Scoggin Ford Christmas Ads – December 1962

Santa Claus was depicted in a variety of ways in newspaper advertising as the 1950s gave way to the 1960s. The classic depiction of the jolly old elf started to be replaced in favor of newer graphic renditions that mirrored the modern, changing times.

Here's a good example. A pair of ads in a Ford campaign (sponsored locally by Scoggin Ford of Avon Lake) utilize a downright offbeat version of Santa Claus.

This ad with Santa on a unicycle ran in the Journal on December 6, 1962.

1963 Falcons, Ford Fairlanes, Ford Galaxies and Thunderbirds are the models being promoted. The small image of a Ford in the background seems like it might have been a response to some creative director asking, "Aren't you even going to show a car in the ad?"

This ad (below), which ran in the Journal about a week later on December 13, 1962 is hilarious. It depicts Santa as a flasher!

The ad copy humorously notes "Imagine the surprise when your family sees this gift – a new, beautiful, sparkling Christmas Ford." Again, the small image of a Ford seems like an afterthought.

It's hard to imagine a modern Ford campaign utilizing illustration (especially one with Santa looking like a dirty old man).

Today the former Scoggin Ford location is home to Nick Mayer Ford.