Nobody buys that!
11/05/2022
Cucumber! The advertisement that Volkswagen used to promote the Beetle in the USA at the end of 1960 is now one of the best known and best in the industry. The Wolfsburg-based company used it to emphasize its unconditional claim to quality. Although the VW 1200 Export shone beautifully in the picture, it had to be repaired because the chrome trim on the glove compartment lid had tarnished.
The campaign with which Renault wanted to jump on this bandwagon a good five years later is far less well known. Here, too, a compact rear-engined model was not entirely convincing - not to quality control, however, but to the owners. "Our customers are dissatisfied!" is emblazoned in large letters above the white-walled Renault 8 and a couple looking somewhat perplexed.
The reason for their displeasure: Renault's restrained, even non-existent advertising does not do justice to the excellent little car. More advertisements should be placed to proclaim the advantages of the eight-wheeler to the people. Otherwise, the poor unsuspecting devils would continue to buy inferior Detroit mass-produced goods.
The French explained themselves like this: things like economy, high quality and driving safety should actually be a matter of course. Only the excellent ride comfort would be something special. But it would be difficult to describe this on paper, which is why it would be better to try out the R8 for yourself. At least that satisfied the customers. But then Renault was reprimanded by the critics ...
