Great Car Ad: Chevy Nova, the Do Everything Car
As the butt of many jokes (“No Va” = it doesn’t go), the Chevy Nova is famous for the urban myth, not the car it was. The reality is that the Nova sold fairly well in Spanish-speaking countries. I can’t believe I bought that urban myth as a kid (as did Ivy League marketing professors across the country. ha!). The car was pretty cool in its first generations (we’re talking the 60s and early 70s). My grandma had a Nova from the early 70s and I loved it. But like many American cars, the gas crisis forced Chevrolet to change the car into a funky, ill-proportioned, and downright boring hatchback. The product folks certainly didn’t get a lot of help from the marketing folks either. Check out the ad below.
Did you know the Nova was a go anywhere, do anything car? I didn’t! The creative minds at Chevy’s ad agency had a vision to position Nova as a car that can be a moving van, family hauler, camper, and even a luxurious party date. The camper image with the bear “presenting” the car has got to be my favorite! Ta-da! And the moving van image? “Hey, let’s call up Chuck to help us move this piano. He’s got that Nova” Brilliantly silly and ridiculous.
The camper image reminds me of another do-it-all car brought to us by GM – The Pontiac Aztek. Not sure why they couldn’t bring the cuddly black bear back for another appearance.
Luckily, GM is starting to get its products right again. The new Chevrolet models are some of the best we’ve seen in ages,. Let’s just hope none of them don’t aspire to be anything they’re not.
