Car advertising has been around for a long time. Initially, it was primitive and only attracted people’s attention to this or that model. However, later, it changed and became more interesting. It used new methods of visualizing information and introduced hidden meanings and elements of humor. All this made it possible to create real advertising masterpieces, which today everyone considers an absolute classic. Let’s look at some well-known car commercials and compare them with advertising for modern vehicles.
Mini 1275GT
The various Mini models have never been the center of attention. At the same time, these cars cannot be called failures. High-quality advertising ensured good sales, which was released at the right time. The most famous was the advertising campaign of the mid-70s of the last century. A series of videos and many unique advertising posters were released at this time. This combination enabled the desired effect and significantly increased sales volumes of the Mini 1275GT. Today, this and other cars of the famous British brand can only be found at salvage auctions Arizona and other states. There, they are sold at a minimal price and are available to everyone.
In advertising for the Mini 1275GT in the 1970s, great attention was paid to the main feature of the car – its small size. This was presented with a bit of humor, contributing to better memory. Some advertisements featured famous British comedian Eric Sykes, adding to their exclusivity. Unique slogans were also used to popularize the Mini 1275GT. For example, “You don’t need a big one to be happy” has long been associated with all cars. All of the above allowed the 1275GT model to remain popular for 11 years, which is an excellent indicator.
Citroën 2CV
One of the most famous was the car commercial with the participation of Citroën 2CV. The French manufacturer thought for a long time about creating an advertisement that could make the outdated model popular again. As a result, a solution was found, and thanks to this, people could see something unique. The main secret of success was the humorous way of presenting information about the characteristics and capabilities of the Citroën 2CV. At that time, drivers did not have the https://www.clearvin.com/ service, where you can find out all the data about the car using the VIN code, so this method of providing important information was the only correct solution.
Advertisements for the Citroën 2CV claimed that its top speed of 71.5 mph would easily outpace even the Ferrari Mondial, which would not accelerate beyond 65 mph. At the same time, the fact that the Italian sports car can accelerate to almost 150 mph was, of course, kept silent. Next, the advertisement’s creators compared the Citroën 2CV with the legendary Rolls-Royce and concluded that both models have four wheels. At the same time, they indicated that with a specific identity, their car costs 25 times cheaper. Ultimately, a Citroën 2CV and a Porsche 911 Classic were compared. The French model has 30 cubic feet of space in the cabin and trunk, much more than the famous German car. As a result of all the comparisons, the ad’s creators presented the slogan “All you’ll ever need in a car”, hinting at the versatility of the Citroën 2CV and its ability to satisfy any driver’s needs.
Land Rover Freelander
In the 1990s and the beginning of the new century, Land Rover cars were at the peak of popularity. In this regard, the company’s owners only occasionally ordered commercials and illustrated advertisements. These were supposed to remind us of well-known cars and draw additional attention to other Land Rover products. Despite this approach, one of the advertisements turned out to be so successful that it began to be called a true classic.
They used a picture depicting two hippopotamuses and a car swimming nearby to popularize the Freelander model. All of them were partially submerged underwater, which demonstrated the ability of the SUV to overcome various water obstacles. Adding to the splendor of this advertisement are the identical size of the animals and the car and their black color. Thanks to this original solution, Land Rover managed to attract people’s attention and demonstrate the uniqueness of its Freelander. The effect of such advertising was impressive, and the number of cars sold began to increase sharply.
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce has never been known for its originality, so it has consistently produced car models that are similar to each other. They were not creative in creating advertising either. Most of the time, it was boring and monotonous. Its creators wanted to create an image of an elite car, so they always showed Rolls-Royce next to various famous buildings or luxury apartments. However 1959, the situation changed when the British company turned to the Ogilvy agency for help creating advertising. Its owner, David Ogilvy, was considered the best in the advertising industry in the 50s and 60s and created an absolute masterpiece that continued Rolls-Royce’s direction in popularizing its cars.
David Ogilvy was able to introduce some variety into advertising. It replaced the standard Rolls-Royce presentation and showed the world the car in a new way. Thanks to this, it was possible to reveal the exciting features of the advertised model, practically without changing the external design of advertising posters and the background for filming videos. The new advertisement’s main feature was the phrase, “At 60 miles an hour, the loudest noise in this new Rolls-Royce comes from the electric clock.” This slogan perfectly described the car and formed the image of a reference vehicle in the minds of drivers, the likes of which were difficult to find at that time.
Volkswagen Beetle
One of the most recognizable cars in the world, the Volkswagen Beetle, couldn’t have a simple advertisement that looked like the rest. Therefore, in the 60s of the last century, the German automaker began searching for original solutions that could convey to people the capabilities and features of the Beetle. At the same time, it was initially planned to create advertising in which important information would be presented with a certain amount of humor. This was because it aimed at Americans, for whom the Beetle initially caused laughter.
Several promotional videos were released between 1960 and 1970. They all complemented each other and created a complete picture of the Volkswagen Beetle. In each video, the car was compared to a lemon, which, although it does not have the best taste, is still an indispensable product in any kitchen. Over time, this juxtaposition became so popular that people often called the Beetle “Lemon” in conversations. This unconventional move made the unremarkable car famous even in the United States and helped Volkswagen achieve good sales volumes.
A properly conducted advertising campaign will help sell even a low-quality car. To do this, it must be engaging, memorable and unique. All these components automatically add classic status to advertising and make it popular many years later. In our article, we talked only about some car commercials. All of them have long become legendary and deserve your attention.
