Tag Archives: cars

Kinda crazy how that’s now a monthly payment.

Double truck (2-page) Overland magazine ad found in the June 7, 1913 issue of the Saturday Evening Post

Double truck (2-page) Overland magazine ad found in the June 7, 1913 issue of the Saturday Evening Post

Continue reading

Death of a traveling salesman

Magazine ad for Hertz found in the October 9, 1967, issue of Newsweek
Magazine ad for Hertz found in the October 9, 1967, issue of Newsweek

Avis might’ve reached advertising legend status with its “When you’re only No.2, you try harder. Or else.” ad and eventual “We try harder.” tagline, but I gotta tell ya, this 1967 Hertz ad is its own kind of awesome. I never knew it existed before picking up a short stack of old Newsweek magazines at a local flea market this weekend. And the word count in this single print ad? 385.

Avis v. Hertz – a history. 

Continue reading

Beep beep! It’s a ‘Jeep’.

Print ad for the WIllys-Overland 'Jeep' Station Wagon found in the January, 1947 issue of Holiday magazine.
Print ad for the WIllys-Overland ‘Jeep’ Station Wagon found in the January, 1947 issue of Holiday magazine.

The 1946 Willys Jeep station wagon was the first 2-door station wagon.

This was just seven years after the first Jeep prototype (“Quad”) was delivered to the US Army. It was designed in just 75 days.

The History of the Station Wagon

Continue reading

No other car in the world will satisfy you.

Magazine ad for the 1950 Chrysler Crown Imperial Limousine found on the back cover of an issue of Flair magazine, if I’m remembering correctly.
Magazine ad for the 1950 Chrysler Crown Imperial Limousine found on the back cover of an issue of Flair magazine, if I’m remembering correctly.

What did the 1950 Chrysler Crown Imperial Limousine look like for real? Check out General Douglas MacArthur’s, one of 209 built that year.

Continue reading

Washed-out bridge ahead? No problem!

1920 magazine for the Willys-Overland Overland 4

1920 magazine ad for the Willys-Overland Overland 4

From 1912-18, Willys was the 2nd-biggest American automobile maker.
Ford was 1st, the bastards.

Willys-Overland is the company that eventually brought us the Jeep.

Let’s take the 1920 Overland 4 for a spin.

Continue reading

America’s Hot New Success Car… There are success cars?

Ford Torino magazine ad found on the back cover of an April 6, 1968 Saturday Evening Post
Ford Torino magazine ad found on the back cover of an April 6, 1968 Saturday Evening Post

The Torino was an upscale variation of the Ford Fairlane, eventually replacing it. Sorry, Andrew Dice Clay.

The car was named after Turin, the home of a certain shroud

You might notice some shared DNA with a certain ’73 Ford Falcon used in a dusty Australian movie.

And don’t forget about The Striped Tomato.

Continue reading

Ready and eager!

This is no time for sidesaddle.
Magazine ad for the 1950 Oldsmobile Rocket 88
Magazine ad for the 1950 Oldsmobile Rocket 88

Bone shards:

Street cred? This car had it.

Oldsmobile’s Rocket engine was kind of a big deal.

The voice of Rocket in the Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy movies is Bradley Cooper.

Continue reading

It’s nice, but is ain’t no Wagon Queen Family Truckster.

1974 magazine ad for the Jeep Wagoneer
1974 magazine ad for the Jeep Wagoneer
I'm pretty sure this is a ghost and the driver is about to have a most horrible death.
I’m pretty sure this is a ghost and the driver is about to have a most horrible death.

Speaking of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster

Tilt steering is a comfort option? A decade earlier, it was a luxury option.

The Wagoneer is coming back… maybe.

Continue reading

Polly want a Packard?

Packard magazine ad found in the July 2, 1927 issue of The Literary Digest
Packard magazine ad found in the July 2, 1927 issue of The Literary Digest

According to this ad, Packard had a Board of Color who would decide on the car color schemes. Just imagine the fights.

Some quasi-random knowledge:

Having your car the same colors as a harlequin macaw would certainly get noticed.

Macaws can live for 50-100 years.

In 1930 (three years after this ad), the average life of a new car was 6.75 years.

The average lifespan of a modern car is not quite 12 years.

Continue reading

In hindsight, perhaps a teeter-totter wasn’t the best visual metaphor.

Packard "Balance" ad from the June 4, 1927 issue of The Literary Digest
Packard “Balance” ad from the June 4, 1927 issue of The Literary Digest

Something for the auto buffs: Why Packard Died

Want a Packard of your very own? Looks like a 1929 Packard 645 Deluxe Eight goes for an average of $212,926 these days. What a bargain!

Continue reading