15 AWESOME CUSTOMIZED CARS PROMOTING PRODUCTS

15 Awesome Customized Cars Promoting Products
By Julian, Business Pundit, 20 June 2013.

The use of promotional cars peaked in the 1920s and ‘30s, and while World War II restricted the growth of these “rolling billboards,” they returned as a popular means of advertising in the ‘60s and ‘70s. What’s more, they’re still going strong today, with specialist manufacturers like Prototype Source turning clients’ “creative visions into reality.”

During a 2010 exhibition at the National Motor Museum in England, Ralph Montagu, son of Lord Montagu, who established the museum, said, “For as long as there have been motor cars on the road, publicity-conscious firms have taken advantage of bespoke vehicles to advertise their products.” Read on to discover 15 incredible customized cars that have been used to promote products.

15. Cadbury Creme Egg

Cadbury Creme Eggs as we know them first appeared in 1963, but it wasn’t until 1971 that they were given the “Cadbury Creme Egg” moniker. Hershey markets the chocolate treats in the US under license from British confectionery company Cadbury.

Towards the end of the ‘80s, Cadbury Schweppes commissioned the creation of Creme Egg Cars. Five egg-shaped vehicles were built on the bases of Bedford Rascal vans and fitted with Citroën 2CV headlights and mirrors. The cars are used to advertise the eggs, but they generally reside at the UK Cadbury factory in Bournville. In 1993, the distinctively branded egg-car even became a toy after Corgi created little models that were available to buy at Cadbury World, Birmingham, UK.

14. Goldfish

Goldfish crackers’ tagline is “The snack that smiles back!” So, naturally, when the company decided to create a promotional car, they went for one flashing a cheery grin. Measuring 23 feet in length and standing 13 feet tall, this unique “goldfish-mobile” is based on the company’s mascot, Finn, and it even wears a pair of eight-foot sunglasses.

Promotional vehicle specialists Prototype Source designed the car, yet creating it posed some challenges. “No one had ever seen [the goldfish] in three dimensions before, other than as a cracker,” says Prototype Source’s Dorian Duke. “So we envisioned what that would look like, and then manipulated the sunglasses and the expression on the mouth accordingly.” Still, with the car turning heads from coast to coast across the US, the wacky promotional move seems to have worked. Duke added, “I think we got it right, because it’s one of our most popular creations.” [Video]

13. Outspan

While it certainly looks like an orange, this car for fruit brand Outspan (now known as Fyffes) is, in fact, a modified 1972 Mini. Looks-wise, it’s not just the right colour, either; it also boasts a dimpled, orange-like skin and a green leaf at the top. The automobile can reach a zippy 30 mph, but if it exceeds this speed, it risks toppling over - and we reckon it might just keep on rolling.

Between 1972 and 1974, UK-based company Brian Waite Enterprise Ltd. was commissioned to make six of the unique vehicles for use in advertising work across Europe. These days, an Outspan auto has been known to participate in a car run in the UK, and one has reportedly made it as far as South Africa.

12. Zippo

In 1947, Zippo founder George G. Blaisdell commissioned the original Zippo car in order to increase the brand’s visibility across the US - and to reach his soft spot for “productmobiles.” The result was a 1947 Chrysler New Yorkers Saratoga that carried a pair of huge flip-top Zippo lighters on its roof. Within two years, the automobile had visited all 48 continental states and was used by salesmen - who had to steer clear of low bridges.

In the 1950s, the original car was left for repair in a Pittsburgh dealership when, puzzlingly, it vanished. Eventually, in 1998, even without the original plans, Zippo had another Saratoga converted from scratch. “Everything is as authentic as it could be,” said chairman of the board George Duke in 2012. Featuring spring-loaded lighter lids, detachable flames and the custom license plate “Zippo II,” the vehicle is drivable, although generally it gets carted around the country in a trailer. [More images]

11. Easigrass

What better way to get the most out of your company’s promotional car than by covering it with your product? Already a major player in the UK commercial and sporting artificial grass market, Easigrass worked with branding and design agency Underscore to attract more residential customers and become the country’s artificial grass market leader. In order to achieve this, a fleet of smart cars were covered in Easigrass’ artificial grass. “The result was excellent brand awareness and publicity that money can’t buy, as their brand continues to grow from strength to strength,” says Underscore.

10. Birds Eye

This pea car made quite an impression when it burst onto British national television in a memorable Birds Eye commercial in December 2005. Displaying the distinctive shape and colour of a garden pea, the cute little automobile gained popularity that continues to this day, after it was seen careering across the British countryside. Sadly, though, all wasn’t quite as it seemed. London special effects company Asylum Models and Effects and polystyrene experts Bakers Patterns created the vehicle. They combined a highly modified off-road go-kart body with a Honda engine that - despite being able to reach speeds of 50 mph - had no gearbox. VW fans will be disappointed to learn that, in spite of the Birds Eye pea car’s appearance, the only Beetle components used were the distinctive headlights. [Video]

9. Boston Lobster Feast

Guaranteed to make you look twice, this lobster vehicle belongs to the restaurant Boston Lobster Feast, based in Orlando, Florida. It’s perhaps one of the more intricate promotional vehicles on our list - yet the giant crustacean sprawled on top of the roof doesn’t stop this distinctive company car buzzing around the city. The curved shape of the Volkswagen Beetle is an attractive promotion for the restaurant - and it seems to be effective, too. “We found this restaurant by seeing a strange VW Bug with an absolutely huge lobster hanging all over it,” wrote one reviewer. “I thought I would give it a try, and we were overwhelmed at the quality, variety, and quantity of food available.” [Boston Lobster Feast on Facebook]

8. Planters

How else would Mr. Peanut tour the country, other than in a one-of-a-kind, peanut-shaped nut-mobile? The mascot for Planters, Mr. Peanut first appeared as the result of a logo design competition in 1916. He has arguably gone on to achieve even more pop culture fame than the snack food company he represents, but the sophisticated monocle- and top hat-wearing peanut had to wait until 2011 to get this amazing promotional car. Based on a 2011 Isuzu NPR truck, the vehicle runs on 5 percent biodiesel and features a salvaged wood interior, a recycled windshield and rooftop solar panels. The car was created for the “Naturally Remarkable” tour, which reached more than 16 US cities and aimed to encourage people across the nation to build stronger communities. [Video]

7. Domino’s Pizza

It may be small, but this one-seater, spotted on the streets of Tokyo, is powered by electricity – so it’s saving energy while it delivers folks pizza. It appears the Japanese arm of Domino’s Pizza has come up with a novel alternative to the traditional pizza-delivery scooter – and they’re not the only ones.

In 2007, Domino’s Pizza in Las Vegas tried out several three-wheeled Zap! Xebras, with Chicago’s Electric Vehicle Company providing the cars for the trial run. And it would seem that, on top of its environmental benefits, electricity also offers a cost-effective alternative. At the time, Domino’s Executive Vice President of Franchise Development Jim Stansik said, “Domino’s is committed to also being a responsible consumer of our planet’s natural resources.” [Video]

6. Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill

This delicious-looking burger vehicle belongs to Joe Zwillenberg, who owns Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill in Kansas City, Missouri. Matt Targon, an artist who creates promotional cars, asked Zwillenberg whether he could make him a burger car; apparently, it had always been an ambition of his. Zwillenberg eventually agreed, and the vehicle is now an attention-grabbing addition to Kansas City, Missouri’s streets. That said, although it looks awesome, the burger-covered Chevy S-10 pickup is said to be difficult to park and seeing beyond its toppings is tough for the driver. Also, ironically, those who’ve gobbled down too many ground meat sandwiches are unlikely to fit inside. [Video]

5. L.L.Bean

In 2012, Maine-based outdoor clothing company L.L.Bean celebrated 100 years in business by driving a huge boot-shaped truck through the streets of New York City. The so-called “Bootmobile” was seen in Times Square and zooming elsewhere around Manhattan. Apparently assembled out of an automatic diesel Ford F-250 pickup, the vehicle was furnished with all-terrain tires and, of course, a Maine license plate.

Famous for flannel shirts and fleeces, L.L.Bean was founded by Leon Leonwood Bean in 1912. Initially, he only sold a type of boot known as the Maine Hunting Shoe, yet this attained iconic status, even counting Ernest Hemingway among its fans. [More] [Video]

4. Butagaz

French butane and propane distribution company Butagaz was actively publicized at the Tour de France during the ‘50s and ‘60s - which provided the perfect stage for wacky promotional vehicles. Over the years, various gas tanks on wheels were created - a total of seven built on Simca 1000 chassis, with five showcasing domestic gas bottles, while two featured bulk storage tanks to publicize gas central heating. Loudspeakers above the drivers’ cabs were also used to broadcast advertising messages as the vans travelled around. The vehicles were furnished with progressive technology for the time, including a “cross-flow” cylinder head and five main bearings.

3. Duckham’s Q

The classic Mini is not only iconic; it also seems to be a popular vehicle to adapt for use as a promotional car. This 10-foot-high oilcan on wheels was completed in the early ‘70s to promote the Duckham’s Q brand. The automobile was used in a television advertising campaign that also featured former Northern Ireland rally driver Paddy Hopkirk. It was staggeringly tall, and today people still remember that it seemed limited by its size. As a result, soon after its construction, the vehicle was shortened by almost three feet, and thanks to the addition of a rear Ford axle, it appeared at motor shows around the UK throughout the remaining decade.

2. Vox

Boasting an electrifying 1,000-watt output - not to mention its own website - the Voxmobile exploded onto the product car scene in 1967 to promote Vox guitars. Vox commissioned George Barris, creator of the 1960s TV Batmobile, to design a car that resembled their iconic Phantom guitar. Showcasing an on-board amp and inputs for 32 guitars, it’s also powered by a 4.7-litre Ford V8 engine and is reportedly capable of reaching a maximum speed of 175 mph. At one point, the vehicle was owned by well-known session guitarist Jimmy Bryant, dubbed “The Fastest Guitar in the Country.” And according to the Voxmobile’s website, the automobile returned to the road in 2008 after three decades out of action. [Video]

1. Oscar Mayer

The “Wienermobile” may be one of the most famous promotional cars in America, having been on the road in one form or another since 1936. Shaped like hot dogs on a bun, a fleet of Wienermobiles is used to promote Oscar Mayer products across the US. Oscar Mayer’s nephew, Carl, designed the original version, and over the years the vehicles have evolved and developed.

In 1995, a Wienermobile was created that measured 27 feet in length and stood 11 feet tall; meanwhile, a 2004 version featured a voice-activated GPS system. Touring fleet crewmembers are known as “hotdoggers,” and in 2013 the company even developed an app to keep them all connected. Eight of the vehicles are currently operational, and they remain seriously popular. A 2004 competition offering the winner the use of a Wienermobile for one day reportedly prompted more than 15,000 entries in a month. [More] [Wienermobile on Twitter] [Video series on YouTube]

Top image: The Wienermobile.

[Source: Business Pundit. Edited. Links added.]