As an automotive journalist, I am not predisposed to know much about fashion. That said, I do know a smartly attired individual when I see one.
One of the many implied promises made by automakers in their advertising is that you will look good in their cars and trucks. Nowhere is that promise laid out more plainly than in the ads collected below.
Also clear is that to reach women back in the day, it was considered necessary to appeal to that demographic’s sense of style.
There is an almost countless number of Cadillac ads featuring women in fabulous dresses, often with their daughters—we’ve only picked a couple of those so as to leave space for other brand ads.
Enjoy the ads, and let us know what you think. Do we need classic fashion back in new-car ads?
Fashion in Classic Car Ads
1927 Hupmobile
Woodie Madness! Classic Ads Featuring Small Wood Sided Wagons
1939 Chrysler
Aviation Madness! A Gallery of Classic Car Ads Featuring Airplanes
1939 Mercury
Turbo Madness! More Classic Ads Featuring Turbocharged Vehicles
1947 Packard
Market Crash Madness! A Gallery of Depression-Era Car Ads
1949 Ford
Memory Lapse Madness! A Gallery of Forgotten Car Ads
1953 Nash
CVCC Madness! A Gallery Of Classic Honda Ads
1955 Cadillac
Luxury Madness! A Gallery Of Classic Lincoln Ads
1956 Cadillac
Dynaflow Madness! A Gallery Of Classic Buick Ads
1956 Lincoln
Performance Madness! 10 Classic Car Ads Featuring Horsepower Numbers
1958 Chevrolet
Model-Year Madness! 15 Sporty Car Ads from 1984
1959 Ford Thunderbird
Pony-Car Madness! A Gallery of AMC Javelin Ads
1960 Cadillac
Micro Madness! A Gallery of Classic Mini Car Ads
1966 Chevrolet
Quicksilver Madness! 15 Classic Mercury Ads
1970 Dodge Challenger
Feline Madness! A Gallery of Mercury Cougar Ads
1984 Ford Thunderbird
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Fashion in Classic Car Ads
