Vintage Car Ads

Preparing salesmen to sell the 1940 Studebaker Champion

(January 17, 2014) Studebaker designed a clean-sheet entry level nameplate, the Champion, for the 1939 model year to bolster sagging sales. The effort paid off with the Champion becoming one of the company's best selling models.

The Champion offered a low starting price of $660 and excellent gas mileage for the time. Champions became even more popular during World War II with gas rationing.

Old cars are like haunted houses — unless you drive a Chevy

(January 9, 2014) Just like a house, a car has to have a strong foundation. Chevrolet in a 10-minute movie released in 1935 describes how a old cars are like haunted houses, unless you are the owner of a 1935 Chevrolet.

Making the car's frame strong and rigid with several cross-members is depicted in an animated drawing. Finding the point of maximum stress was the goal of Chevy's engineers in the mid-30s, according to the movie.

A very interesting video from nearly 80 years ago.

DeSoto may have been the first auto gift

With the arrival of the Christmas season "Lexus to Remember" ads start appearing on a variety of programming depicting a new Lexus in the driveway with a giant red bow attached to the roof.

Giving a car for Christmas seems to be the thing, at least in the world of luxury transportation.

Studebaker 'hawks' its cars in 1957 advertisement

(November 25, 2013) 'Craftsmanship makes the big difference' according to this 1957 Studebaker commercial, which gives prospective customers a chance to see much of the company's new lineup on the highway.

This is the proper way to pass a driving test — in 1935 England

(November 12, 2013) This film was made in 1935 by Ford of England to give would-be drivers a heads-up as what to expect when they take the driving test. Times have changed, but the basics of safe driving remain the same.

Driving safety instructions are timeless

(March 10, 2013) Sometimes we wonder how much driving safety is actual taught in driver's education programs around the country. We wonder this because of the atrocious driving habits of a high percentage of young drivers. Following too closely, driving in the left passing lane of a four lane highway, never using turn signals....

The 1961 Lincoln Continental was a sales success — check out the ad

(November 1, 2013) In 1961, the Lincoln Continental was completely redesigned and for the first time, the names Lincoln and Continental would be paired together outside the Mark Series. Originally intended to be the 1961 Ford Thunderbird, the design was enlarged and slightly altered before being switched to the Lincoln line by Robert McNamara. One of the most striking features of the new Continental was its size. It was 14.8 inches shorter than its predecessor.

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