Were did you find this gem Paul?. I wonder what the market this was aimed at?.
The new Impala.Full of French chic!. No ?. Must have been produced for the US market as colour tv was at least ten years away in France.
Mix of camera tricks, the car being towed or pushed, and someone driving from the floorwell most likely.
What’s interesting is that in one scene there’s a presentation plate that just has “U.S.A.” on it and the very next there’s one where it has an actual (French? Certainly white-on-black) license number.
Anyone know what the round lights positioned between the taillamps and the rear bumper are for? U.S.-registered ‘59s didn’t have them.
And I can imagine this as part of a French television special, and Sylvie Vartan wrapping things up with a chorus of “Voyez la France dans votre Chevrolet!”
Separate amber turn signals most likely. Too bad they couldn’t get the chrome jet-pod-shaped ones that hung upside down from the bat wings on Aussie ones.
When I lived in Europe, I drove a 1956 Chrysler Imperial that was assembled in Paris by Facel Metallon [for the Paris Auto Show], and it had the same round red lenses in the panel below the trunk lid. Rather than a bulb-lit lamp, they are reflectors, as the internal reflectors in US SAE specification cars were not large enough to meet the French regulations. This information was provided to me by the German TUV inspectors in 1974.
Thanks, Bill. This sounds like the most plausible explanation.
I’m not sure that amber turn signals were required in Europe at the time these were new. The reason I say this is because when the Ford Taunus was introduced a few years later, its taillamps were all-red.
Italy and Australia were the first countries to require amber rear turn signals, in 1959-’60. Various countries banned red ones over the following years, and the requirement picked up broader steam throughout Europe in 1967-’69.
The French absurdist-comedy director, Jacques Tati, often highlighted the vehicles in his films as the plot devices.
His 1958 film, Mon Uncle, centres on post-war French obsession with modernity and American consumerism and used many American vehicles from the late 1950s. There’s this poor 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air adorned in horrendous three-tone green, lavendar, and pink paintwork.
Mr Tati did the same for his 1968 film, Playtime, with wider variety of French and European vehicles along with a few American cars. Same with his 1971 film, Trafic.
His films are excellent for the game of identifying different vehicles.
C’est drole! What business does a young Chevrolet have passing by Le Moulin Rouge? Les desmoiselles de la Moulin Rouge est nu! Electric window lifts, too. It is a fun video.
So that’s what it takes to get Parisians to smile – I dig it!
I found during my brief visits to Paris, the best way to get a Parisian to smile is to be VERY generous with your tipping.
They tend to be very receptive when one can speak French. Otherwise, they couldn’t be bothered. That said, Europeans just aren’t smiley in public.
First ad I’ve ever seen where the featured car is being passed by everything in sight.
Wow! Self driving car 50 years before Tesla and on the bottom range Impala to..
Bottom range? The Impala was Chevy’s top of the line in 1959.
Were did you find this gem Paul?. I wonder what the market this was aimed at?.
The new Impala.Full of French chic!. No ?. Must have been produced for the US market as colour tv was at least ten years away in France.
Full Self Driving in 1959? =P
Mix of camera tricks, the car being towed or pushed, and someone driving from the floorwell most likely.
What’s interesting is that in one scene there’s a presentation plate that just has “U.S.A.” on it and the very next there’s one where it has an actual (French? Certainly white-on-black) license number.
Thank you Paul for this gem .
I assume this was one of those Chevrolet commercials they used to show before the movie ? .
-Nate
Christine’s pudgy roommate, Norma, cruises the streets of Paris seeking victims. The sequel nobody asked for.
“Christine’s pudgy roommate, Norma, cruises the streets of Paris seeking victims. The sequel nobody asked for.”
Now that was simply hilarious! Thank you. Made my day.
Anyone know what the round lights positioned between the taillamps and the rear bumper are for? U.S.-registered ‘59s didn’t have them.
And I can imagine this as part of a French television special, and Sylvie Vartan wrapping things up with a chorus of “Voyez la France dans votre Chevrolet!”
Separate amber turn signals most likely. Too bad they couldn’t get the chrome jet-pod-shaped ones that hung upside down from the bat wings on Aussie ones.
BuzzDog,
When I lived in Europe, I drove a 1956 Chrysler Imperial that was assembled in Paris by Facel Metallon [for the Paris Auto Show], and it had the same round red lenses in the panel below the trunk lid. Rather than a bulb-lit lamp, they are reflectors, as the internal reflectors in US SAE specification cars were not large enough to meet the French regulations. This information was provided to me by the German TUV inspectors in 1974.
Thanks, Bill. This sounds like the most plausible explanation.
I’m not sure that amber turn signals were required in Europe at the time these were new. The reason I say this is because when the Ford Taunus was introduced a few years later, its taillamps were all-red.
Italy and Australia were the first countries to require amber rear turn signals, in 1959-’60. Various countries banned red ones over the following years, and the requirement picked up broader steam throughout Europe in 1967-’69.
That’s one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Amazing to see a big Chevrolet going down tiny Parisian back lanes.
The French absurdist-comedy director, Jacques Tati, often highlighted the vehicles in his films as the plot devices.
His 1958 film, Mon Uncle, centres on post-war French obsession with modernity and American consumerism and used many American vehicles from the late 1950s. There’s this poor 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air adorned in horrendous three-tone green, lavendar, and pink paintwork.
Mr Tati did the same for his 1968 film, Playtime, with wider variety of French and European vehicles along with a few American cars. Same with his 1971 film, Trafic.
His films are excellent for the game of identifying different vehicles.
A great ad. We are driving our new Impala through Paris! Better than any test drive! A brilliant ad.
Hideous car though. Sad.
@ VanillaDude :
Just give it time ~ I too hated these cars when new and for decades after, not they’re sort of campy and fun….
-Nate
C’est drole! What business does a young Chevrolet have passing by Le Moulin Rouge? Les desmoiselles de la Moulin Rouge est nu! Electric window lifts, too. It is a fun video.