1972 Plymouth Road Runner, Classic Ads From 1972
1972 Plymouth Road Runner

Per most automotive historians, the automotive Malaise Era—the period during which American carmakers built relatively low-power and rather dull vehicles—ran from 1973 through 1983.

And while the ads shared here are from a model year prior to The Malaise, you can feel the coming storm in the text of some of them. The Ford Thunderbird ad makes no mention of power, instead focusing on quietness and cabin appointments. The Oldsmobile Cutlass ad is a pitch to the value shopper, focusing on the low-content S trim level.

Most interesting in this regard is the Plymouth Road Runner ad, which deals directly with the core tenets of The Malaise: inflation, insurability, and declining engine power as a result of emissions controls and low-lead gasoline.

As always, we invite your comments. If you recall spending time with any of the vehicles seen below, please tell us about it– the place for feedback is under the last ad. And for a taste of the TV ads of the era, check out the example above.

Model-Year Madness! 10 Classic Ads From 1971

 

AMC

1972 AMC Javelin Ad
1972 AMC Javelin Ad

 

Buick

1972 Buick Riviera
1972 Buick Riviera Ad

 

Cadillac

1972 Cadillac Ad
1972 Cadillac Ad

 

Datsun

1972 Datsun 610 Ad
1972 Datsun 610 Ad

 

Dodge

1972 Dodge Charger
1972 Dodge Charger Ad

The 9 Fastest Cars of 1972*

 

Ford

1972 Ford Thunderbird Ad
1972 Ford Thunderbird Ad

 

Plymouth

1972 Plymouth Road Runner Ad
1972 Plymouth Road Runner Ad

 

Oldsmobile

1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ad
1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ad

 

Subaru

1972 Subaru GL Ad
1972 Subaru GL Ad

 

Triumph

Triumph Spitfire Ad
1972 Triumph Spitfire Ad

Fahrvergnügen (and 4 Other Obnoxious Automotive Marketing Terms)

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