1988 Pontiac Bonneville SSE
By 1988, light-duty trucks—a category which includes pickups, minivans, and SUVs—accounted for roughly one third of new-vehicle sales. At the time, the popularity of trucks seemed scandalous to many in the automotive media, most whom wagged a stern figure at automakers, warning that a sudden surge in the price of gas would leave dealers with lots full of unsellable product.
And while a brief spike in gas prices around the turn of the 21st Century did, briefly, suppress the public’s interest in SUVs and crossovers, three decades later “trucks” are selling better than ever. In fact, during the first two months of the COVID-19 shutdown, crossover sales accounted for as much as 80 percent of what sales there were during that time.
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Let’s return to 1988 and spend a little time with the sedans of the day. Collected here for you are 16 vintage print ads and one pretty entertaining TV commercial. If you remember spending time in one of these cars, tell us about it. The place to leave comments is down below.
More classic car ads
A Gallery of 1988 Sedan Ads
Alfa Romeo Milano
1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Ad
More Alfa Romeo news and reviews
Acura Legend
1988 Acura Legend Ad
Acura: The Racing in its Blood
Audi 80
1988 Audi 80 Ad
Office Faux Pas: Pinstriping an Audi
Buick Park Avenue
1988 Buick Park Avenue Ad
The Buicks of 1986
Chevrolet Corsica
1988 Chevrolet Corsica Ad
Future Collectibles: 2014-2016 Chevrolet SS
Chrysler New Yorker
1988 Chrysler New Yorker Landau.Ad
The “Big” Chryslers of 1990
Dodge Colt
1988 Dodge Colt Ad
Forgotten Functionality: Recalling the 1994 Eagle Summit Wagon, Mitsubishi Expo, and Plymouth Colt Vista
Dodge Dynasty
1988 Dodge Dynasty Ad
Fratzog Madness! 10 Classic Dodge Ads
Ford Taurus
1988 Ford Taurus Ad (Canada)
Future Shock: 1985 Ford LTD vs. 1986 Ford Taurus
Honda Accord
1988 Honda Accord LX Ad
Review Flashback! 1982 Honda Accord
Jaguar XJ6
1988 Jaguar XJ6 Ad
Consumer Guide Picks the 15 Best-Looking Cars of All Time*
Mercury Sable
1988 Mercury Sable Ad
Forgotten Concept: Mercury Meta One
Pontiac Bonneville
1988 Pontiac Bonneville SSE Ad
Poncho Madness! 10 Classic Pontiac Ads
Renault Medallion
1988 Renault Medallion Ad
Unsettling Transition: The 1988 Eagle Lineup
Toyota Cressida
1988 Toyota Cressida Ad
Review Flashback! 1980 Toyota Cressida Wagon
Volvo 740
1988 Volvo 740 Ad
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Check out the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast
1988 Sedan Ads
Written by: Tom Appel on August 17, 2020.
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