Best Vintage Ad Inspiration
1. Bacardi Rum "Mixes with Everything, Except Driving"
This vintage advertising example from Bacardi does a great job of mixing humor with social responsibility. The ad cleverly uses humor by including the steering wheel in place of the final bottle cap, which catches the viewer off guard and adds a layer of wit.
This ad strikes a delicate balance between promoting a product and delivering a socially responsible message. Modern marketers can overlook the importance of aligning a brand's messaging with values that matter to their audience. In an era when consumers are increasingly concerned with ethical behavior, incorporating responsible messaging can enhance brand loyalty and trust.
This vintage Bacardi ad is a brilliant example of how to use minimalism, humor, and responsibility in advertising. It effectively communicates the versatility of Bacardi rum while simultaneously promoting safe practices, creating a message that is both engaging and meaningful.
2. Rayban - "Glare Protection" Neo-Vintage Print Ad
This 1998 Ray-Ban vintage ad is a fascinating blend of pop culture references and product utility wrapped in a humorous and memorable visual. The main ad copy, "Glare protection," is simple and straightforward, directly linking the visual of the two "vampires" to the product's benefit. This juxtaposition of vampires—traditionally avoiding sunlight—with the idea of protecting against glare is ironic and clever.
The use of vampires in this ad taps into a rich vein of cultural references. By 1998, vampires had become a staple in popular culture, thanks in part to the success of movies like "Interview with the Vampire" (1994) and the TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (which started airing in 1997).
This ad effectively uses pop culture references to create a memorable and engaging narrative. Modern marketers can learn from this by tapping into current cultural trends and phenomena to make their messaging more relevant and relatable.
3. Daihatsu "Picks up 5 Times More Women than a Lamborghini"
This 1996 ad for the Daihatsu Hijet MPV is a clever and humorous take on car advertising, playing off of the common association between luxury sports cars and attractiveness, particularly with regard to women.
The ad headline is the ad's focal point, playing on the stereotype that flashy cars like Lamborghini's are the ultimate "babe magnets." By claiming that the Hijet "picks up five times more women," the ad humorously suggests that practicality (in this case, the ability to seat more people) trumps luxury in the real world.
This ad effectively challenges and subverts stereotypes, particularly the idea that only luxury cars are desirable. By doing so, it makes the Daihatsu Hijet stand out in a crowded market. Modern marketers can learn from this by questioning and challenging conventional wisdom in their advertising, which can create more engaging and thought-provoking campaigns.
4. Penn Tennis Ball - French Open Croissant Ad
This 1988 Penn Tennis Ball ad is a striking example of surrealist advertising, blending elements of culture, sports, and visual art to create a memorable and impactful image.
The copy reads, "Official ball of the 1988 French Open." This line is succinct and powerful, directly tying the visual to the product's endorsement. The use of the croissant, an iconic symbol of French culture, immediately connects the product to the French Open, a prestigious tennis tournament held in Paris.
By presenting the familiar (a tennis ball) in an unfamiliar form (a croissant), the ad not only grabs attention but also makes the product stand out. Modern marketers can learn from this by experimenting with surreal or unconventional visuals to break through the clutter and create a lasting impact.
The use of surrealism in advertising can be a powerful tool to create memorable and unique visuals. We recently saw a modern facebook ad example of this tactic from the darling DTC brand Manscaped. They used special effects makeup to create a square head on their actor, allowing them to visualize the shortcomings of traditional razors.
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5. "The Man in the Hathaway Shirt" - David Ogilvy Ad
The man, the myth, the legend David Ogilvy is known as the father of advertising and played a huge role in shaping the world of ads as we know it.
Before landing on the eye patch idea, David slaved over 18 concepts - none of them achieving the intrigue and quality of advertising that this vintage ad example does. TLDR: The eye patch was never mentioned in the ad but was used as a mysterious prop to generate curiosity.
Want to learn more about David Ogilvy? Check out this article where we break down the top 5 most important Ogilvy ads of all time.
Concluding - The best vintage ads to spark creative inspiration
As marketers, we should certainly not show away from new trends and tactics, but at the same time, it's important to lean in and learn from those who came before us. The timelessness of these vintage ads lies in their ability to blend creativity, cultural relevance, and strategic messaging in a way that resonates across generations. Each of these ads captures the essence of their respective eras and offers valuable lessons for today's marketers. In summary, here are some prompting questions we can use when ideating your digital ad campaign;
- Bacardi: "How can I integrate humor and responsibility?"
- Ray-Ban: "What clever pop culture reference can we visualize in a subtle way that captures attention?"
- Daihatsu: "Are there any luxury stereotypes we can subvert to translate value for our own product?"
- Penn: "What surreal visual metaphor can we use to capture attention"?
- Hathaway Shirt: "What subtle visual can we introduce to capture intrigue so the target audience continues reading?"
By studying and drawing inspiration from these classic campaigns, modern marketers can craft ads that capture attention and leave a lasting impact. After all, the best ideas are often timeless, and history, especially in advertising, has a way of repeating itself.
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