1988 Pontiac Bonneville SSE

By 1988, light-duty trucks—a category which includes pickups, minivans, and SUVs—accounted for roughly one third of new-vehicle sales. At the time, the popularity of trucks seemed scandalous to many in the automotive media, most whom wagged a stern figure at automakers, warning that a sudden surge in the price of gas would leave dealers with lots full of unsellable product.

And while a brief spike in gas prices around the turn of the 21^st Century did, briefly, suppress the public’s interest in SUVs and crossovers, three decades later “trucks” are selling better than ever. In fact, during the first two months of the COVID-19 shutdown, crossover sales accounted for as much as 80 percent of what sales there were during that time.

Let’s return to 1988 and spend a little time with the sedans of the day. Collected here for you are 16 vintage print ads and one pretty entertaining TV commercial. If you remember spending time in one of these cars, tell us about it. The place to leave comments is down below.

More classic car ads

A Gallery of 1988 Sedan Ads

Alfa Romeo Milano

1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Ad

More Alfa Romeo news and reviews

Acura Legend

1988 Acura Legend Ad

Acura: The Racing in its Blood

Audi 80

1988 Audi 80 Ad

Office Faux Pas: Pinstriping an Audi

Buick Park Avenue

1988 Buick Park Avenue Ad

The Buicks of 1986

Chevrolet Corsica

1988 Chevrolet Corsica Ad

Future Collectibles: 2014-2016 Chevrolet SS

Chrysler New Yorker

1988 Chrysler New Yorker Landau.Ad

The “Big” Chryslers of 1990

Dodge Colt

1988 Dodge Colt Ad

Forgotten Functionality: Recalling the 1994 Eagle Summit Wagon, Mitsubishi Expo, and Plymouth Colt Vista

Dodge Dynasty

1988 Dodge Dynasty Ad

Fratzog Madness! 10 Classic Dodge Ads

Ford Taurus

1988 Ford Taurus Ad (Canada)

Future Shock: 1985 Ford LTD vs. 1986 Ford Taurus

Honda Accord

1988 Honda Accord LX Ad

Review Flashback! 1982 Honda Accord

Jaguar XJ6

1988 Jaguar XJ6 Ad

Consumer Guide Picks the 15 Best-Looking Cars of All Time*

Mercury Sable

1988 Mercury Sable Ad

Forgotten Concept: Mercury Meta One

Pontiac Bonneville

1988 Pontiac Bonneville SSE Ad

Poncho Madness! 10 Classic Pontiac Ads

Renault Medallion

1988 Renault Medallion Ad

Unsettling Transition: The 1988 Eagle Lineup

Toyota Cressida

1988 Toyota Cressida Ad

Review Flashback! 1980 Toyota Cressida Wagon

Volvo 740

1988 Volvo 740 Ad

Follow Tom on Twitter

Check out the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

1988 Sedan Ads