Retrotisements — 1972 Pontiac New Car Lineup

For the 1972 model year, Pontiac had ten models for sale in the US, covering six types. Those types and models were compact (Ventura II), mid-size (LeMans), full-size (Catalina, Catalina Brougham, Bonneville, and Grand Ville), station wagon (Safari and Grand Safari), personal luxury (Grand Prix), and muscle car (GTO and Firebird). In addition to the various print and TV ads for those models, Pontiac seemed particularly proud of its bumpers this year.

Here is a gallery of advertisements and advertising images for each of those models, as well as some generic ads.

1972 Pontiac (general)

1972 Bonneville

1972 Pontiac Bonneville dealer postcard

1972 Catalina

1972 Pontiac Catalina print advertisement

1972 Firebird

1972 Pontiac Firebird print advertisement

1972 Firebird Formula 455

1972 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455 print advertisement

1972 Grand Prix

1972 Pontiac Grand Prix print advertisement
1972 Pontiac Grand Prix print advertisement

1972 Grand Ville

1972 Pontiac Grand Ville print advertisement

1972 GTO

1972 Pontiac GTO print advertisement

1972 LeMans

1972 Pontiac Le Mans print advertisement
1972 Pontiac Le Mans print advertisement

1972 Luxury LeMans

1972 Pontiac Luxury LeMans advertisement
1972 Pontiac Luxury LeMans advertisement

1972 Safari

1972 Pontiac Safari and Ventura print advertisement

1972 Ventura Sprint II

1972 Pontiac Ventura Sprint II print advertisement

Retrotisements — 1979 Station Wagons

For my latest gallery of vintage car ads I’m going to focus on one particular segment, in this case it’s station wagons from the 1979 model year. Having never owned one I can’t speak to the experience of what it’s like, but I always crack a smile whenever I see a classic family truckster still on the road.

So in the spirit of old school station wagons, let’s take a look from what was hot off the assembly line 40 years ago from a sampling of American and foreign automakers.

Chrysler

The seventh-generation Town & Country was in its second year as the mid-sized LeBaron wagon. It had formerly been the company’s full-size station wagon.

1979 Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country wagon ad

Pontiac

The 1979 Safaris were available in several trim packages. This ad highlights the mid-size Grand LeMans Safari and the full-size Bonneville Safari.

1979 Pontiac Safari ad

Oldsmobile

This Cutlass Cruiser, Oldsmobile’s mid-size wagon, features a diesel engine. 1979 was the company’s second model year with a diesel engine for its wagons.

1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser ad

And here is the full-size Custom Cruiser.

1979 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser ad

Ford

All four of Ford’s wagon models for 1979 are on this beauty of an ad, including the Club Wagon van. We’ve got the Pinto, LTD, and Fairmont wagons all out for a nice day at the lake.

1979 Ford Wagon ad

Chevrolet

1979 was the second model year for the Malibu wagon, then in its fourth generation. It was Chevy’s mid-size wagon entry.

1979 Chevrolet Malibu ad

Here’s Chevy’s full-size wagon, the Caprice Classic.

1979 Caprice Classic wagon ad

Dodge

Dodge offered three wagon models in 1979 — the Colt, Aspen, and Diplomat. Here is the largest of the trio, the Diplomat.

1979 Dodge Diplomat ad

Volkswagen

We can’t forget our imports now can we? Here is the 1979 Volkswagen Dasher, known back home as the Passat.

1979 Volkswagen Dasher

Nissan

The subcompact Nissan Sunny (sold in North America as the Datsun 210) was in the second year of its fourth generation in 1979. In 1982 it was replaced by the Sentra.

1979 Datsun 210 ad

Subaru

The Subaru Leone went by many names in America in the late ’70s, including the Subaru GL or L Series. Whatever you call it, it clearly stands out from the station wagon crowd of 1979.

1979 Subaru station wagon ad

Retrotisements — 1980 Pontiac New Car Lineup

It’s been a looong time since my last new car ad gallery — just over three years in fact since my 1970 Dodge post. For the return of this series, let’s fast forward one decade to the dawn of the ’80s and the lineup for GM’s Pontiac make.

The theme for these ads was a pretty clever twist on the MPG initialism. In this case it stood for:

  • More Pontiac to the Gallon
  • More Pontiac Excitement to the Gallon
  • More Pontiac Excitement for the Great Ones

The only model I wasn’t able to find a good print ad for is the Sunbird, so if anyone can help me out please let me know.

(To see other car lineup advertisement galleriesclick here. Got a request for other years and makes? Let me know in the Comments section.)

1980 Pontiac Compacts

1980 Pontiac Phoenix ad

1980 Pontiac Phoenix

1980 Pontiac Mid-Sizes

1980 Pontiac Grand Prix, Grand LeMans, Grand LeMans Safari ad

1980 Pontiac Grand Prix, Grand LeMans, Grand LeMans Safari

1980 Pontiac Full-Sizes

1980 Pontiac Bonneville ad

1980 Pontiac Bonneville

1980 Pontiac Bonneville ad

1980 Pontiac Bonneville

1980 Parisienne ad

1980 Pontiac Parisienne

1980 Pontiac Station Wagon

1980 Pontiac Safari ad

1980 Pontiac Safari

1980 Pontiac Muscles

1980 Pontiac Firebird ad

1980 Pontiac Firebird

1980 Pontiac Trans Am ad

1980 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

1967 AMC Marlin Fastback hood ornament

A Gallery of Classic Car Hood Ornaments

Along with real bumpers on cars, decorative hood ornaments seem to be a thing of the past. ‘Tis a shame too, as they really added that extra bit of personality to a car. Here’s a collection of photos showing some of my favorite hood ornaments, via Flickr.


Pontiac hood ornament

Pontiac

1956 Chevy Belair hood ornament

1956 Chevy Belair

1929 Ford Model A Special Coupe hood ornament

1929 Ford Model A Special Coupe

1949 Ford hood ornament

1949 Ford

Chrysler hood ornament

Chrysler

Brooklands Bentley Driving Tests - 1939 Bentley 4.5 Litre Vanden Plas Tourer (FYU 313)

1939 Bentley Vanden Plas Tourer

06b 1955 Buick Century - Hood Ornament (E)

1955 Buick Century

Brooklands New Year's Day Meet 2012 - 1934 Hudson Terraplane (YSK 315)

1934 Hudson Terraplane

1932 Buick 8 Convertible Coupe_IMG_3994

1932 Buick 8 Convertible Coupe

1934 Plymouth Emblem

1934 Plymouth

1967 AMC Marlin Fastback hood ornament

1967 AMC Marlin Fastback

Packard Goddess with Glass Wing

1939/40 Packard

1956 Cadillac Coupe De Ville

1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville

1941 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Coupe

1941 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Coupe

1934 Dodge Brothers Pickup

1934 Dodge Brothers Pickup

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