Ford’s Horses For Courses
Ever since James Watt, an inventor of steam engines, adopted the term ‘horsepower’ in 1782 as a mathematical way to equate horses to engine power, horses have featured as an analogous reference since the dawn of automotive advertising.
The automotive analogy of horses and horsepower lives on to this day as evidenced by
Ford’s SUV Bronco brand with a wild, Bucking Bronco as an identifying insignia, and their Mustang sport coupe and convertible brand, with the famous insignia of a free-roaming Mustang.
1. Ford Bronco Sport, Raised By Goats
Advertising Agency: Wieden+Kennedy, New York, USA
Filmed in the snow covered Mount Baker countryside outside Seattle, and directed by filmmaker Stacy Wall, ‘Raised By Goats’ introduces Ford’s smallest Bronco SUV newcomer to their stable.
The scenario about mountain goats who take care of an abandoned young horse and coaches the foal to master the rugged terrain of their habitat, serves as a charming analogy of the Bronco Sport SUV’s goat-like ability to traverse mud, snow, ice, rocks, and navigate steep inclines and declines with assured confidence.
The commercial is scenic, superbly produced under challenging climatic conditions, and highly entertaining.
2. Ford Mustang’s ‘Bullitt’ Spotlight
The box office smash hit ‘Bullitt’, the 1968 American action thriller directed by Peter Yates and starring accomplished racing car driver and actor Steve McQueen, features an iconic car chase scene through the streets of San Francisco with detective Bullitt (McQueen) driving a Ford Mustang GT Fastback.
Filmed with extensive use of actual locations rather than studio sets, the car chase scene is regarded as one of the most influential in movie history, and it certainly was also hugely influential in making Ford Mustang one the the most sought after American sports cars in the world.
The United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, In 2007, selected ‘Bullitt for preservation as culturally and historically significant.
(I also find the array of 60’s era of ‘gas-guzzling’ American sedans, that can be spotted in the 10 minute film clip, amusing to view. Automotive technology and design aerodynamics have certainly come a long way since then)
3. Ford Mustang, Unleash Your Inner Mustang
Advertising Agency: Team Detroit, Michigan, USA
Directed by filmmaker Jon Favreau, the ‘Inner Mustang’ commercial was part of Ford’s integrated Mustang customisation programme, that included an app for mobile customisation selections.
The commercial features a Ford Mustang cruising along the streets of Los Angeles and depicts the customisation transformations various onlookers envision, including that of sweet young girl of whom it is amusingly revealed, has a devilish streak of daring in her.
The soundtrack of “How It Starts”, is by the American Indie Rock band from Sparta, Tennessee, ‘The Features’.
4. Ford Mustang, Don’t Go Quietly
Advertising Agency: GTB (Global Team Blue), London, UK
Directed by filmmaker Daniel Barber, the immortal Dylan Thomas lines of “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” resonate in the commercial about that human desire many people in 9 to 5 occupations experience at times.
The desire to say “to hell with it, enough is enough,” and to leave the daily grind behind with a jubilant roar of a Ford Mustang, to a destination free of hierarchical dictates, dogged officialdom and workplace politics, are sentiments that I’m sure many viewers will share.
5. Ford Mustang Match-E, New Breed
Advertising Agency: BBDO, New York, USA
Directed by filmmaker Henry Hobson, Ford’s ‘New Breed’ commercial for their fully
electric, performance utility vehicle, the game changing Mustang Mach-E, stars English
actor and car enthusiast, Iris Elba.
As Iris approaches a Mustang Mach-E on the street in the commercial, he utters these words: “Just when you think you know where they’re going, they do something unexpected. Something that moves us all forward and holds nothing back.”
6. Ford Mustang Mach-E, Electri-Vacation
Advertising Agency: GTB (Global Team Blue), Michigan, USA
(Formerly known as Team Detroit)
Production Company: O Positive, New York, USA
The ‘Electri-Vacation’ Mustang Mach-E commercial stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, reprising their roles as Clark and Ellen Griswold in ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ episode of the long running television series and spinoff feature films.
It seems by all accounts, that many viewers familiar with the famed National Lampoon Grisworlds, warmly embraced the nostalgia of the family’s brief return to their TV screens during the holiday season, with broad smiles.