We got our heads together to come up our favourite car adverts by trawling through the Practical Classics archives. We kick off below with a couple of crackers from Datsun (with Carry On star Hattie Jacques) and Chrysler’s well-known use of singer Petula Clark for its Sunbeam.
![OUR FAVOURITE ADS](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5fc1/11ba/6377/901c/dc42/fabe/Datsun+3.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
![OUR FAVOURITE ADS](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5fc1/11bf/6377/903e/c542/fabf/Chrysler+Sunbeam.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
![OUR FAVOURITE ADS](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5fc1/11cc/8b20/d4eb/d5a3/8635/FORD+CORSAIR+AD.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Ford’s campaign sent the Corsair straight into the big league.
![OUR FAVOURITE ADS](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5fc1/18eb/8b20/d437/efa3/86ae/02.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Lemons and pairs: The ‘Rotten Pear’ R14 - as the French press cruelly called it - and the Beetle, whose clever ad boffins decided to point out that the car in this picture had a defective piece of trim inside, in order to highlight its perfect build. It was therefore a ‘lemon’ and sent back to the factory for evaluation. Or something.
Weird creepy Vauxhall advert
![OUR FAVOURITE ADS](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5fc1/1c49/39c4/c748/ebec/350e/HILLMAN+IMP+2+1965.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Were the Rootes ad execs having an off day? ‘It’s a great car’ is hardly inspired. True though. We like the Imp.
![OUR FAVOURITE ADS](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5fc1/1c79/6377/900b/5842/fb6e/Citroen+Visa+advert+1983.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Citroen were keen to let us know their Visa had some extra doors. Mother appears to have forgotten to shut one of them, though.
![OUR FAVOURITE ADS](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5fc1/1c8e/b4ca/6c2b/3cb3/d94c/01.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Well, at least one of these adverts is fairly accurate.
The Grace Jones mechanical head advert
Brave, brave Lada… punching above its weight, as always. Bravo!
![OUR FAVOURITE ADS](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5fc1/1cc1/3388/4642/9d0c/8e22/Lada.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
The last-of-the-line MGB and BGT take their final bow in 1980, while a local shepherd doesn’t look very sure about his new Skoda.
![OUR FAVOURITE ADS](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5fc1/1cd8/8b20/d45d/8ca3/86f8/03.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
British Leyland struts its stuff
Enjoying the read? Why not buy a full issue of Practical Classics magazine! Because nothing beats paper right?
![OUR FAVOURITE ADS](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5fc1/1d67/8b20/d44b/77a3/8701/Ford+Fiesta+XR2i.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)