Football Auto Ads
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, Football Auto Ads
1905 Peerless Ad

American Classics at the 2019 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

 

1934 Ford

1934 Ford Ad, Football Auto Ads
1934 Ford Ad

Photo Feature: 1936 Ford DeLuxe Club Cabriolet

 

1944 Chrysler

1944 Chrysler Ad, Football Auto Ads, WW II ad,
1944 Chrysler Ad

The “Big” Chryslers of 1990

 

1947 Pontiac

1947 Pontiac Ad, Football Auto Ad
1947 Pontiac Ad

Poncho Madness! 10 Classic Pontiac Ads

 

1949 Plymouth

1949 Plymouth Ad
1949 Plymouth Ad

Photo Feature: 1960 Plymouth Fury Hardtop Coupe

 

1953 Pontiac

1953 Pontiac Ad, Football
1953 Pontiac Ad

Review Flashback! 2005 Pontiac Bonneville

 

1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass

1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass Ad
1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass Ad

Our Favorite Oldsmobiles (Gallery)

 

1968 Chevrolet Camaro

1968 Chevrolet Camaro Ad, Chicago Bears
1968 Chevrolet Camaro Ad

Power Play: Camaro Engines Through The Years

 

1968 Dodge Adventurer

1968 Dodge Ad, Football
1968 Dodge Adventurer Ad

Photo Feature: 1960 Dodge D100

 

1968 Pontiac Firebird

1969 Pontiac Pontiac Firebird Ad
1968 Pontiac Firebird Ad

Consumer Guide Picks the 15 Best-Looking Cars of All Time*

 

1969 Cadillac Eldorado

1969 Cadillac Eldorado Ad
1969 Cadillac Eldorado Ad

What Was The Cadillac Eldorado Evolution?

 

2001 Suzuki

2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara, Heisman Trophy
2001 Suzuki Ad

Cheap Wheels: 1996-98 Suzuki X-90

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Football Auto Ads

 

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