Chevrolet Trucks
Photo: File
GMC Trucks
Photo: File
Mercury Trucks
Photo: File
Dodge Fargo
Photo: File
Stacked! Built!” are the first two words in the body of this Mercury Trucks advertisement from the early 1960s. Clearly, they have that nudge-nudge-wink-wink feel to them. I’m pretty sure those terms had the same double entendre meaning back then that they do today. No current marketing manager would ever let that kind of ad go to press now.
Among other things, how these ads were presented reflect who we were as a society back then.
To find these old gems we dug deep into the archives of our sister publication Country Guide (Grainews didn’t exist back then), specifically to take a look at how truck brands tried to win favour with farmers a few decades ago. Compared to today, there are clearly some differences in how manufacturers try to get their messages across to potential buyers. But the main message back then, just as now, is that the trucks are tough and capable workers worthy of finding a home on Canadian farms.
Here are a few of the ads we found. Enjoy.
