I need to hop on an airship to head back home after the Great Autopian Business Synod here in New York, and since I’ll be aloft, strapped into the security harness on the wall of the airship, I figured now is a good time to show you one of my favorite car brochure conceits that involves looking up. Well, specifically, it’s almost always women looking up, through a sunroof or T-top. Not exactly sure why this was A Thing once, but it was.
Chrysler seemed to be an especially big fan of this, though you see it from other marques as well. If they want to show some kind of opening hole in a roof, they’d take a picture from above, revealing a woman in the car, either with an “oh, hello, I didn’t see you there, hovering over my car” look or sometimes an “oh, you, floating over the car again!” look like the woman right above there.
Very rarely you’d see a different sort of look up type opening roof approach, where instead of the model looking up at us, floating above, we’re the ones looking up, from below, through the roof hole:
Anyway, if you look up in a bit, wave, because maybe I’ll be there.
Generally, the looking down through the sunroof shot will provide a somewhat more flattering result vs those of the low angle up-from-the-footwell variety (i.e.: “the upskirt”). Also, a down angle POV will have the potential for cleavage, which I imagine has helped sell more than a few cars over the years (abundant décolletage in a print ad or commercial, thus implying that the purchase of said vehicle might cause the owner to have more similar encounters (or at least the potential for it) in his daily routine).
It is a sexist thing. Guy likes pretty girl looking up at him. Of course she is thinking why is this guy 10 feet ocer my head, thank god i am being paid for this.
As someone who “was there” at the time it was pretty well known that a hole in the roof actually eliminated the issue of a small interior. Especially for various non parent approved activities. Some of my happiest memories are related to the roofs of cars. “Ate more chicken than any man ever seen” Jim Morrison. I miss those days.
Thankfully we never had any kids…Enough said.
Because women are a joy to behold and men are grotesque.
Jeez, I agree SO much.
Why yes Chrysler, I would like to order a “come-hither” T-top edition Cordoba.
I thought of heading to Gray’s Papaya on 72nd Street for lunch yesterday in the hopes of spotting Torch in the wild, but my tummy got the better of me and I chose to east delightful Uighur food rather than doing celebrity stalking.
Oh Two Guys from Karabalghasun is a great restaurant
Photos courtesy of Ceiling Cat…
I’m shocked and delighted the woman in the first photos isn’t the industry-standard fair-skinned blonde.
There was a moment in the early 70s when things seemed to be getting better.
Hey the sixties were buxom wide body brunettes. The younger generation went skim and trim blondes. It has been going on for centuries in the art world. SURPRISE.
Is she an actress? She looks familiar, but I can’t come up with a name. Marketing might’ve bucked the status quo if they were going for some name recognition.
I want to call these pictures bird’s eye view, but I’m getting major wanker’s eye view from them.
Creeper’s eye view.
Bird’s eye view planning a California sunroof.
I had to Urban Dictionary that one.
I only knew that because of Better Call Saul.
Apparently photographers of the 70’s and 80’s were some real down-blouse fetishists.
Wow, did Bob Guccione shoot these ads? The brunette and the first blonde look like they want some 70’s style free love.
why hello there mr truck driver in the next lane
Hi.
Nice to see someone else in traffic that is paying attention instead of tapping away at some device.
Sun, fresh air, attractive woman sitting beside you. Sell the sizzle, not the steak.
Sun roofs are creepy.
“lets the sunshine and moonglow in…”
Guessing vampires weren’t in the target demographics but werewolves were?
“Moonglow” another euphemism for untanned ass-cheeks at night. And why does that lady look like she is being held captive by the Aqua Velva man.
The last woman has you bound and gagged and stuffed in the passenger footwell, and she’s about to take away your final view of the sky…ever.
B/c this is a car site, I’ll note that an epic Steve McQueen photo is also done this way. Him driving his Jaguar, shot from above.
One of the only images I can find:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/301706508069
I recognize why you chose this picture but I much prefer this picture of him in his Jaguar XKSS
https://www.thegentlemanracer.com/2011/10/steve-mcqueen-cars.html
Yeah, agreed it’s probably the best of them – I had that one in poster version in my college dorm room! Bought it at Tower Records!
Pretty sure both of those pics are of the XKSS.
…
Be careful around NJ in that airship.
Oh the Humanity!
I looked up through my Chrysler Crossfire’s sunroof pane
Cause as I drive round I look up now and then
A blimp fell down in a big fiery flash of flames
I was lookin’ through my sunroof as I pass, pass, passed
Jumpin’ Jack Flash that was some real flammable gas!