RE: PH Blog: the death of the car brochure
Discussion
You can't beat the Jag brochures of the late eighties. Luxurious leather-like white covers broken only by an embossed gold leaper logo. Inside a Nigel Havers lookalike clad in flying jacket offset by white scarf casually jogs towards an XJ40 parked with a spot of opposite lock in front of a Spitfire on the manicured lawn of a stately home.
If that isn't aspirational, I don't know what is!
If that isn't aspirational, I don't know what is!
I have too have fond memories or pouring over every last detail of brochures every time my dad was getting a new company car (about every 6 months at the time). I could tell you every single thing there was to know about any of the models and could usually tell by looking at the hubcaps whether it had rear electric windows, manual sunroof, ABS etc., the exact CC, HP, lbft, kerb-weight, 0-60 and most importantly, top speed.
I miss those days.
I miss those days.
During the late 80's and early 90's the highlight of the year was going to the, then annual, Scottish Motor Show at the SECC and collecting the dozens of free bags and glossy brochures that were on offer. I would then spend literally hours deciding which company car my dad would have next.
My personal favourite I can still remember was the 405 Mi16 and when the 2 years had elapsed on the Cavalier a few months later, and my dad said he was going for the Pug as a replacement, I dug out the brochure and went off to Melvins with him with high hopes of seeing red Mi16 roll round for collection. Imagine my disappointment as instead a GRD (non turbo I must add) trundles round instead, I'm sure he mentioned something of miles per gallon, but to a 10 year old, he may as well have been talking about quantum physics.
Still, the electric windows all round and sunroof did give me some bragging rights in the playground.
My personal favourite I can still remember was the 405 Mi16 and when the 2 years had elapsed on the Cavalier a few months later, and my dad said he was going for the Pug as a replacement, I dug out the brochure and went off to Melvins with him with high hopes of seeing red Mi16 roll round for collection. Imagine my disappointment as instead a GRD (non turbo I must add) trundles round instead, I'm sure he mentioned something of miles per gallon, but to a 10 year old, he may as well have been talking about quantum physics.
Still, the electric windows all round and sunroof did give me some bragging rights in the playground.
Dad was gutted to get a 405 'Style' from a new company which had zero spec to speak of (bar a rear spoiler from the SRI) and a non-turbo D.
He peeled off the 'Style' badge, and one day when it was parked nose-in to the garage a neighbour said how much he liked the SRI....I don't think Dad corrected him.
He peeled off the 'Style' badge, and one day when it was parked nose-in to the garage a neighbour said how much he liked the SRI....I don't think Dad corrected him.
As a kid in the 70's and 80's I also collected car brochures. My parents even had my bedroom converted for additional storage room. Luckily, when I got married and bought my first house, my mom didn't throw them away, but did ask that I took my collection with me (which really pleased my wife ).
I don't collect them anymore, but still have around 3000 car brochures, most in mint condition.
Some I still treasure : Bitter SC, Lancia Thema 8.32, De Tomaso Pantera,, Rolls Royce Corniche, etc... But most fun are the "regular" car brochures : Datsun 120Y, Peugeot 604, Fiat Argenta, Triumph TR7,... if only for that 70's dress sense and the way they tried to inject some glamour into their cars.
My 13 year old son now tries to add to the collection, but it is true that is has become much harder and that a printed PDF doesn't have the same charm.
I don't collect them anymore, but still have around 3000 car brochures, most in mint condition.
Some I still treasure : Bitter SC, Lancia Thema 8.32, De Tomaso Pantera,, Rolls Royce Corniche, etc... But most fun are the "regular" car brochures : Datsun 120Y, Peugeot 604, Fiat Argenta, Triumph TR7,... if only for that 70's dress sense and the way they tried to inject some glamour into their cars.
My 13 year old son now tries to add to the collection, but it is true that is has become much harder and that a printed PDF doesn't have the same charm.
Most car websites are actually pretty decent in my experience - a few persist in using stuff like Java or Quicktime which everyone doesn't always have (or need) but most get by with HTML5 or Flash and anyone who doesn't have those, shouldn't really bother using the Internet (they probably run their computer on coal, or something).
The idea of properly interactive 'brochures' which allow customisation is not only cool for owners, it's a great marketing tool too - you just need to rein-in the designers a bit (esp anyone who decides to use Java for a 3D simulation - as AM used to, resulting in sub-PSX-graphics for a £150K car!!)
The idea of properly interactive 'brochures' which allow customisation is not only cool for owners, it's a great marketing tool too - you just need to rein-in the designers a bit (esp anyone who decides to use Java for a 3D simulation - as AM used to, resulting in sub-PSX-graphics for a £150K car!!)
johnpeat said:
Most car websites are actually pretty decent in my experience - a few persist in using stuff like Java or Quicktime which everyone doesn't always have (or need) but most get by with HTML5 or Flash and anyone who doesn't have those, shouldn't really bother using the Internet (they probably run their computer on coal, or something).
The idea of properly interactive 'brochures' which allow customisation is not only cool for owners, it's a great marketing tool too - you just need to rein-in the designers a bit (esp anyone who decides to use Java for a 3D simulation - as AM used to, resulting in sub-PSX-graphics for a £150K car!!)
True, but the domain will die and what will we look back on in years to come The idea of properly interactive 'brochures' which allow customisation is not only cool for owners, it's a great marketing tool too - you just need to rein-in the designers a bit (esp anyone who decides to use Java for a 3D simulation - as AM used to, resulting in sub-PSX-graphics for a £150K car!!)
I have got about 2500 brochure that I collected when a kid. They range from the 50s to 80s. I was one of these annoying kids who would hassle the salesmen ito giving me brochures. A top tip was to ask for old brochures whhich they were more willing to part with. Let me know if you want one scanned....if I have it.
I still have the Citroen SM I got at the '72 Motor Show when I was 6.
If you've never seen it, it's a work of art: http://iedei.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/brochure-of-...
If you've never seen it, it's a work of art: http://iedei.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/brochure-of-...
So glad I'm not alone here.
My first brochure was when I was 5 years old in 1975. Dad was going through a strong Renault phase with a 5TL, 5TX, 6TL and two 16TL's. He gave me the brochure for the entire '75 range and I've treasured it ever since. Even bought a duplicate a few years back to stop the first one disintegrating.
Still have a few Rover brochures from the early 80's with Volvo, Nissan, Ford and a few others from the same time.
My 9 year old son has just returned from a stay with some friends. They took him into Aston, Jaguar and LR showrooms to get their current brochures and we've been poring over them with infectious enthusiasm. But no real 'lifestyle' shots that were so redolent of the 70's and 80's. Such a shame.
My first brochure was when I was 5 years old in 1975. Dad was going through a strong Renault phase with a 5TL, 5TX, 6TL and two 16TL's. He gave me the brochure for the entire '75 range and I've treasured it ever since. Even bought a duplicate a few years back to stop the first one disintegrating.
Still have a few Rover brochures from the early 80's with Volvo, Nissan, Ford and a few others from the same time.
My 9 year old son has just returned from a stay with some friends. They took him into Aston, Jaguar and LR showrooms to get their current brochures and we've been poring over them with infectious enthusiasm. But no real 'lifestyle' shots that were so redolent of the 70's and 80's. Such a shame.
When I say I am not collecting them anymore, that's not entirely true.
Occasionally, I pick-up a brochure through some contacts in the motor industry. That not only netted me the Porsche Carrera GT brochure (in a hard case) but also their teaser sketch, which they send to prospective customers, long before the car was officially presented.
Also, a few years ago, I bought a big box of old car magazines for € 10,-. When I unpacked it, I found a whole collection of old Renault brochures (16, 17, 12, 12 Gordini, etc...) and a 1969 Alpine A110 brochure. It sure made my day !
Occasionally, I pick-up a brochure through some contacts in the motor industry. That not only netted me the Porsche Carrera GT brochure (in a hard case) but also their teaser sketch, which they send to prospective customers, long before the car was officially presented.
Also, a few years ago, I bought a big box of old car magazines for € 10,-. When I unpacked it, I found a whole collection of old Renault brochures (16, 17, 12, 12 Gordini, etc...) and a 1969 Alpine A110 brochure. It sure made my day !
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