Business History:
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How Marketing Allowed Every 1970s Boy to Own the Greatest Super-Car Ever!
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The Lamborghini Countach. Unmistakable. Insane in its appearance when it went into production in the 1970s. The sleek aerodynamic profile. The gull-wing doors. It’s monstrous engine. Gawks and stares were the reactions of anyone lucky enough to see one on the road!
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The prestigious BBC television show TOP GEAR, in 2004, named it the "Sexiest Super-Car of All-Time." The iconic car was featured prominently in the 1981 Hollywood blockbuster Cannonball Run.
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Less than 2,000 of these beautiful Italian "Super-Cars" were ever produced…production averaged no more than 450/year.
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With a price-tag which more than rivaled its enormous V-12 engine, the Countach was reserved for the super-wealthy. It was simply an icon of the road which everybody, myself as a youth growing up in America in the 70s and 80s, dreamed of owning.
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"On the Wall" Marketing:
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The 70s and 80s were also a heyday for another iconic product: the poster. Young ladies hung posters of their favorite teen idols, young boys…well, for a long time Farrah Fawcett was the queen. And for music fans it was KISS, Led Zeppelin and AC-DC. Posters were an enormous industry.
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The Lamborghini Countach poster which cost about two bucks, allowed every fan to own a piece of the car. It turned a dream into a tangible, concrete reality.
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It is estimated that in the late 70s to early 80s, up to 40% of all American boys had a Countach on his wall (I’ll bet a lot of girls did too!). It is widely considered to be the best-selling poster of its time. And with licensing (product-piracy was not yet in full-swing), Lamborghini saw a nice piece of the action for every poster sold.
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The Countach poster provided something which every customer and prospective client wishes in exchange for his or her money…
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Value!
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Business success often hinges on finding creative ways to appeal to prospective clients and customers.
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What novel, exciting ways can you use to market your goods and services…
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…and make people want a piece of the action?
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Image Credits:Countach: http://www.drivewerks.com/; Road: http://www.concurringopinions.com/
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Yonatan Maisel is a Business blogger, history buff and author. He specializes in all aspects of Business writing.
From speeches to resumes, from corporate bios to research, from blogging to website content, from articles to ghost-writing, he provides the highest level of quality at a very reasonable price.
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Shosh,
There was never anything like the Countach and never will be as far as I’m concerned. It was a mark of genius and the poster added to its reputation and allure!
Yoni
Alan,
Iconic in every sense of the word.
From a cultural standpoint, from a business standpoint and a marketing bonanza which allowed us to fulfill our dreams of owning one!
Yoni
Rebecca,
It certainly was a widespread phenomenon. I too saw the poster, or a variant of it, in most of my friends rooms.
Yoni
Shep,
I’m not sure how great the business lesson was, but the car was cool as hell!
EVERYBODY dreamed of owning one!
Yoni
Hamed,
Thanks for taking part of your day to read and comment.
Greatly appreciated!
Yoni
Benjamin,
I’ll assume you’re speaking of the car 🙂
Yoni
Warren,
VERY interesting: a self-perpetuating cycle! More posters = more cars sold = more posters = …
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Yoni