When roads were relatively free from traffic and police, extolling the virtues of zero-to-60 mph times and top speeds were a useful way to get people excited about a vehicle. After all, you’re only as good as the cars you can pass, right?
This practice still happens today, of course, but automakers have to be more coy about it—and then often still get fined. Back in the day, there were sometimes dyno charts, lap times, skidpad numbers being included in car ads. If you browse old muscle car advertisements, they’re downright sinister.
These days…not so much. Between innuendo about speeding and all that “professional driver, closed course” stuff, it’s unlikely you’ll see print ads, billboards, and online campaigns focused on speed.
Do you wish ads these days were more like they used to be?
