They're Boxy, But They're Good.

[TimD]

They're boxy, but they're good. The tag line for a spoof VOLVO ad campaign in a feature film. For the life of me, I can't remember a real Volvo advert, but the line says it all. Perfect advertising.

What are the car ads that stand out most for you? From all of our various nations, there must be some crackers.

And does it have any effect on you? Are you convinced that "Happiness is Mini Shaped", or are you sure that "You Can Do It In An MG".

Some of my favourites:

"I bought my Datsun out of wedlock"

For the (new) convertible Triumph TR7 "with added headroom - 93 million miles"

An economy edition Citroen with safety suspension "It's cut the cost of living"

And of course, sometimes advertisers just don't think things through. Their carefully prepared ad campaigns are corrupted by the general public. Fiat were the worst.

The Fiat Strada/Ritmo "Designed by Computers, Built by Robots" was inevitably corrupted with the addition "Driven by Italians".

And the Fiat Mirafiori poster which proclaimed "If this car was a lady, it would get its bottom pinched". The graffiti which appeared beneath the text added "... and if this lady was a car, she'd run over an ad-man."


Any more gems out there?

[elephino]

Nothing overly spectacular comes to mind from Australian advertising apart from the shockingly bad ads for the "new" Toyota Avalon. But I can think of one for Holden.

Their usual bit is:
Holden Commodore - Drive On
My new one is:
Holden Suburban - Drive Over

[Neil C]

Like you Tim, the one I remember most was not a real ad. The National Lampoon magazine ran a satirical ad for Volkswagen, it showed a VW bug floating in water (they were known for their ability to float, like Ivory soap). The tag line was: If Ted Kennedy had been driving a Volkwagen, he'd be President today.

This was in reference to the fact that his involvement in the drowning of his "companion" in an auto accident ruined his chance at being Prez.

[Chris Y]

I always liked 'Minis have feelings too'

[Sparky]

Good man, Chris! That's one of the best! (plus there's no Legends in it!)

I like most car ads...

...just as long as the names 'Papa ' and 'Nicole' aren't involved.

[Airhead]

There's the old

"you meet the nicest people on a Honda"

As an ex owner of a Harley Davidson, perhaps

"you meet plenty of ............ on a Harley"

[DAVID PATERSON]

Hey Charger!

[Liz]

Going back a ways, how about "See the USA in your Chevrolet?" And later on of course, "Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet."

Since we were not Chevy people, though, that never inspired us much.

When my Uncle Doug worked at the local Ford Plant, Ford had a brief ad campaign "First On Race Day." He said it should have been "Fix Or Repair Daily."

[TimD]

Ah! Acronyms.

My favourite has to be LOTUS.

Loads Of Trouble, Usually Serious.

[DAVID PATERSON]

Found On Rubbish Dump or Full Of Rust & Dirt.

Liz, In the '70s we had a popular TV ad campaign for Holden, GM's Australian division, "Football, meat pies, Kangaroos and Holden cars." Original, huh?

[Liz]

Gee, did anyone in Britain come up with one of those "All [your nationality here]" ad campaigns?

Advertising: One good idea and 99 pieces of carbon paper. If you're old enough to remember carbon paper.

The saddest campaign was the one Chrysler came up with when the U.S. government was bailing them out of the consequences of arrogance: "Buy what America Builds."