
1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass
Americans have now enjoyed the services of the automobile for well over a century. It’s hard to imagine another development that did so much to shape the country as we now know it. But at just over 100 years of service, the car has nothing on football.
Like baseball, American-style football has a history that goes back well before the (previous) turn of the century.
According to Wikipedia, the first American football game took place in 1869 between Rutgers University and Princeton University. Rutgers reportedly won the game 6-4, which suggests that some tweaking of the scoring has taken place since the ’60s—the 1860s, that is.
Not surprisingly, the automobile and football have not evolved independently. The cultural phenomenon of tailgating merges the two institutions nicely, as does the inclusion of football in automotive advertising–the latter of which we explore below.
Amassed for your consideration are 12 automotive print ads and one TV spot, each of which draws on America’s love of football. Check them out:
National-Pastime Madness! A Gallery of Baseball-Themed Auto Ads
1905 Peerless

1905 Peerless Ad
American Classics at the 2019 Goodguys Heartland Nationals
1934 Ford

1934 Ford Ad
Photo Feature: 1936 Ford DeLuxe Club Cabriolet
1944 Chrysler

1944 Chrysler Ad
1947 Pontiac

1947 Pontiac Ad
Poncho Madness! 10 Classic Pontiac Ads
1949 Plymouth

1949 Plymouth Ad
Photo Feature: 1960 Plymouth Fury Hardtop Coupe
1953 Pontiac

1953 Pontiac Ad
Review Flashback! 2005 Pontiac Bonneville
1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass

1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass Ad
Our Favorite Oldsmobiles (Gallery)
1968 Chevrolet Camaro

1968 Chevrolet Camaro Ad
Power Play: Camaro Engines Through The Years
1968 Dodge Adventurer

1968 Dodge Adventurer Ad
Photo Feature: 1960 Dodge D100
1968 Pontiac Firebird

1968 Pontiac Firebird Ad
Consumer Guide Picks the 15 Best-Looking Cars of All Time*
1969 Cadillac Eldorado

1969 Cadillac Eldorado Ad
What Was The Cadillac Eldorado Evolution?
2001 Suzuki

2001 Suzuki Ad
Cheap Wheels: 1996-98 Suzuki X-90
Football Auto Ads