7 Creative, Clever Car Ads That Always Make Us Smile
It’s easy to dismiss car ads as shameless, soulless attempts to grab our hard-earned dollars. But the truth is that the best automotive advertising, like automotive journalism, relies on creativity and imagination. This week, we decided to share some of our digital staff’s favorite car ads. Some of them we love as period pieces, others for their sheer bravado, and many for their clever humor. All of them succeed in making a for-profit company and its inanimate product feel—well, a bit more human.
We may or may not have bought a car based on these ads, but we’ll never get tired of watching (or reading) them. When you’ve had a read, let us know what advertisements spoke to you!
Awesomely Cheesy Datsun
I have ensured “there are virtually no options” for a better advertisement by picking the 280 ZX “Black Gold” advertisement from Datsun. While Datsun had plenty of awesomely cheesy ads for their flagship sports coupe during this time, none can top the mustachioed, laser beam and disco violin infused perfection created for the 10th Anniversary edition.
Go ahead, watch it. Tell me if anyone else on this list is “driven to the ultimate.”
Trust Stefan, Joe Isuzu Is the Best
In the realm of actual car advertising, I always loved David Leisure as the pathological liar Joe Isuzu. His smarmy delivery always makes me laugh. Then I started thinking about smarminess in general, and that led me to the late Phil Hartman. What a genius that guy was. So I humbly submit this pair of spoof car ads from, what I would argue, was peak Saturday Night Live: The Adobe from 1986, Hartman’s first season on the show, and the Chameleon XLE from 1993. — Stefan Lombard
Crazy People: Raunchy but Good
I spent a fair amount of time in advertising, both academically and professionally, and the whole experience left me chilly. Payback came with the 1990 Dudley Moore film Crazy People, about an advertising agency that tells the truth. Yes, this is where “Volvo—Boxy But Good” came from, but the Jaguar ad, at about 2 minutes, 20 seconds on this clip, is just classic. Beware: Strong language, but if this doesn’t make you laugh, you’re a Quaker. As in “oats.” And yes, that product is included here, too. — Steven Cole Smith
“Nobody’s Perfect”
I can’t help but think about the run of print ads Porsche had in the 1980s. Specifically, the one that will always stick in my head is the”Nobody’s Perfect” ad, where Porsche simply listed off the overall top 10 finishing order from the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans. All but one car was a Porsche. That sort of dominance is remarkable, especially at Le Mans. It feels like there was equal parts earned arrogance and tongue-in-cheek with the ad, and I’d say it certainly got the message across when it comes to just how impressive Porsche was on the race track in that era. — Nate Petroelje
Self-Deprecating Citroën
It’s charming when a carmaker doesn’t take themselves too seriously, and it’s hilarious when they poke fun at themselves. I can’t think of anybody who did it better than Citroën with their old print ads for the 2CV, which was a cheap, slow, extremely basic (but brilliant) little car that they built forever and barely updated. The ads are basically saying “yeah, it kinda sucks. And we’ve been too lazy to change anything. But it’s affordable and it’s charming as hell so, come on, buy it.” It makes me want one! — Andrew Newton
VW’s ’60s Beetle Ads
This list would be incomplete were we to overlook the VW ads of the 1960s. Whether it was “Think Small,” or “Lemon,” or the lunar rover quip that “It’s ugly, but it gets you there,” these ads have endured because of their simplicity, sense of humor, and ability to say more by saying less. These qualities are exactly what made the Beetle itself so beloved, and the harmony between messaging and product just wormed its way into people’s hearts. — Eric Weiner
When Peugeot Took Our Breath Away
Britain’s repmobile wars were at their height when Peugeot launched its 405 into the fray. It had to compete against fleet favorites like the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier, so an explosive entry to the market was just what was required. The 1989 “Fields of Fire” campaign did not disappoint, as this run-of-the-mill sedan ran the gauntlet of blazing fields, accompanied by Berlin’s Top Gun–famous Take My Breath Away. It certainly took mine away, and the 405 soon became a top-seller.
One of my favorites is a Duesenberg print ad from the early 30s. A captain of industry stands by his desk, overlooking a vast industrial scene. The only text says, “He drives a Duesenberg”.
There was a whole series on the same theme.
Packard print ad from mid-twenties, headlined, “Republican or Democrat, they drive a Packard”. Below was a list of all the senators and representatives that drove Packards,
The Packard slogan that endured (and was brilliant) was “Ask the man who owns one”.
As to Volkswagen, I always liked the TV ad in which they drove one into a pond and stated, “It floats!” As to print, as a Miata owner, I actually saved and had framed the newspaper ad that shows an NA Miata with the caption, “Beware of Expensive Imitations.”
Or the ad parody with a pic of a floating VW and the caption, “If Ted Kennedy drove a VW, he might be president today”.
It was in the National Lampoon, Volkswagen later sued National Lampoon for for using the name, logo and image of a Volkswagen automobile without permission. The $30,000,000 lawsuit was settled in 1973 by an agreement that included a recall of 135,000 copies of the magazine issue which contained this ad, the removal of page 29 from 10,000 hard‐cover copies of The National Lampoon Encyclopedia of Humor, the total destruction of the ad’s printing plates, and a “forthwith” press release by the publisher and corrections in the next issues.
If I remember correctly the dialog for that ad was “A Volkswagon definitely floats…” and then they talk about the full floor pan and how tightly sealed the passenger compartment was until near the end of the ad they finish with “…but a Volkswagon does not float indefinitely” as the car sinks and all you see is air bubbles.
I loved the Woodward billboard for Corvette.
“They Don’t Write Songs About Volvos”
I also love Cadillacs 1915 ad in Saturday Evening Post
Penalty of Excellence
“In every field of human endeavour, he that is first must perpetually live in the white light of publicity. Whether the leadership be vested in a man or in a manufactured product, emulation and envy are ever at work. In art, in literature, in music, in industry, the reward and the punishment are always the same. The reward is widespread recognition; the punishment, fierce denial and detraction. When a man’s work becomes a standard for the whole world, it also becomes a target for the shafts of the envious few. If his work be mediocre, he will be left severely alone – if he achieves a masterpiece, it will set a million tongues a-wagging. Jealousy does not protrude its forked tongue at the artist who produces a commonplace painting. Whatsoever you write, or paint, or play, or sing, or build, no one will strive to surpass or to slander you unless your work be stamped with the seal of genius. Long, long after a great work or a good work has been done, those who are disappointed or envious, continue to cry out that it cannot be done. Spiteful little voices in the domain of art were raised against our own Whistler as a mountback, long after the big world had acclaimed him its greatest artistic genius. Multitudes flocked to Bayreuth to worship at the musical shrine of Wagner, while the little group of those whom he had dethroned and displaced argued angrily that he was no musician at all. The little world continued to protest that Fulton could never build a steamboat, while the big world flocked to the river banks to see his boat steam by. The leader is assailed because he is a leader, and the effort to equal him is merely added proof of that leadership. Failing to equal or to excel, the follower seeks to depreciate and to destroy – but only confirms once more the superiority of that which he strives to supplant. There is nothing new in this. It is as old as the world and as old as human passions – envy, fear, greed, ambition, and the desire to surpass. And it all avails nothing. If the leader truly leads, he remains – the leader. Master-poet, master-painter, master-workman, each in his turn is assailed, and each holds his laurels through the ages. That which is good or great makes itself known, no matter how loud the clamor of denial. That which deserves to live – lives. “
Elvis framed this for his office.
Bloody excellent hypervv6. Its getting framed and going on my wall as well.
“Nailed It!!”
Remember that GTO ad for the new design ’68 that shows a Verdoro green GTO turning onto Woodward, with the text something like “You know what comes next”?
You could never ever have an ad that that in today’s feminized world. In fact very few people ever have these thoughts anymore.
Kills Bugs fast is one of my favorite print ads of all time. Porsche had the funniest ads back in the day.
There are any number of old print ads and billboards worthy of mention. A.M. Cassandres’ “Watch The Fords Go By ” displayed at MoMa being one of the best. When it comes to TV spots ‘ Jaguar vs Chicken ‘ is one of my faves in the clever category. My least favorite are the ones shown and shown and shown again during the most recent Petit (no E in that ) Le Mans. I understand the need to’ pay the bills’ and going side by side was a good idea but now it seems like since they do, they feel they can,every two minutes without annoying the hell out of you . And since they’re the very same ads over and over again, like nails on a chalk board. Having to hear the Cadillac ad featuring ‘ Lift Off’ so many times made me finally hit mute. But since you’re mentioning Phil Hartman it did remind me of Eddie Murphy doing Buckwheat Sings. – Oooh Tay!
(ps) If Dodge ever wanted to do a clever ad, it would be – ‘ Enter and get a chance to win’- fifteen minutes to slap around that annoying brat and the weenie he’s with in their new Dodge Hornet ad.
I miss clever print and TV ads for cars. The stuff I see nowadays in no way compares. But then again, IMO the CARS themselves in no way compare to the vehicles “back in the day”! 😒
Well said. Agree completely.
I always liked Volkswagen’s “Little GTI” commercial, which employed a modified version of “Little GTO” by Ronnie and the Daytonas.
Wasn’t that in German (Kleine GTI)? I loved that. I was 13 or 14 so I heard that jingle before I heard Little GTO. I wanted a GTI in the worst way.
I too, recall VW’s clever “Little GTI” singing ads… 🙂 Thx for the reminder! Two (2) corrections (if I may), Ronnie & The Daytonas is incorrect, as is the song title. The song is not “Little GTO” It’s factually titled “GTO” – & the group is: Ronny, & The Daytonas. 🙂 CHEERS! See, & hear the 1964 hit, here:
https://youtu.be/mbwqSIP-oaM?si=TvbJjPpKQf0ovLJ6
I too, recall VW’s clever “Little GTI” singing ads… 🙂 Thx for the reminder! Two (2) corrections (if I may)… Ronnie & The Daytonas is incorrect, as is the song title. The song is not “Little GTO” – as most people think. 😛 It’s factually titled “G.T.O.” – & the group is: Ronny, & The Daytonas. 🙂 CHEERS! See, & hear the 1964 hit, here:
https://youtu.be/mbwqSIP-oaM?si=TvbJjPpKQf0ovLJ6
Best car ad ever: Nissan’s ripoff of GI Joe/Barbie set to Van Halen music. Loved that ad!
You beat me to it! My absolute favorite car ad. Next favorite is “Kills Bugs Fast”. Both are brilliant. But some of the Pontiac print ads from the Madmen era are simply fantastic.
that was definitely excellent
I didn’t remember that one; looked it up. Thanks, that’s a great one!
That’s definitely my pick
The simpsons Canyonero ads were great too.
“Top of the line in utility sports
Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts!”
What smells like steak and seats 8? Canyonaro!
Take a moment and google “A boys dream” Corvette ad from around 2005 I think. One of the best car commercials from my memory.
I loved the commercial for the new plum crazy Dodge Challenger R/T convertible ( I believe it was in 1970) where driver gets stopped by a Sheriff; the Sheriff walks up to the car and says “Boy, your’e in a heap of trouble!)
That was “Sheriff Joe Higgins”…stating (among other things). “You’re in a heap-o-trouble, boy!”
This
Not clever, but timeless. Who can forget Ricardo Montalban describing the Lincoln’s Cordoba’s Corinthian leather?
Chyrsler not Linclon
Not clever, but unforgettable. No one can unhear Ricardo Montalban’s description of the Corinthian leather in the Chrysler Cordoba.
Sorry for the double posting.
I remember reading once either a Chrysler executive or an executive from the advertising Bozell that made up the name admitting there is no such thing as Corinthian Leather but the name sure sounded luxurious.
All the Volkswagen ads from DDB in the 1960s were the best! What most people don’t realize is that Volkswagen was the very first company (car or otherwise) to use humor in advertising!