by David Burrell – – – Between April 1977 and November 1978, Chrysler Australia rode the waves of surf culture with its Drifter panel van, ute, and, of all things, the Charger. Like Holden’s Sandman and Ford’s Sundowner, the Drifter’s advertisements promised an endless summer – leisure, freedom, power, speed, sea, surf and sex – […]
Copy Cat Ads: Part 6
by David Burrell – – – The more I search through the AMHF’s collection of brochures and magazine advertisements, the more examples of Australian car companies and their advertising agencies reusing overseas advertisements and brochures I find. 1972 XA FORD FALCON When Ford released its 1972 XA range, they claimed it was “born on the […]
1976 XC Falcon: How to gain market leadership
by David Burrell – – – In July 1976, Ford unveiled its XC Falcon range. And it was a masterclass in how to succeed when others only saw problems. The new models coincided with the introduction of Australian Design Rule 27A. The regulation’s purpose was to force car makers to reduce exhaust emissions. The way […]
Copy Cat Ads: Part 5
by David Burrell – – – The AMHF’s extensive collection of automotive brochures and magazine advertisements is a treasure trove of examples which reveal how Australian car companies and their advertising agencies copied and reused ideas, layouts and images from overseas brochures and advertisements. Here are more. 1956 FORD ZEPHYR When Ford Australia’s advertising department […]
1976 HX Holden: Few celebrations
by David Burrell – – – Well, someone had to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this most forgettable of Holdens. When GMH unveiled their 1976 HX range the folks at Ford must have realised they were on their way to market leadership. With its market share in decline and profits problematic, GMH’s senior executives decided […]
Copy Cat Ads: Part 4
by David Burrell – – – In this continuing series, the AMHF’s collection of brochures continues to produce examples of Australian car companies and their advertising agencies reusing overseas print advertisements and brochures. 1957 CHRYSLER ROYAL Chrysler Australia re-purposed a 1956 De Soto brochure and print advertisement image, above, for the 1957 Chrysler Royal, below. […]
1976 CL Chrysler: Millstone or milestone?
by David Burrell – – – Another milestone worth marking: the CL Chrysler Valiant turns 50 in November 2026. Arguably, the CL was the Valiant Chrysler Australia should have launched in 1974 to arrest the sales slide triggered by the bulky styling of the 1971 VH, VJ and VK models. The CL’s bold new grille, […]
Selling a Canstel in 2026
by Rod Chivas – – – I bought a Lotus Elan Series 4 in May. I was in Tasmania visiting my daughter – the V8 Supercars just happened to be on at Symmons Plains the same weekend. I’d been looking at Elans for about six months. Initially, I was tempted by a white DHC in […]
Copy Cat Ads: Part 3
by David Burrell – – – The search continues through the AMHF’s wonderful collection of brochures and print advertisements to find examples of Australian car companies and their advertising agencies reusing overseas content. This instalment of the series features Chevrolet, Pontiac and Toyota. 1962 PONTIAC To convert US Pontiac Venturas into Australian Laurentians, the image […]
