The Geneva Auto Show always reminds me of one of my prize items of late sixties memorabilia: the 1969 Automobil Revue catalog that was always issued in conjunction with the Geneva show. Here are a few scans from some of the ads, which show another glaring reason for the collapse of the USSR: their car ads. If these two sexy guys posturing in front of the “new” Moskvich don’t quite turn your crank, I assure you, the Russians knew how to make straight sexy ads too:
Does this confirm to you that the Russians had sexy advertising figured out? A nice snowy day…well, the sultry blonde in the front seat of the ZAZ is definitely getting there. Or is she just cold and annoyed? BTW, the 1960 Corvair was the most copied car ever, but this rear-engined Zaporozhets is near the top of the list in terms of authenticity.
This one I found on the web; looks like its from the mid or late seventies. Nice! Did she knit her whole outfit?
The Dutch were a little more with it in this DAF ad from ’69, but it’s still pretty mild compared to the best of US ads from the era.
Ford and GM ads in Europe tended to reflect American advertising style more than the European makes. Looks like it could be a Fairlane ad from 1969.
That’s a Triumph 2500, a car that was quite rare in the US. I just remembered that a kid at Loyola HS drove one of these (when it ran); it had a lovely interior: classic English hides and genuine wood.
The Michelotti Cane, the first car with air conditioned seats. Based on a Fiat 850.
One of my all-time favorite cars, the Lamborghini Espada shot in front of a highly depressing building that I hope is a jail. Ironically, this one looks the most like a Russian ad, except for the actual car, which is hardly being shown off to its best advantage here. Oh well.
I didn’t think anyone (but me) would admit to loving the Espada. They actually drive very nicely, when sorted.
Personally, when the right one pops up, I’m gonna grab a Silhouette – the penultimate x1/9…
“the penultimate x1/9”
Are you saying this is the “second to last” x1/9? If so, which is the last?
The only ad that makes me think “sex” is the 2nd one. I wonder two things looking at that picture. “How big is the back seat on that car.” & “Is it rear engined? Look at those air intakes.”
“The Michelotti Cane, the first car with air conditioned seats. Based on a Fiat 850.”
You used to be able to buy these seat cushions at any auto parts store that were hollow and made of two layers of mesh separated by springs.
Every cab driver owned one, because the cabs were all slant six dodges with vinyl upholstery and no air-conditioning other than the 4-70 system — roll all four windows down and drive 70 mph on the freeway.
@dancote,
Big bonus points for knowing the definition of ‘penultimate’.
In my twisted little world of auto groupings, I’d say the Jalpa (which was the Silhouette evo) was the last x1/9.
Big bonus points for knowing the definition of ‘penultimate’.
Yeah. I learned it the hard way. I used to think it was the supreme ultimate until I used it that way and was summarily disabused of that notion.
Suddenly I feel the need to buy a Taunus 20M. Even the Moskvitsh manages to look good in the ad – something it never did in real life.
No cheese or cake!!
More MM Please!!
I kind of like the look of the Moskvich.
re the zaporozhets, isn’t that a dead ringer for an NSU or some other non-Soviet block car? And if so, was that car introduced before or after the Corvair?
Anyway, thanks for showing us all those hilarious Soviet ads. I wish my father (who was an expert on the Soviet economy) were still alive to see them. He would have gotten a big kick out of them.
There was some speculation that NSU was involved, mostly because of the looks, and the general Soviet inclination to copy. However, ZAZ-966 actually seems to take most of its platform from the ZAZ-965 (itself an adaptation of Fiat-600). They might have taken the outer mold from NSU.
It was just a Corvair copy, like so many small cars in Europe at the time. The NSU was similar, but had different proportions and details. It wasn’t that hard to make up body panel pressings.
Finally I see my first car here – a ’71 Ford 20M, even the colour is right.
Pretty much all that the poor Russian people had was booze and sex. When their cars didn’t run, at least they could use them for something. (hee hee)
“That’s a Triumph 2500, a car that was quite rare in the US. I just remembered that a kid at Loyola HS drove one of these (when it ran)”
Which day was that?
The Russian ads are not for the home market, obviously. Nor would the English language Volga ad seem to be for the UK, since the car pictured is LHD. Canada maybe? And the Taunus 20M ad, being bilingual German and French, was for Switzerland?
They’re from the Motor Revue Catalog that accompanied the 1969 Geneva Auto Show. The ads are targeted at journalists and the general car-show going public. The catalog is bi-lingual German French, being that it is Swiss.
@Dan
ZAZ (Zaporozhets) was RWD, rear engined car indeed. It had a V4 (yes, non an I4, but a V4) engine. The engine was very crude, it had to be rebuilt at around 50,000 miles or even less. But it would run on very low octane – 72. (not sure of North American equivalent). Car was built in Ukraine, not Russia.
Just found out that there was an electric prototype of Zaporozhets in 1973 that won bronze medal at the Soviet National exhibition. Here’s a picture of it:
http://www.autocentre.ua/ac/09/07/images/15/Gibrid_So.jpg
And here you can watch a video made in 1984 for Lithuania:
http://www.vsevideo.co.cc/video/view/?id=v703385222a
There was a joke. What car is the quietest? Zaporozhets. Because you cover your ears with your knees.
Regarding GAZ-3102 (Volga). That car was pretty much off limits for general public and was manly used to transport big shots such as party comrades. For taxi, ambulance and for individuals there was GAZ-24. For the higher comrades there was GAZ-13 (Chaika, read Seagull) and for the Politburo there was ZIL.
There was also joke regarding Volga. What is the most cramped car? Volga. Because only two people was always riding in it. The driver and some big shot.
If anyone is interested here are some ad pictures of Soviet vehicles (You have to click on the image to see next one):
http://frendid.com/users/jkss/photos/1070138