Evinrude/McGregor/Ansco/Admiral — 1957 (Father’s Day) (Glenn Ford, Charlton Heston, Kirk Douglas)

Whoa. This is a Hollywood all-star, cross-promotional. four-page lollapalooza of a Father’s Day ad: “A Picnic for Pop,” starring Glenn Ford looking a bit bland and holding a picnic basket, Charlton Heston in an unfortunate swim suit combo, and Kirk Douglas actually looking pretty cool. Enjoy! And Happy Father’s Day!

 

 

 

 

 

Mobilgas — 1953

“Summerproof your car!”

Ford Autolite Oil Filters — 1968

Go on, peasants, get yourself one of those four dollar oil filters. You’re worth it.

 

Association of American Railroads — 1945

“American railroads — all united for victory.”

Harley-Davidson Sportcycle — 1966

 

Ah, the Hot Wheels font. (Mattel introduced Hot Wheels in 1968, so this clean-cut all-groovy-all-the-time Harley ad pre-dated the unveiling of the famed (and very similar) Hot Wheels logo by two years.)

Fiat 850 Spider — 1969

Spiderweb-y draftsmanship (…sort of).

Autolite — 1966 (Chester Gould, “Dick Tracy”)

I have to admit that I — like Short Circuit, the Diminutive Diamond Thief — have never really been big on car maintenance either. Doesn’t bode well for me OR for Short Circuit. “Eeek!”

REO Trucks — 1951

Something in your path? Just blast on through it. That’s the American way.

Braniff Airways — 1969 (Andy Warhol and Sonny Liston)

Here’s something you don’t see everyday.

 

Oldsmobile — 1961

Frank Lloyd Wright would not have been amused.