Model-Year Madness! 10 Classic Ads From 1983

Tom Appel

7 years ago

I graduated from high school in 1983. The third year of President Ronald Reagan’s first term was pretty good to me—I spent the summer working full time at a service station, I starting taking classes at a local junior college, and I spent a considerable amount of time looking at, reading about, and talking about cars.

I remember every one of the print ads seen here, and well recall the buzz surrounding the all-new Ford Thunderbird. The new ‘Birds were slow to show up at the service station, but I saw them on the road—and was more fascinated than actually infatuated. (I wasn’t quite ready for the aero look.) Instead, things like turbocharged Volvos were more my thing, much like the one in the ad below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17w1cSsqAZ4]

To celebrate 1983, I have amassed ten classic print ads—and one TV spot—for your consideration. If you remember spending time with any of the vehicles seen here, please tell us about it. The place to leave comments is down below.

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