Universal Motoring History film archive

Promotional film showing the range of new Ford commercial cars and trucks for 1941 -the last year before US auto plants were converted to assist the war effort.

At the very beginning of the 1940s, whilst Europe's main car makers were already working on war machinery, America's big three manufacturers were still bringing out new models and this brief film shows the latest Ford cars for 1941 -described as the biggest and best cars ever built, with "boulevard ride" comfort.

A rare 1930s cinema commercial for Chevrolet made in Technicolor.

A brief film showing a long procession of English Ford cars as part of a factory planned publicity campaign.

The launch of Ford V8 car in London. Also includes great footage of the car being driven over a variety of tough terrain all across Britain to demonstrate its capabilities and performance.

An entertaining musical film by Ford in the UK promoting the benefits of taking your car on holiday.

Selection of high-quality television commercials featuring leading British cars from the 1960s to 1990s.

Selection of colorful commercials from the early 1950s featuring the new Motoramic Chevrolet cars introduced for 1954. The cars are packed with so many new features, they are described as providing "a new concept in low cost motoring".

Selection of colorful commercials from the early 1950s featuring the new Motoramic Chevrolet cars introduced for 1954. The cars are packed with so many new features, they are described as providing "a new concept in low cost motoring".

Great selection of commercials for the Oldsmobile B44 cars from the beginning of the 1940s.

The Triumph Spitfire was one of the biggest selling Triumph sports cars of the postwar era and this film shows how the cars were marketed in America -the car's biggest and most important single market.

A series of cinema commercials made by Ford in the early 1940s featuring "used/late model" cars which are claimed to offer high-quality, long-lasting motoring at "amazing prices". Includes great footage from the era.

While Jaguars have always been built in the UK, it is the USA which has always been the biggest overseas market and this film features many of the marketing campaigns which were used by the company in North America in the latter part of the 20th Century.

A period 1960s commercial for the true connisseur. While the ad itself is promoting Schweppes bitter lemon, it is the classic Rolls Royce Silver Ghost being unloaded at the docks in New York City which is the real star.

A Champion spark plug commercial from the 1960s which features many of the finest and most popular cars of the time.

Very early Ford marketing film showing a group of well-heeled women arriving at a bridge party in their own brand new Ford cars.

A detailed Ford promotional film showing all the improvements made for the new cars of 1940. There's great footage of the cars travelling over the gruelling "torture road" where giant slabs of concrete provide the greatest test for all the new cars' features.

Evocative period newsreel showing the Ford motor company preparing to launch its new V8 car at the beginning of the 1930s.

A filmed montage taken from the end of the 1930s of the full range of Ford cars from the period.

This film looks at the range of advertising, from magazine spreads to slick TV commercials, which were used between the 1960s and 1990s to get Land Rover into the position it enjoyed in America by the end of the 20th Century.

A promotional film showing how Ford's marketing department use every type of media to ensure the whole of America was aware of the new V8 as they tried to sell one million cars during the course of the year.

Selection of great, uplifting, period commercials from the beginning of the 1940s featuring new Ford Mercury cars.

A selection of evocative Ford commercials from the 1940s filmed in Technicolor.

More outstanding marketing films made in Technicolor from the 1940s featuring the latest Ford cars being used in a variety of everyday situations.

Great high-energy selection of commercials featuring the new Ford cars for 1941.