We’ve previously looked at some of the great Corvette ads from the 1950s as provided by Flickr member aldenjewell, who has done a superb job archiving these images. Today we’ll look at more magazine ads for Corvettes, this time from the first half of the 1960s.
Corvette Ads from 1960
What Happened to Gravity?
Purely for performance-minded drivers, this magazine ad from 1960 focuses on the push, the engine, and the steering of the Corvette. The imagery of the car speeding uphill, combined with the idea of gravity-defying capabilities makes the 1960 Corvette very appealing. And if that’s not enough, just imagine the wind through your hair like the driver in the model shown!
Corvette Ads from 1961
Twice a Day He Takes a Vacation
Imagine life if your commute to work was as fun as a European vacation? That’s what this ad tries to convince you will be true if you commute by Corvette! Its image of a happy couple in a red convertible cruising through the hills of San Francisco evokes feelings of freedom combined with excitement. The writing mentions a few of the technical aspects of the car, but what it really sells is the feeling of getting behind the wheel of your own Corvette.
Excitement is Standard Equipment
Excitement is “standard equipment” for the Corvette, even in 1961, as this ad tells us. The car partially obscured by the white convertible Corvette is a 1927 Bugatti, a French automobile also known for excitement. But the ad goes on not to compare the two cars, but to CONTRAST them, telling how the newer Corvette is built with the comfort of driver and passenger in mind. It doesn’t require cat-like reflexes or professional experience to drive; it’s a sports car every American can enjoy…with excitement.
You Only Think You’re Not an Enthusiast
Chevrolet wanted to make sure people knew they didn’t have to be an enthusiast to enjoy a Corvette. It’s a car for people who drive every day, not just those who join weekend car parades and make small talk about engine capacity. The best part of the copy is the line “Unless you’re accustomed to driving sports cars in the ten to fifteen thousand dollar category, you’ll be absolutely astonished.” My how the economy has changed! This ad appeals to drivers in city and rural areas and features a sophisticated couple taking the Corvette equivalent of a Sunday picnic.
Corvette Ads from 1962
Shark by Chevrolet – ACtion
This classic ad from 1962 features an illustration of the Mako Shark concept car that inspired future Corvette design and styling. The car had been seen in an episode of the TV show Route 66 in the fall of 1961, so it was familiar to some of the advertisement’s audience. The ad itself isn’t for the Corvette; it’s for AC spark plugs, which were used on the Mako Shark.
Corvette Ads from 1963
Go New Corvette – It’s Exciting!
Moving forward into 1963, we start seeing ads combining the Corvette with other Chevrolet models. This one features the famous split rear window Corvette coupe in the background behind a white Chevrolet Corvair, a mass-produced compact car that featured a few elements from the popular Corvette, that had debuted in 1960. Copy at the top of the page describes the Corvette, while the text at the bottom refers to the Corvair. Dual headlines on either side of the photo focus on both cars.
It’s Go Chevrolet for ’63 – Exciting!
This magazine ad shows four different Chevrolet models, all in white on different-colored backgrounds. The popular Corvette is at the top above the headline, which reads “Now-with Four Entirely Different Kinds of Cars…It’s Go Chevrolet for ’63 – Exciting!” Below are illustrations of three more autos – the Nova, the Corvair, and the Impala.
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