Super Bowl Commercials and Ford

Are you ready for some… commercials?

Yep. That’s right. It’s that time of year again. The time when Americans all across the country gather in front of their TVs with a remote control in one hand, a slice of pizza in the other, and one of those double barrel beer hats, to root for the team that has less of a history of beating their favorite team, which didn’t actually make it to the game. Or, perhaps more importantly to that 90% who don’t live in either championship team’s city, to watch the Superbowl commercials.

There are few spectacles in American culture, and yes half drunken high fiving with pizza sauce on your face is culture, that elicit the excitement of the Super Bowl. And there is no other televised event whose sponsorship (TV ads) are so highly anticipated, discussed, and revered. A good Superbowl commercial, like the 1979 Mean Joe Green Coke spot or the 1984 Apple ad, can remain in the public’s mind for decades. And that is, after all, the point of commercials.

No Ford Superbowl Ads

Those who sit down to watch the big game this year are likely to notice one big omission in the words from their sponsors. This year’s Super Bowl commercial lineup will feature zero ads from U.S. auto makers.

Super Bowl commercial ad time historically is the most expensive ad time a company can buy, and this year is no different. A thirty second ad spot during Super Bowl XLIII is selling for a record three million dollars. Because of this, U.S. auto makers who are feeling the pinch, or beat down as it may be, of the struggling global economy have not purchased any ad time for this year’s event. With the strain that such ad expenses would add to already bleeding budget books the auto makers are afraid that the purchase of such lofty commercial spots might be seen by the public as frivolous. And, with some automakers (non-Ford ones) taking government bail out monies, public opinion could turn even less favorable than it presently is by such spending.

Hall of Fame Advertising

The Apple and Coke ads mentioned above would probably be considered the most memorable commercials from any Super Bowl if not some of the best advertising in the history of media. But these two aren’t the only companies who have produced quality thirty second to one minute slices of Americana that will live on in the public consciousness for years to come. From old favorites like Pepsi and UPS to new comers like Sobe and Go Daddy, the guys and gals in the marketing departments have performed at a level sometimes more deserving of the Lombardi Trophy than the team that actually wins the game.

Ford has also produced some awesome advertising over the years. Since they will be absent from this year’s starting lineup, I’ve decided to post a little highlight reel of some of their better Super Bowl moments over the past few years. Hopefully, they will be back in the game next season, until then enjoy these memories.

Past Ford Superbowl Commercials

Here we have the one minute spot from last years game in which Mike Rowe of “Deadliest Catch” and “Dirty Jobs” fame talks about the towing hooks on the F-150 as the truck is being swung around by its front end. I don’t care who you are, that’s impressive.

Next we have our little green friend (no, not Al Gore) riding a bike and singing “Its Not Easy being Green”, as well as rock climbing, in this 2006 spot. Who’d have guessed Kermit had that kind of upper body strength?

This spot from 2007 we have a different type of biker, a nervous family and a whole lot of tough guys. I’m talking Ford tough.

This 2005 clip is kind of like “Miami Vice” meets “Fargo”. Its possibly the most memorable of any Ford Superbowl ad of all time due to the quality of the ad as well as the excitement surrounding the car.

And last but not least we have this spot from 2007 in which a truck self assembles as the narrator pints out aspects of the construction. Not a funny spot but as far as being informative and incorporating some neat effects goes, this spot really stands out as effective.

I hope you enjoyed this stroll down Ford Super Bowl commercial lane. Drop a comment and let us know what your favorite Super Bowl commercial is, Ford or otherwise, and I’ll see you after the big game.

Go Advertisers!

For more information please contact Brad Doenges of Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville Oklahoma at (918) 333-0900.

Popularity: 10% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!