I’ll leave it to our Aussie friends to answer that, but I don’t think this would have flown in the US. But then maybe it didn’t down under either.
Vintage Ad: Holden Super Chicken! Was This For Real Or a Joke?
– Posted on November 22, 2018
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Curbside Classics Archives
Could’ve been worse, I guess.
They were used on a couple of show cars in 1973-early 74 to attract attention, and the stickers were offered for sale as accessories too. Apparently some were actually sold, but the survival rate is virtually nil. Some unused examples have survived though.
They probably would have been a response to the Ford Superbird concept, which became a limited edition with a decal a tenth the size.
There was another version called Water Splash. I can only blame psychedelic experimentation?
Reproduction stickers have been made too
The Superbird
Oh, how embarrassing!
But it’s the real deal, because that photo of the HQ ute is at the Holden design centre, and the car itself seems to sit too high all around, as if it’s still in final prototype stage perhaps. The writing looks like a mock-up of what might be sent to dealers.
Dealers who’d probably have said, “And who the f*ck is gonna buy a bloody ute with ute with a lairy chook down the side?” It’s only in more recent times that utes became even remotely desireable beyond their role as workhorses.
All that said, that decal rings some rusty bell in my memory, probably on a panel van, but I can’t locate the memory with any precision.
And just read john’s comment, which is a lot more helpful than my speculations!
Having that ute sitting on alloy wheels and low profile tyres gives it more ride height, put the original 640×14 crossplies on and it would transform in what was actually assembled for sale.
Sounds like the blokes at Holden design “taking the piss out of” the Ford Superbird.
No Holden logo on that ad so I suspect it’s a parody.
He’s everywhere, he’s everywhere!
Close. I think that’s really Chickenman. But I do wonder if Chickenman was the inspiration for Super Chicken. Chickenman showed up in 1966, and Super Chicken the following year.
Anyone want to make a guess as to who the other two Jay Ward cartoons that were on the same show with Super Chicken?
Late to the party, but…Tom Slick and George Of The Jungle!
My gosh, I have memory of that from many years ago!
Don’t forget Super Chicken’s famous catchphrase…
I had forgotten all about Super Chicken. I am not sure if I am glad this topic came up to remind me – or not.
I brief fad in the U.S. as well. I remember seeing a few Chevy trucks so equipped:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=383928
Correct-It was line-wide promotion in 1972.
I wonder if the El Camino one shipped to dealers precut for two doors or if you could get it on a Chevelle wagon?
Interesting to see “Sandman” there prior to its use on the Holden ute and panelvan.
Reminds me of this.
I remember the blurb and the promotional shot but have never actually seen that sticker on a car.
I remember seeing one at the Melbourne motor show one year, but never on the road.
When I was a teen in the mid 70s a neighbour had something like this on a beige Belmont panel van, actually it was an elmont as the B had broken off.
From memory the wings came up higher on the sides than the pictured one, but it was a long time ago.
At the time I thought it was a bit strange, as the van was as basic as you could get, and I associated the bird thing more with Falcons.
It didn’t even have the nice Monaro wheels, which was all you really needed to make the most basic HQ look stunning.
It was relaced by a Datsun 200B, the SX version, so he obviously liked his cars a little bit different.