Robert Evans - Guest Columnist - Promotional Car Models
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Bob Evans has been a “car guy” almost since birth. His parents started giving him promo cars for birthday and Christmas at the age of seven since his dad had a contact that furnished them. He lives in Massachusetts, but spends the winter months in Arizona, and has garages in both locations to house his car collection, which goes from brass era vehicles to foreign sports cars of the seventies.
Besides car literature, he has had over 2,000 promos in his collection. Downsizing his home meant downsizing the collection, which now numbers around 500. He does not classify himself as an expert, just a lover of everything automotive. Sadly, Robert passed away in 2021. He is greatly missed. |
Some of Robert's Articles: The Promotional Car Model
The Studebaker display at the 1934 World’s Fair. Note the gigantic model in the background of their new Land Cruiser.
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The Promotional Car Model - Part I
Issue #12 Sept/Oct 2020 Probably every “car person” has had a promotional car in their hand at one time or another. Be it metal, plastic, rubber, tin, or cast iron, the model represented an actual car that we could imagine owning. I feel that the whole promotional movement may have started with the 1934 World’s Fair in Chicago, with the astounding Studebaker display in the Great Hall of the Travel and Transport Building. With the objective of promoting their beautiful new Land Cruiser Super Sport, they built a giant model that attracted people to see their display of all their new cars. |