothers were soon to build transmissions for Olds and then chassis and engines for Henry Ford - in return for a tenth of his company! They sold their Ford shares for a whopping $25 million and founded their own automobile company, coining the word 'dependable' to describe their products. Always proud of their products, proud to say "I Built A Dodge". View >>
Edsel - They'll Know You've Arrived
Edsel:

Unfortunately only 62,000 Edsels were to find a home in a US garage during the first year of manufacture, this after Ford having spent an enormous $250,000,000 to develop it. Its critics blamed its unusual looks with one pundit describing its vertical grille as "like an Oldsmobile sucking a lemon". In reality the Edsel was quite restrained with well clipped fins and a nice clean profile. Why don't you decide. View >>
Ford 1956 Wagon
Ford (USA):

An American man is many things...or so the commercial for the '56 Ford Wagon claims. Spoilt for choice, Ford released six variants of the Station Wagon due to its increasing popularity, from the utalitarian Custom Ranch Wagon through to the upmarket Park Squire. View >>
Ford Cortina
Ford Escort and Cortina (Australia):

The Ford Escort and Cortina entered the Australian market with the psychedelic sixties in full swing. Certainly the Cortina commercials of the time were more matter of fact, however those for the Escort were a little more abstract. Little time was spent extolling the cars virtues, rather the marketers attempting to evoke a “groovy” relationship between car and owner. View >>

Ford Falcon XW GT
Ford Falcon (Australia):

The jingles changed through the years, but the imagery from the Ford Falcon ads was always first rate. From being "Trim, Taut, Terrific" in the 1960's through the muscle car era of the 1970's, you will note the change in styling, early Falcons taking their design que from the immortal Ford Thunderbird, then switching with the XR/XT range to being Mustang bred. And don't miss the wonderful XC Falcon commercial, Ford's rebuttal to the General's Radial Tuned Suspension. View >>
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