Mercury Villager Nautica

According to Investopedia.com, co-branding is “… a marketing strategy that utilizes multiple brand names on a good or service as part of a strategic alliance. Also known as a brand partnership, co-branding (or “cobranding”) encompasses several different types of branding collaborations, typically involving the brands of at least two companies.”

Jays Open Pit BBQ chips

My favorite bit of co-branding is the tantalizing hookup of Jay’s potato chips with the Open Pit barbeque sauce. The result of that wonderful union is arguably the best BBQ chips you can find in the Chicago area. Good stuff.

Carmakers are not immune to the lure of co-branding, and have engaged in a number of branding partnerships over the years, some to good effect, some not so much. Here we have collected a number of print ads for vehicles which were co-branded. How many of these do you recall? For the record, we realize that the Ultra Brite Volkswagen shown below was just a giveaway car and not an actual production vehicle–we just thought the ad was cool. If you remember any co-branding efforts not pictured here, tell us about it. The place to leave comments is down below.

More classic car ads

Co-Branded Cars

1972 AMC Gremlin Levi’s Edition

1972 AMC Gremlin Levi’s Edition Ad

Kenosha Madness! 10 Classic AMC Ads

1972 AMC Hornet Sportabout Gucci Edition

1972 AMC Hornet Sportabout Gucci Edition Ad

5 Really Bad Cobranded Special Edition Vehicle Ideas

1975 Ultra Brite Volkswagen Beetle

1975 Ultra Brite Toothpaste Ad

5 Forgotten Volkswagen Models

1978 Cadillac Seville Gucci Edition

1978 Cadillac Seville Gucci Edition Ad

Designer Madness! Fashion in Classic Car Ads (Gallery)

1980 Lincoln Mark VI Designer Editions

1980 Lincoln Mark VI Designer Editions Ad

Nicely Suited: The Designer Series Lincoln Mark V Models of 1977

1984 Ford Thunderbird Fila Edition

1984 Ford Thunderbird Fila Edition Ad

Review Flashback! 1984 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

1986 Ford Bronco II Eddie Bauer Edition

1986 Ford Bronco II Eddie Bauer Edition Ad

The Compact SUVs of 1987

1993 Mercury Villager Nautica Edition

1993 Mercury Villager Nautica Edition Ad

Forgotten People-Movers: More than 30 Minivans You Don’t Remember

2001 Mitsubishi Pajero Mini Snoopy Edition

2001 Mitsubishi Pajero Mini Snoopy Edition Ad (Japan)

Review Flashback! 1990 Mitsubishi Sigma

2001 Subaru Outback L.L. Bean Edition

2001 Subaru Outback L.L. Bean Edition Ad

Asian Invasion! Five Classic Japanese Car Ads

2012 Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty Edition

2012 Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty Edition Ad

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Co-Branded Cars Gallery

Co-Branded Cars