Category Archives: cm
Harmonizing Over the Bluebird Coupe
Another great ad from 60s Japan, this time for the Datsun Bluebird Coupe. While the song is not as catchy and seemingly of a different era as the Maruzen Oil ad, it gets the point across: “Big power, dynamic power, … Continue reading
Posted in cm, datsun, nissan
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Gas Up and Go Go with Maruzen
What do you get when you mix the swingin’ sixties, Speed Racer, and some Marylin Monroe-style upskirt shots? A catchy 1969 ad for Maruzen Oil’s chain of gas stations, now known as Cosmo, not to be confused with the actual … Continue reading
Posted in cm, japan
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Missed Out on a Z? How Bout an RX-7?
Back in 1979, you may have seen this flash across the TV while kicking back in your rec room. But don’t think of it as a commercial, think of it as a public service announcement ensuring that you don’t miss … Continue reading
Posted in cm, datsun, mazda, nissan
18 Comments
Mr. Tredia, You Are a Star
Here’s one for you members of the triple diamond mafia, a Mitsubishi Tredia commercial from 1982 complete with its own cheesy theme song. Try to get that out of your head now!
Posted in cm, mitsubishi
5 Comments
Datsun Sunny A Poster Child for Pollution
Here’s a bummer of a leftover from our NorCal photo reel. This billboard for California’s Bureau of Automotive Repairs, DriveHealthy.com, was spotted in San Jose and features a clapped out Datto Sunny as an example of a polluter. It turns … Continue reading
Posted in cm, datsun
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Front Drive Toyota Defies Convention, Gravity
Why yes, that is an airborne 1980 Toyota Tercel leaping over a herd of the now-extinct species Compactus domesticus. Plus a Honda. Though it began life in Japan in 1978, the Tercel arrived on our shores for the 1980 model … Continue reading
Posted in cm, honda, toyota
2 Comments
Starlet Baja Racing, Presence of Popeye Inexplicable
The title really says it all.
Posted in cm, toyota
4 Comments
More Skyline Ads with Ken & Mary
Ok, by now you guys have all figured out yesterday’s post about a majority share of Nissan being bought out by Tata Motors was an April Fool’s joke. Sorry, we couldn’t resist! Well here’s some old Nissan Skyline that are … Continue reading
Posted in cm, nissan
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Skyline Drives Through Alien Desert with Spacefish
When George Lucas wanted to zazz up Star Wars with an automotive cross-promotion in 1977, he opted for a Toyota Celica Liftback. Say what you will about the prequels, but the man had vehicular taste. A dozen years later in … Continue reading
Posted in cm, nissan, Video Games
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Datsun 280ZX, Someday
Back when we were kids there was no Wii, MyFace, or whatever the hell kids are into these days. The bicycle was the king of birthday presents, and the freedom of movement it provided is probably what turned us into … Continue reading
Posted in cm, datsun, nissan
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Oh, Nap! '82 Toyota Lite Ace Gets the Bunk Out
The interior of this 1982 Toyota Lite Ace makes us wish we were kids again. Why? Because it has bunk beds! The lower level is formed by folding the rear seats flat, while the upper bed is suspended from the … Continue reading
Posted in cm, toyota, vans
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Classic CM: Celica XX, Electric Boogaloo
This one goes out to all the MkII Supra owners out there. Never say JNC doesn’t love ya. As you know, the second-gen Toyota Celica Supra was known as the Celica XX in Japan, and this commercial for the home … Continue reading
Posted in cm, toyota
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Nostalgic Luxury
For those of us who grew up in the 80’s, it’s hard to imagine a time when Acura did not exist. According to some, planning for Honda’s luxury brand started as early as 1976 (imagine an Acura based off of … Continue reading
Posted in cm, honda
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Happy Bosses Drive Super 6s!
We know by our hits that the vast majority of you are reading this when you should be working hard. Fine by us! In fact, if your boss is kind of a hardass, then perhaps a Prince Gloria Super 6 … Continue reading
Posted in cm, nissan, prince
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CLASSIC CM: Honda’s “Impossible Dream”
While we’re on the subject of the UK and adverts, here’s one of the best, Honda’s “Impossible Dream”. In fact, we can safely say that all artists can just retire now, because never will anything so beautiful be created again. … Continue reading
The Japanese Have Landed
In honor of our compadres at Old Japanese Car and the grand opening of their forum, here’s a 1979 Toyota Carina advert. Instead of British Leyland products, which were busy not being built by striking auto workers, blokes wishing to … Continue reading
Posted in cm, toyota
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Go One Better with Corolla
Here’s another wacky Toyota commercial from overseas, this time from South Africa. Apparently the release of the 1984 Corolla called for a hip music show countdown of Corollas past. But, seeing as how Apartheid was still in full effect, the … Continue reading
Posted in cm, toyota
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Jingle All the Way
After going through the infectious US-market Toyota ads last week, we were inspired to see what catchy ad jingles would haunt our brains till we needed to bang our noggins against a fencepost to get them out of our heads. … Continue reading
Posted in cm, toyota
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JC Taylor Wants YOU!
Great news, nostalgic car fans! Collector car insurance company JC Taylor wants to feature a Datsun Z Car or a Toyota Land Cruiser in an upcoming advertisement. They’re interested in the possibility of serving vintage Japanese car enthusiasts, so please … Continue reading
Posted in cm, datsun, nissan
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