6 Vintage Christmas Car Ads to Get You in the Festive Spirit

Christmas is just around the corner, and while we’re all looking forward to the celebrations ahead, there’s something special about looking back to spark that festive feeling.

Cars are the unsung heroes of this season, quietly helping us make memories as they carry the weight of our winter plans.

So, to celebrate their role in the holidays, we’re taking a nostalgic look at some classic Christmas car ads to get you fully in the festive spirit.

1956 Cadillac

Cadillac are an American car manufacturer that has had their premium cars on the roads since the early 1900s.

They’ve always been a classy brand that values luxury and performance, which is reflected in their countless generations of elegant models.

This vintage advert from Cadillac displays their 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville parked outside a home as a Christmas gift from a man to his wife.

If you look close enough, the man in this ad looks eerily similar to actor Cary Grant, perhaps done intentionally to give that extra classy look.

This is topped off by a nice slogan “The Christmas They’ll Never Forget!” – a perfect finishing touch for an advert that’s since made a long-lasting impression.
 

1960 Chrysler

Another American Christmas ad here comes in the form of Chrysler showcasing their 1960 Windsor.

This stunning car was a product of its time – a real classy-looking coupe that embodies everything Chrysler offers, particularly in the 20^th century.

A lot more informative than the previously covered Cadillac advert, this promotional push covers the Chrysler Windsor’s new features, including a more spacious interior, Swivel Seats, transmission system, and more.

“The Car Of Your Life For The Time Of Your Life!” was the slogan here, a fitting phrase that reinforces the Windsor’s reputation as a car built to elevate every journey.

Together, the ad and the model itself showcased Chrysler’s commitment to timeless design and festive-season aspiration.
 

1967 Chevrolet Corvette

A little more of a conventional, local advert here sees Chevrolet/Corvette advertise their world-famous Stingray – a model line that is still going today.

By this point, Corvette as a model line was making waves in the automotive industry, with the Stingray spearheading their charge as a notable carmaker in America.

Regarding the vintage ad, Santa is going Stingray and replacing his sleigh for a “sleek, sharp reconditioned Corvette.”

This light-hearted, witty advert outlines different generations of Corvette Stingray, with the new 1967 Stingray Convertible being at the forefront of the advert priced at $3,795 (which is valued around $36,800 in today’s economy).

Altogether, it’s a charming reminder of how Chevrolet started to push their Corvette Stingray to the American public.
 

1969 Ford

A tried and tested car manufacturer as of 2025, Ford has been a staple in the automotive industry since its inception back in 1903.

This classic advert adds yet another American car brand to the list – this time showcasing the Ford Torino.

A good advert for the 1969 Torino Hardtop, this vehicle gets highlighted alongside a happy couple, with the slogan “Put a '69 Ford under your tree.” A clever play on gift-giving at Christmas time, this targeted families looking to improve their wheels through the festive period.

It’s not just the Torino being pushed to consumers of this ad – Mustang, Falcon, Fairlane, and Thunderbird all model lines being promoted.

Altogether, it’s a lively snapshot of how Ford positioned their range as an excellent Christmas upgrade for American families.
 

1969 Ford (again)

Ford make another appearance with an additional 1969 Christmas advert.

“Merry Mustang!” is the main message here, which highlights the promotional push that focused more on the first generation of the Ford Mustang.

Ford clearly loved the use of “Put a '69 Ford under your tree” slogan as covered in the previous advert, as the slogan was altered to “Put a '69 Mustang under your tree” in the text below the top header.

The other model lines of Ford at the time were also pushed on this ad, with the American car brand following a clear template for their festive adverts that year.

This simple yet effective marketing approach captures the clear messaging of Ford in the late 1960s.
 

1964 Volkswagen

Waited until last for a non-American car advert here, but Volkswagen provides the same style of classy advertising through this 1964 campaign.

This minimalist design of the ad instantly stands out, featuring a VW Type 2 (now known as the Transporter) wrapped in a giant red bow as if it were ready to be placed right under the Christmas tree as a gift.

True to Volkswagen’s signature advertising style of the era, the imagery is simple, the message is sharp, and the humour is subtle – summed up perfectly by the line “It comes in its own box.”

The ad leans into VW’s reputation for practicality and clever design, positioning the beloved Microbus as the ultimate festive surprise.

It’s a brilliant example of how Volkswagen used wit and understatement to create some of the most memorable automotive ads of the 20th century.
 

Celebrating Classic Car Ads

Looking back at these festive adverts shows just how creative and charming car marketing once was, with each brand finding its own way to capture the magic of Christmas.

Whether through heartfelt storytelling, playful humour, or simple timeless design, these campaigns remind us how cars have long been tied to family moments, big surprises, and holiday traditions.

As we head into another festive season, these vintage ads offer a warm reminder that the joy of the journey has always been just as important as the destination.