Flaming rocket-ship sparkplug ad

Something about sparkplugs brings out the exuberant lunatic in advertising illustrators. Above, exhibit B (exhibit A here).

AC Spark Plugs

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

MORE: ad • automotive • Gadgets • illustration • Old school

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Eryq Ouithaqueue

Just look at that flaming rocket-ship spark plug.
Just look at it.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1153257811 Jesse Hamilton

Funny that since most of my cars have been VW, I associate AC delco plugs only with my lawnmower.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TSD24IYGMRISVEPSN6PD3B5TNQ SuperTech
  
  Lawn mowers are usually equipped with Champion Plugs.
Soliloquy

I wish I could train my spark plugs to leap through burning rings of fire.
http://twitter.com/amanicdroid Mari Lwyd

Am I the only one hearing “Go Speed Racer, Go!” in their head when scanning past this?
That Evening Sun

Spark plug ads wind up seeming extra racy because of the phallic nature of the spark plug itself. Look at it, it is coming right at us!

I am a big, BIG fan of Autolite Annie, by the way. She really turns my magnetos on and spins my prop.
nixiebunny

When I was into drag racing 30 years ago, the Chevy guys were running Autolite (Ford) plugs because they worked better than the AC plugs. Take that, AC ad exec!
http://artdonovan.typepad.com Art

“Something about sparkplugs brings out the exuberant lunatic in advertising illustrators.”

LOL. Well stated, Cory :)
journey46

AC. Turn your Stingray into a Shark with the right Spark !
And I bet that ain’t that middle aged professional dude’s wife in the passenger seat !
How sublime.
Success, enthusiastic chicks, the freedom of the open road, speed, and a taste of white America’s superiority in the space and human race !
rhinoman

Doubles as an ad for Monistat….
sdmikev

I’ve come to the conclusion that the best looking cars ever made were 60′s era Corvette’s.
I just about cried when that ’65 went over the cliff in the new Star Trek movie, but at least it wasn’t real.. :)
- flosofl
  
  I thought that was a Mustang.
  
  EDIT: Just pulled up the movie on my iPhone, and you are correct, sir! A ‘Vette it is. And a beautiful one at that.
Bob Knetzger

I’m guessing here, but it looks like this could be the work of Art Fitzpatrick and Van Kaufman. You might remember the amazing “wide track ” Pontiac print campaign as features in Saturday Evening Post and National Geographic in the 60′s.

http://www.fitz-art.com/Sections/bio.swf
jonjonz

Maniac Grin – Check
Adoring Clueless Chick – Check
Really Cool Car – Check
Large Flying Phallic Thing – Check

You could put the name of any product on the hood and this would sell anything.
Commander_Chico

Is the woman passenger holding a baby? Does not seem to go with the Corvette.