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Travel Madness! A Gallery of Classic Rental Car Ads

1988 Lincoln Town Car
1988 Lincoln Town Car

Fans of classic TV Westerns likely recall the show Have Gun – Will Travel as one of the darker, more moralistic shows of the genre. The half-hour drama packed a lot into each episode, and usually included a pathos-filled final scene that likely left many viewers wondering if the bad guys might have been taught a lesson in a slightly less troubling manner.

Richard Boone as Paladin.

Because the show’s producers had just 30 minutes in which to tell their tale, the story often leapt quickly from San Francisco–home of protagonist Paladin (Richard Boone)–to someplace in the untamed wilds east of California.

Something my wife and daughter noticed is that, no matter where he was plying his trade, Paladin always seemed to be riding the same black horse—a detail never explained to viewers. While it is possible that Paladin actually had a favorite stead shipped to the location of each job, that seems improbable.

More likely, the man in black rented horses as needed, and always managed to find similar-looking rides.

Things are much easier for travelers today, as cars are likely much easier to rent—and care for—than horses would have been. As for finding the exact same car each time you rent, that can probably be arranged too, providing you stick with the same rental outfit.

I can’t say if any of the following vehicles would have proved a worthy rental for Paladin, but for most folks they likely would have done the trick. We’re got 20 rental car ads to share with you below–let us know if you’ve ever rented one of the cars seen here.

More classic car ads

 

Classic Rental Car Ads

Olin’s U Drive It–1948

1948 Olin’s Ad

Just Your Average 1948 Chrysler Town and Country Convertible . . . Or Is It? (Monster Engine Swap Content)

 

Hertz–1949

1949 Hertz Ad (1949 Chevrolet)

Photo Feature: 1949 Cadillac Coupe de Ville Show Car

 

Hertz–1954

1954 Hertz Ad (1954 Ford)

Photo Feature: 1954 Hudson Jet-Liner Convertible Prototype

 

Avis–1957

1957 Avis Ad (1957 Ford)

Model-Year Madness! 10 Classic Ads From 1957

 

Avis–1958

1958 Avis Ad (1958 Ford)

Model-Year Madness! 10 Classic Ads From 1958

 

 Hertz–1958

1958 Hertz Ad (1958 Chevrolet)

The 1958 Borgward Isabella Was “First in Sales”**

 

  Hertz–1965

1965 Hertz Ad (1965 Chevrolet Impala)

Model-Year Madness! 10 Classic Ads From 1965

 

Hertz–1966

1966 Hertz Ad (1966 Shelby Mustang GT350-H)

More Shelby news and reviews

 

Hertz–1966

1966 Hertz Ad (1966 Ford Custom 500)

Model-Year Madness! 10 Classic Ads From 1966

 

Budget–1968

1968 Budget Ad (1968 Chevrolet Impala)

Model-Year Madness! 10 Classic Ads From 1968

 

Avis–1970

1970 Avis Ad–Australia (1970 Ford Falcon)

Aussie Madness! 12 Classic Ute Ads

 

Airways–1971

1971 Airways Ad (1971 Ford LTD)

The Intermediate Sedans of 1971

 

Budget–1974

1974 Budget Ad (1974 Chevrolet Vega)

The Consumer Guide Best Buys of 1974

 

General–1976

1976 General Ad (1976 Chevrolet Nova)

Bargain Bling: 5 1976 Economy Cars with Luxury-Car Trim

 

Budget–1977

1977 Budget Ad (1977 Buick Regal)

Mainstream Mainstay: 1977-1995 Chrysler LeBaron

 

National–1983

1983 National Ad (1983 Pontiac 6000)

Model-Year Madness! 10 Classic Ads From 1983

 

Budget–1988

1988 Budget Ad (1988 Lincoln Town Car)

Hard to Park: The 5 Longest Cars of 1988

 

Thrifty–1992

1992 Thrifty Ad (Canada)

North of the Border Madness! 10 Classic Canadian-Car Ads

 

Hertz–2007

2007 Hertz Ad (2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser)

Review Flashback! 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser

 

Hertz–2008

2008 Hertz Ad (2008 Chevrolet Corvette ZHZ)

More Corvette news and reviews

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