Have you noticed how new car introductions seemed to have lost their luster over the past few decades? With the recent introduction of the next-generation Corvette aside, it seems manufacturers aren’t really excited about introducing the latest creation to the world at large. That wasn’t the case in 1953 when the Corvette was first introduced. Back then, it was obvious the excitement was shared on both sides of the velvet rope.
Back in the ’50s and ’60s, dealerships would whitewash their windows to keep prying eyes from prematurely seeing the newest offerings. It was a great way to build anticipation, as well as get potential customers across the dealership’s thresholds. In a world where information didn’t travel at the speed of light, enthusiasts had plenty of time to pour over a new car’s surface and see what was new. With today’s cell phones and the Internet, automakers have given up on soapstone and whitewash, favoring spy photos and information leaks to whet the buyer’s appetites.
