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12-10-2018, 08:19 PM #1
Johnson and Evinrude ads with... Topless women? Indeed!
When I first came across the first of these, I thought it had to be the result of Photoshop shenanigans. I mean, why and how would OMC introduce ads with blatant and shameless nudity and even some sexually-suggestive taglines?
Nearly all of the OMC ads I've ever seen were consistent with the carefree boating lifestyle that promulgated the industry's core values of boating as a family-friendly activity for all ages. Not that there's anything at all fundamentally wrong with this more adult interpretation of boating fun - it's just that the shock value of the encounter superseded any thoughts about wanting to buy a Johnson or Evinrude outboard. But I guess that was the point!
Yes, these ads are indeed legitimate. I did some research into them and as I expected, it was very difficult to find out their origin. From what I have been able to find out there were four ads in this series that appeared in... Get ready... Playboy magazine in the winter of 1980. They may have appeared in other adult magazines in multiple markets. I suppose that makes sense - where else would this material find itself? I would really like to find out some metrics on how these ads performed back then and whether the ad campaign was considered a success. I know of no other similar ad campaigns from OMC after this one.
I debated to myself whether or not I should post these, but I felt it was such an interesting part of the history of OMC that it should be shared. And now I present you with this bizarre piece of outboard engine history. Sorry, I had to obscure the nudity. I think you get the idea though.
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lars strom thanked for this post
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12-10-2018, 08:31 PM #2
I’m disappointed OMC didn’t make more clever use of their Johnson! Whoever wrote the copy for that ad wasn’t on the same page as the photographer...
Josh Peterson
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12-10-2018, 08:41 PM #3Screaming And Flying!
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they are ozzie OMA ads, didnt seem out of the ordinary to us at the time
They were in all the boat mags
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12-10-2018, 08:46 PM #4
Bizarre? I thought that is how it worked?...........some of the Mercury ads I could have come up with!
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Scream And Fly, NICE PAIR liked this post
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12-10-2018, 09:13 PM #5
I was pretty sure about the Australian market but I had no positive information on that. The only thing I was able to get was that Playboy ran those ads very briefly here. Now, that could also have been in the Australian market? If you have specific info I'd really be interested to know.
Also - what is that marine logo on the boat and engine?
Thanks!
Greg
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12-10-2018, 09:24 PM #6Screaming And Flying!
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The one with the girl in the water ran in Australian Powerboat for sure, I might have a copy somewhere
Logo looks like Hunts Marine, a Sydney dealer. https://www.huntsmarine.com.au/
Lower photo the hull decal is Cruise Craft i think http://www.cruisecraft.com.au/
Ping the guys at Hunts, they a nice bunch, big OMC dealer for a very long timeLast edited by powerabout; 12-10-2018 at 09:27 PM.
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Scream And Fly thanked for this postScream And Fly liked this post
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12-10-2018, 10:38 PM #7
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Scream And Fly liked this post
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12-11-2018, 12:39 AM #8
That’s fantastic information, thank you! I’d really like to find out how this advertisement campaign faired, and if there were other ads prior, or after this series was active. I am surprised that these images are virtually unknown here. Did any of the other outboard manufacturers run similar ads in that magazine?
The look on the woman’s face in the third photo is kind of funny. She looks like she’s frightened at whatever she’s supposed to be looking at. Also, check out the Evinrude engine installation - the engine was mounted with wedges to give it more of a trim-in angle.
Thanks again for the info!
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12-11-2018, 03:09 AM #9Screaming And Flying!
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Dont forget we had tits and bums on tv from the 70's, religion doesn't rule Australia, thank god ( I get the irony in that comment)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_96_(TV_series)
Chrysler Merc and OMC used to constantly advertise
OMC owned the small engine market and shared the big engines with Merc who also owned the SD business.
In those days they both assembled engines in OZ, OMC lasted 10+ years after Merc stopped
Being American and having 90% of the market in OZ they took no advice.
Merc piloted Mariner in OZ ( I hated them, worst of Merc and OMC, everything corroded) then Yam just walked in while they were asleep, nailed several issues:
1. Dropped prop rated engines in the market when Merc and OMC didnt so all yams went better than the others
2. had LH full shift gearboxes on V6's
3. Stock control boxes could be stacked ( all engines sold in oz with std control boxes, prop ( voucher), fuel tank and sometime voucher for control cables)
4. They price dumped them to get a foot hold, ( got sued twice but..)
5. Merc and OMC said no future in jet skis, trust us we know....
then any hiccup in quality just gifted more sales to Yam
tits didnt help....
Re boats:
Boat builders a bit slow to change in OZ in those days, protected by tariffs
OMC and Merc constantly banging heads with them to design boats correctly hence that photo, The Cruise Craft had a very shallow transom angle from the non trim days and hadnt yet changed as did many others. 1980 evi in the photo yet trim came out in 73 for example. They were good boats, my old man had one.
I do remember fitting transom wedges to lots of installs which meant no thru tube steering, ( especially Merc and OMC that had the tilt tube to far aft) so dodgy steering, that might explain the look on the girls face.
Difficult to put decent steering in boats as the splash wells didnt change for tilt tube steering for another 20 years
Oz builders do have their act together these days as the old school guys that came from the wooden boat days have died out.Last edited by powerabout; 12-11-2018 at 03:28 AM.
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12-11-2018, 07:59 AM #10Screaming And Flying!
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Great background history guys, thanks for posting.
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12-11-2018, 10:06 AM #11
I must be getting old, I think outboard motors used to look so much better than what's out today. Good thing women haven't changed.
Nice find OP!
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12-11-2018, 10:22 AM #12
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12-13-2018, 11:59 AM #135000 RPM
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I remember the Powerboating and Sail mags in the late 70's and early 80's. I was 13 and spent a lot of time in the magazine section when at the grocery store. Lots of T&A back in those days. And it wasn't blurred. Funny with porn on everyone's phone now, nipples are taboo 40 years later in print.
Last edited by Looper; 12-13-2018 at 12:02 PM.
Checkmate 2400, Opti Pro XS powered
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12-13-2018, 12:44 PM #145000 RPM
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You can sell anything with a boob. Remember all the shops that used to have tool calendars ?
1971 Sidewinder 14 SS w Johnson 90 v-4
1959 Texas Maid Falcon w Mercury Mark 35A
1981 Sylvan Sportster w Johnson 85 v-4
2006 Harris pontoon with a Yamaha 90
1969 Sunfish sailboat
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12-13-2018, 06:14 PM #155000 RPM
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