
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 21st 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.
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
Chevrolet Corsica

1988 Chevrolet Corsica Ad
Future Collectibles: 2014-2016 Chevrolet SS
Chrysler New Yorker

1988 Chrysler New Yorker Landau.Ad
Dodge Colt

1988 Dodge Colt Ad
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
Check out the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast
1988 Sedan Ads
- 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Ad
- 1988 Acura Legend Ad
- 1988 Audi 80 Ad
- 1988 Buick Park Avenue Ad
- 1988 Chevrolet Corsica Ad
- 1988 Cheysler New Yorker Landau.Ad
- 1988 Dodge Colt Ad
- 1988 Dodge Dynasty Ad
- 1988 Ford Taurus Ad (Canada)
- 1988 Honda Accord LX Ad
- 1988 Jaguar XJ6 Ad
- 1988 Mercury Sable Ad
- 1988 Pontiac Bonneville SSE Ad
- 1988 Renault Medallion Ad
- 1988 Toyota Cressida Ad
- 1988 Volvo 740 Ad