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Like any major business that’s been around throughout the evolution of television advertising, Dodge has been on the point of many trends and gimmicks over the decades. At the same time, they’ve also set an advertising tone that challenges other manufacturers to try and keep up. Whether you’re a young buck or an ol’ timer, you’re bound to remember at least a few of these Dodge Ram commercials over the past five decades.

Through the years the ads have definitely improved from a timeless, artistic aspect; however the older ads definitely transport you back to a simpler time, both in the car world and in American history.

Dodge Truck Ads: 1960s and 1970s

The Dodge ads of the ’60s and ’70s are all about wacky fun mixed with the rugged, farm boy target demographic Dodge has always loved.

1969: The Dodge Boys



It couldn’t get more psychedelic than this ad. This is an incredibly strange commercial, hearkening back to King Kong and the damsel in distress. It’s the classiest King Kong as well, as he breaks out a British accent towards the end urging the viewer to “live it up” with a Dodge truck. It also features a troupe of cartoon characters tipping their hats, known as “The Dodge Boys”

1975: The Man Who’d Rather Drive a Truck



A great look into classic television ads from the mid-seventies. This ad features that iconic “everyman” who isn’t the type to drive on concrete roads, and cares more about payload that a fancy 8-track player. Aired during the golden age of taglines, this 70s ad doesn’t disappoint: “The man who’d rather drive a truck. We’re proud so many of them would rather drive a Dodge.”

1977: Dodge Builds Tough Trucks ft. Chuck Conners

This ad went for the similar, feature-packed feel of the previous two, but ditches the aspirational in favor of the celebrity appearance. And who better to do it than Renaissance Man Chuck Conners? For those who don’t know, he was a classic old western actor, as well as a pro baseball and basketball player. This ad features the Power Wagon, and shows off its tough off-road capabilities. “Dodge trucks have got it – where it counts.”

Dodge Truck Ads: 1980s and 1990s

The ’80s were a goofy time for all advertisers, and Dodge was no exception. However, the ’90s marked a distinct shift in the company’s brand.

1986: Beverly Hills Truck



The glitz, the glamor, Beverly Hills… Truck? Clearly, this was an ad exec’s idea of a “clever, catchy commercial” – and while it doesn’t quite hold up (lyrically or as a brand piece), it’s definitely interesting. The 80s were an awkward time for everyone.

1994: The Rules Have Changed



The mid-90s represented a positive brand shift for Dodge trucks, as they started thinking much, much bolder. The two ads above are part of a great campaign that was elegant, simple and powerful at the same time. These commercials are closer to Apple-level advertising than standard vehicle ads of the time, and still hold up today.

Dodge Truck Ads: 2000s

The 21st century ushered in another new era of advertising in America. Dodge took the humor route for much of the decade, and also brought in their iconic slogan that lived for a very long time: “Grab life by the horns.”

2002: The New Dodge Ram

This ad is one of the first of a commercial type that still lives on today for many brands. Advertising their new design that would hold up for many years, this ad features beautiful product shots mixed with a gruff, powerful narration. Ram mixed in humor at the end to really round out a complete package.

2005: The HEMI Boys

Remember these crazy guys? One of the most successful campaigns by Ram, these backwoods characters were brought in to showcase Ram’s new HEMI v8 Ram truck line, and did a great job highlighting that a HEMI isn’t just for muscle cars anymore.

Dodge Truck Ads: 2010s

The next decade of the 21st century revolutionized television advertising yet again. With the advent of digital streaming services and a variety of ways people now see ads, doing a large campaign with many ads is more challenging than ever. Aside from that, shareability is a huge factor when creating a TV ad. This caused Dodge to shift focus and go for more interesting, inspiring or creatively funny ads. This also marked their new slogan: “Guts, Glory, Ram.”

2014: So God Made a Farmer

Possibly the most iconic and well-received ad from Dodge, the “So God Made a Farmer” ad premiered at the Super Bowl and blew everyone away as one of the best commercials of the year. Dodge hired several world-class editorial photographers to create the slideshow of images, and overlaid an incredible speech by Paul Harvey that spoke directly to their key demographic: farmers.

2015: #DodgeWisdom

Marking the 100th anniversary of the Dodge Brothers company, Dodge decided to devote their 2015 Super Bowl ad to the wisdom of a century. They brought in several 100+ year-olds to share their advice about life. The commercial starts with simple, timeless wisdom before spiraling into the true adventure and grit that has kept those individuals going strong throughout their lives.

And we echo their sentiments. To all Dodge fans out there, “Here’s to the next 100 years.”

You can see all of these ads and more that wouldn’t fit into this post on our exclusive YouTube playlist below: