The purpose of a mascot is to serve as an ambassador or the embodiment of a brand, team or cause. Sometimes they are ill conceived—such as the Purdue Boilermakers’ creepy “Purdue Pete.” Other’s are less nightmare inducing and I would aver those like Smokey the Bear are in fact national icons.
When it comes to cars and trucks there have been a number of mascots that have come and gone. Some of those have been memorable, others forgettable. Some have grown to status similar to that of Smokey, and what we’re interested in today is your opinion as to which of those stands as the greatest of all time. What automotive mascot is the most iconic?
Image: Triadmopar
Hooniverse Asks: What's History's Greatest Automotive Mascot?
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54 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What's History's Greatest Automotive Mascot?”
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https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/daba060c61018b6ce4eb2fa85917fcf89e5516e30a66d189b2a58234df812413.jpg The Bugatti Royale elephant. I win.
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The only car with a trunk on its hood!
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Occasionally, the elephant is under the hood.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5677/20536068341_e0bf85b779_b.jpg
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The Italians say no.
https://www.duccutters.com/VectorArt/Originals/Cagiva-Elefant-Italian.jpg-
Yeah we love elephants here in Italy (BTW I own a Cagiva 🙂
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d7bf3328b93c6aa19112d9170828ff678a334e74dd4c6cc59220fa0c95fe7423.jpg
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Since Bib is already taken, I’ll say Linda Vaughn. No telling how many busted nuts she’s caused since she came on the scene in ’61.
https://theselvedgeyard.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/linda-vaughn-lug-nuts.jpg-
Boobendum.
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cheesecake spokesmodel /= mascot.
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ofsAAOxyeglTbhWE/s-l600.jpg-
“The purpose of a mascot is to serve as an ambassador or the embodiment of a brand, team or cause.”
Are you doubting Miss Golden Shifter’s role as both the ambassador, and especially the embodiment, of Hurst?
Other than her lack of anonymity, how is she any different than a mascot who keeps human form but wears a Trojan costume or pretend Native American garb?
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/9e/1b/82/9e1b82d6463299953aa98704bcf7d054.jpg-
A mascot is an invented entity, existing solely to be the embodiment of a brand or product. Speedy has no identity separate from Alka-Seltzer. Ernie the Elf has no life beyond Keebler commercials. Mister Whipple was a mascot, because there’s no real Mr. Whipple. That’s not the same as a celebrity endorsement or spokesperson. That creepy bee voiced by Antonio Banderas is a mascot; when Shaq stumps for Gold Bond or Beyonce dances for DirectTV, that’s not.
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I don’t know if you can cite a credible source that confirms a mascot must be an invented entity, but either way, Miss Golden Shifter is just as invented as that supercharger mascot, Mr. Whipple. In fact, Linda Vaughn wasn’t the first one in the role, just the most memorable. And she never had to re-compete for her title because it was made up just for Hurst.
So change my answer from the person to her character, and it sounds like we’ll be on the same page. -
I can buy that. Colonel Sanders WAS a person. His character is now a mascot.
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Those puppies make admirable mascots!
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Rubber Duck is Death Proof.
http://www.time-tunnel.jp/01/image/maniac/mack/402.jpg-
Quack Truck?
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Oh I want this to be true.
“This was a hit in the Soviet Union at the time, as it showed a working-class rebellion against a corrupt government.”
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My thought exactly.
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https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cfdd850807eab109c690e9d2debeaa4531f51aec6a8cae8460f2b3063660a4c5.jpg Brockway trucks used a Husky.
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I like this one, but maybe I should move to MN first. http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/data/500/medium/pencoed1.jpg
I would argue Sonic the Hedgehog who was Mascot to the Williams F1 team in the early to mid 90’s
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Williams_FW15C_rear_wing_Donington_Grand_Prix_Collection.jpg
Chauncey the Cougar, at the sign of the cat!
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/signofthecat.jpg
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What exactly is it sitting on?
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wow! I am amazed at how far down the listing we had to get before the RR showed up
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Oh I know that hand gesture. Marcus Gronholm makes it here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqQhQSbe6fw
Joe Isuzu
Cal Worthington’s dog Spot
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Tuesday’s answer, the stylized gull https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-ZEmq2JsRn0/maxresdefault.jpg
probably not the greatest, but too good not to post.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2100/2464316539_100750bb68_b.jpg
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Came here to say this. Well done.
As a child of the seventies, I gotta go with this:
http://www.firebirdgallery.com/Hood%20Birds/76_orange.jpg
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Although some might prefer the ’79-and-later version:
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/CC-110-019.jpg -
The tattoo on my upper arm agrees. Despite that I was born 3,500 miles East of New Jersey
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Here is my candidate for most embarrassing mascot. If Cadillac’s luxury image wasn’t shot to Hell before this, this mascot certainly finished the job, put in the boot, buried it, and salted the earth.*
*Note: The car itself didn’t do much for their reputation either.
Since the prancing horse is just too obvious, i’m going with Cisitalia’s badass Prancing Ibex :
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And then there’s the even more obscure Prancing Cock ! Ehm…
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Raging Bull ? How about a prancing bull ?
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How about that “other” Cavallino Rampante?
https://digitaldtour.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/dsc_0409.jpg
Oh wait, that’s right, it’s the same one!
(Show of hands, how many of all y’all knew Enzo’s driver was from Stuttgart? I’m gonna guess more than a few…)
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And oddly enough, possibly the same prancing black horse from the same origin on the same coat of arms as Ferrari. https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=136605
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I’m guessing you didn’t hit the “see more” button…!
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Duh! Mea Culpa.
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In the vein of the Superbee and Road Runner, June 1969 saw the debut of the Superroo on the Falcon GT in Australia.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/faed0cd848b70dd21c4ac7f996c18da7367f9f1129c026bcbc12c3e4948654e7.jpg
I’m not a big fan of Fiat, but I always loved the Abarth logo. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9f19a3a42e02c615cbfbb13df7b289fd5a88a05b7360bc95c31e7c392714f2b3.png
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