Stupid car ad fad

[wdfifteen]

I hope it is just a fad, as in something everyone else does it so some weak-minded, creativity challenged people feel like they have to do it too.
What I'm talking about is the practice of describing the history of a model of car before bothering to describe the actual car for sale.
Ads for Speedster replicas go on and on about the history of the Porsche Speedster, "Max Hoffman, blah, blah, blah..." Before they finally get down to the facts.
"But we're not selling one of those. We're selling a replica!"

I was looking at an ad for a 1918 Model T. We all grew up in the 20th Century and we all know what a Model T is, right? The seller assumes you arrived from Mars yesterday with loads of cash to spend:
"The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie, Leaping Lena, jitney or flivver) is an automobile produced by Ford Motor Company from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile ....."

Who the hell is going to shell out $18,000 for a car they never heard of and need a car salesman to school them on what it is? I tend not to take car ads like this seriously. If you're looking at an ad for a Model T, you know what the hell it is. If you're looking at an ad for a Porsche Speedster, you know what the hell it is.

[herr_oberst]

23-skidoo, pops! Make mine in black and pass me my raccoon coat!

First I ever heard of Leapin' Lena.

[Arizona_928]

Creative writing classes from undergrad have to pay out some how.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I tend not to take car ads like this seriously. If you're looking at an ad for a Model T, you know what the hell it is. If you're looking at an ad for a Porsche Speedster, you know what the hell it is.

Corvette/Chevy did this with the launch of the 1984 model but they were touting market value of many older models. Trying to hook mid-life crisis range men with means to buy a snazzy car vs investing? But that was maybe 50 squillion dudes.

Your scenario is different. Way smaller group of peeps with most having decades of immersion in their hobby. Syrupy history is not needed.

[asphaltgambler]

Drives me nuts. If I want a history lesson on the car I'm buying, I'll WIKI it. Total sales people BS. If that's someone's way of getting around a crappy car description, I'm sure there is crappy sales fees added on for 'value'

[unclebilly]

Selling a 93 Honda Accord, no need for the preamble.

Selling a collector car with an interesting history or racing provenance, why not.

[petrolhead611]

They are copying the auction house catalogues

[pavulon]

It’s an accountability dodge. “Here’s a bunch of info that might apply to these cars but says nothing about this car.” This just in: a lot of sales people are crappy human beings.

[ckelly78z]

They are trying to evoke a pre-sale, emotional connection to the jalopy they are selling. So many weak willed people out there don't know what they want, and can easily be manipulated into buying.

[Tervuren]

If it is a production car, annoying.

If it is a one off, welcome.

[Chocaholic]

Agree....and it does seem more prevalent lately. Have been casually looking for a TR-6. Will simply skip ads that proceed to tell me the history of the mark. Makes no sense. It simply says they know nothing about the car but want to fill up the page.

I routinely look at at Hemmings, and see that often.

[oldE]

I feel it might be useful in creating a wider customer base. If you know nothing about old cars or indeed any cars at all, you might be drawn in to the idea of acquiring one after being introduced to a bit of background.
Those ads are not aimed at us. Many on this board could write them (better).

Best
Les

[GH85Carrera]

It is the same way with most newspaper articles. They author starts out with how one person no one ever heard of feels about the way things turned out, than the background of this random person and to ever find the who, what, where, and when of the story is often impossible. But we learn they liked to wear blue because they were feeling blue. If you suffer through the entire article most likely there is no hard information, but lots of meaningless background information and feelings, but you will never learn what happened to how and when or where.