Every region seemed to have a few car dealerships that held memorable promotions – many of which seem entertaining or even unfathomable today. In Northern Virginia during the 1960s, one of those hard-to-forget dealers was Ted Britt Ford. I’ve put together a collection of Ted Britt’s ads as well as photos of the dealership itself here for a quick trip back in time. Far from today’s conforming promotions where dealerships all blend together, these ads definitely reflected unique character that can be looked at with amusement six decades later.
When Myron “Ted” Britt opened his Fairfax, Virginia Ford dealership in 1959, his was one of many opening its doors in Washington, DC’s fast-growing suburbs. Britt was a native Texan, who came to the nation’s capital area during World War II, and ended up staying. During the 1950s, Britt worked as a salesman for Capital Cadillac in Washington, and eventually managed to open his own dealership.
It didn’t take long for a memorable ad to emerge. For its grand opening, the dealership held a contest to win a young steer. “Guess the weight” contests were popular at the time (often featuring cows, pigs or horses), and this one was a good example. People could guess the animal’s weight, and drop of an entry form in Britt’s showroom. The entrant closest to the steer’s weight, without going over, would win the animal.
According to the ad’s text, this wasn’t just any steer, but an offspring of ALF Mixer Return 115th. While the name probably didn’t mean much to most people, that was the chief Polled Hereford sire of Clove Creek Farm, owned by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr. It’s unclear whether Britt and FDR, Jr. knew each other, but if they did, their acquaintanceship may well have revolved around cars. At around that time, FDR, Jr. became Fiat’s American distributor.
Regardless, the steer was offered to the lucky winner either “on the hoof,” or butchered, dressed and cut to supply the winner with “years” of delicious steaks. Oh, and if the winner bought a car from Ted Britt, the dealership would throw in a freezer at no charge, which would be handy for all that meat.
Here’s what the dealership looked like shortly after opening. Ted Britt accentuated his Texas heritage, became known as “Texas Ted” and styled both his dealership and many ads around western themes. Here we can see the US, Virginia and Texas flags flying at the dealership’s entrance. The grand opening and the western theme must have been successful, because within two years the dealership expanded.
Sometime within his dealership’s first years, Britt came up with a promotion that would endure for a generation – telling customers they could trade anything for their new or used cars. As stated in the ad, Britt would welcome customers seeking to trade old shoes, ash trays, farm animals, mothers-in-law and so on. OK, not mothers-in-law, but the rest were apparently fair game. Gimmicky, for sure, but this undoubtedly grabbed folks’ attention.
One person whose attention it attracted was V.E. Cosner, who owned a farm about five miles north of the dealership. Mr. Cosner showed up at Britt’s “Ford Ranch and Showroom” with two donkeys, looking to include them as part of negotiations on 1963 Falcon Squire. It’s unclear whether Mr. Britt had expected actual farm animals at his dealership’s door, but he immediately grabbed the publicity value of this stunt. He accepted the donkeys as partial trade for the Falcon. Since Britt owned a farm in Frederick County, the long-eared ungulates could live at his farm, and occasionally make appearances at the dealership as attention-grabbers.
Here’s another contest, where customers could enter to win a chance to buy a 12-year-old Oldsmobile for $1. Cleverly timed around George Washington’s birthday, this one dollar “sale” wasn’t quite as startling as it seems today. As noted, a 1951 Oldsmobile would have typically sold for about $95. Using a competing brand for this purpose was probably a good idea, since a $1 Ford might give off the wrong idea.
If geriatric Oldsmobiles didn’t bring in customers, maybe country music would. In 1963, Britt hosted a few hootenannies – a word that’s fallen out of usage but means an informal folk concert and dance. Loretta Lynn was an up-and-coming singer at the time, and a good catch for Britt. Even more interesting from a modern perspective was Hank Williams, Jr. The 14-year-old travelled the US in 1963 with his mom, Audrey, performing his late father’s signature songs.
His fans associate Hank with songs like “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight” (1984), so it’s incredible to see a promotion featuring teenage Hank playing at a Ford dealer for an audience looking for free door prizes and a chance to win a Thunderbird. Incidentally, Hank Jr. is still touring in 2025 at age 76.
While there are no outrageous promotions in this ad, people who are familiar with the Washington, DC region may find this humorous. Most Northern Virginians today moan if you mention “The Beltway” to them, however when this 1965 ad was published, the 64-mi. highway circumventing the nation’s capital wasn’t quite a year old, and was still a marvel. Just 40 minutes to drive to Fairfax from Greenbelt, Maryland? These days, you’d be lucky to make that kind of time if you’re driving in the middle of the night!
Meanwhile, additional promotions followed. Here was an offer to win a vacation for two to Miami Beach, with the lucky couple being put up at the art deco Cadillac Hotel.
That Cadillac crest looks mighty similar to another Cadillac crest… I bet General Motors wasn’t impressed.
The 19-story Cadillac Hotel was one of Miami Beach’s finest – shown above in a linen postcard from shortly after its construction. The hotel is not only still standing, but was recently remodeled (it’s currently operated by Marriott), and is still a sought-after hotel.
1966 saw another guess-the-weight-and-win-a-steer contest. Here, the dealership assured potential contestants that the beast’s official weight is stored in a bank vault. Again, Britt offered the steer either on the hoof, or “converted to hamburger, steaks and roasts.”
And in case anyone’s curious whether there were butchers who could do this work in the Washington suburbs – the answer is Yes. In the 1960s, Fairfax was close enough to the country that places like this still abounded. This particular business was located in Tysons Corner, now just the site of high-rises and shopping centers, but back then, folks could get their big game processed there too. Plus, this place put out such a helpful field manual that it would be unfortunate not to include it here.
Meanwhile, the Ted Britt dealership itself kept growing – here it is in the late 1960s, following an addition.
Promotions became a bit more muted. Here’s a 1972 ad promoting an unnamed bluegrass band, free hot dogs and a chance to win a Kawasaki motorcycle, but nothing too exaggerated.
During the 1970s, Britt added a Mazda franchise as well, originally located in a smaller showroom about a block away from the Fords (circa 1980 picture above).
Into the 1980s, Britt still advertised that they would trade anything, however these types of ads were much less of a focus than in previous decades.
Still, the dealerships played up western themes. This 1983 Mazda RX-7 that I spotted at a car show sports a Texas Ted Britt dealership badge with horseshoes.
In the mid 1980s, Britt moved to a new location a mile up Lee Highway. The contemporary design probably didn’t lend itself too well to bluegrass music or steer giveaways, and the western themes and trading promotions faded away.
Ted Britt passed away in 1997 at the age of 80, though his dealership (still in the Britt family) remains one of the high-selling Ford franchises in the region. But my guess is that they wouldn’t accept donkeys or mothers-in-law as trades for a new Explorer.
A delightful writeup, Eric703! I don’t think I’d ever heard of this dealer, and have no memory of seeing those distinctive early ads before. They say “you have to spend money to make money,” but the Britt Ford promotions seem to have paid off nicely!
Thanks! I think it’s safe to say that Britt’s investment in clever advertising paid of pretty well.
Hootenanny is still alive and well at least on New Year’s Eve in Britain. Jools Holland has been presenting his Hootenanny show since 1996 so it’s become a bit of an institution. No steers unfortunately.
Good to know the word’s still in use!
I had assumed that Hootenanny was exclusively a Southern US or Appalachian term, but reading your comment made me question that, so I looked it up. Most dictionaries seem to say the word is of uncertain origin, but some etymologists believe the term evolved from a similar Scottish term that referred to a musical gathering, and specifically New Years Eve. The link you provided makes me believe that. If true, the word probably jumped the ocean with Scottish immigrants to Appalachia.
Nice write up Eric. This brings back a lot of memories of radio jingles, TV commercials, and newspaper ads for the iconic DC-area car dealers of my youth. Having spent most of my childhood just inside the Beltway (MD though, not VA) the jingles from Ourisman, JKJ, (Don’t say Drug Store, Say) Drug Fair, Peoples (Peoples leads the way, because it’s just not enough to be Number One), are deeply deeply embedded.
I’m sure I knew about Ted Britt’s Texas roots, and I surely remember the cow give-aways, but mostly I assumed that Britt was trading on the impression that I always had (no doubt encourged by my parents…my Mom was a native Montgomery County girl) that Northern Virginia was literally “waaaaaaaaaay” out in the country. Ok, so Alexandria kind of cut it as part of DC, but we always felt that traveling to someplace like Fairfax was about as likely as going car shopping in Richmond (from DC). This too was why I always wondered what kind of nut job would want to build a big shopping mall (Tyson’s) out there in the middle of nowhere, much less an airport (Dulles) that needed to have its own highway built to get to it.
As they say, the past is a different country.
I spent a few summers in DC with my grandparents over 50 years ago and I can STILL hear the Ourisman Chevrolet ad jingle in my head.
It’s amusing how the Potomac River is still such a big barrier – not only physically, but to people’s perceptions. I moved to the DC area in 2000, and lived in Rockville for three years, during which time I only went to the “Virginia Side” when forced to. Honestly, I couldn’t keep Arlington and Alexandria straight, and it really didn’t matter to me.
Eventually, I moved to Virginia, and now only go to Montgomery County rarely. And the District? I think I’ve been there once in the past five years.
Been in the region most of my “64.5”, years. Car shopped @ “TB”, a time or two.
Was @ “Tysons Crnr”, center in spring of “69” for those “wkd, promotions” they did , ((being the “new, in, destination”))
“TB’s”, original location was far enough away form “7 Corners” to make “Koons Ford”, and “Britt” feasible.
“Herbies Ford” was in “Alx”. ((Rt 1))
Battlefield Ford” ((big place)) was in “Manassas”.
“Koons” has the “Woodbridge Ford”, dealer now adays. Forget, at the moment what name was on it for years.
Our local Mercury dealer advertised that they would take anything on trade and had a radio ad where a guy would try to trade in his mother in law. They also erected a grain bin and would take a load of wheat as a down payment. Mostly they took in well worn cars. About once a month they would have a Little Profit Sale to try to unload the junk instead of scraping it.
You DEFINITELY need to do one like this on Cal Worthington in California . Like one person said “Anyone who’s willing to let a TIGER paw him in the balls to sell me a car, get’s my business!”
No mention of crazy car dealer ads can happen w/o mention of Cal and his “dog” Spot.
Sounds like Ted sure liked BULL! 😉 in the 50s, Chicago’s TOWNE RAMBLER, enticed viewers to*Come on Down * for free gifts just for visiting. After a long list, the last was *Mickleberrys, the only BALONEY we hand out at TOWNE RAMBLER! * I don’t know if there are any auto dealerships in DC, but both Ted and TOWNE couldn’t compete with all the BULL there!
I take your point, but yes, there are auto dealerships in DC…a real place with real people living real lives there. The have lots of grocery stores and even a Home Depot in the District 😉
There used to be – up until the late 1960s – plenty of major brand dealership locations in the District. e.g., Eric mentions that Ted Britt worked for Capitol Cadillac (formerly at 22nd and M NW) before starting his Ford franchise. Over time though, the space needs of a modern auto dealership combined with expensive real estate caused most traditional dealers to move to the Maryland and Virginia “suburbs” adjacent to the District. Of course, the whole area now is one big megalopolis so whether something is in DC, MD, or VA is more a technicality than anything else.
The District still has two brand-affiliated dealerships…A Tesla showroom (3300 block of M St. NW) and a Polestar showroom (17th and L NW…about 4 blocks from the White House). There are also quite a few smaller used car locations, especially in the Northeast corner of the District.
“Marten’s Volvo”, in “Tenleytown”, “Curtis Chevy”, on GA Ave, near “Silver Spring, MD”, line are the last two “DC dealers”, I recall.
“Capitol Caddy”, was where the “Marriott” is now.
I think their “MD”, location was the beltway and “NH Ave”, area. One of my co workers in the “80’s”was married to someone who worked there a spell.
Moved over to “Moore Caddy”, in “Tysons Corner”, round “88”.
They bought a home in “Lovettesville”.
And let’s not forget Tex Earnhardt in Arizona! (And that ain’t no bull!)
Texas Ted was out of control!
William May beat me to it referencing Cal Worthington in the Wilmington, Calif area. Cal said, “I will stand upon my head to beat all deals. I will stand upon my head till my ears are turning red. Go see Cal, go see Cal, go see Cal.” It’s really amazing that Cal never got seriously injured by all the animals, which he referred to as his dog ‘Spot’, that he used in his television commercials.
Hilarious, that was a fun Sunday read…and steer clear of a Ford twin-steer!
Thanks! And the contest would be for a whole herd of steers if the dealer sold those!
Britt was one of the first Mazda dealerships in the USA(sold that point to another family owned dealer group in the area). His son Gardner kept the the dad’s “inventive” advertising by using his large family (like a dozen kids) in TV commercials. DC has a lot of family-owned multi-state dealer groups like Britts based in the DMV(Pohanka, Koons, Sheehy, Fitzgerald, Rosenthal, Brown/Safford).
As far as I know, the Mazda dealer was sold to the Brown family – it’s been sold since and is now Safford Brown. When Britt moved the Ford dealership in the 1980s, the Mazda franchise took over where the original Ford showroom had been. It’s still there, though the original building was demolished a few years ago.
When I looked into the ownership of the Britt dealers, it seemed that Gardner is still running the company.
I went to a we trade anything used junkheap yard in Sydney, they wanted what I nursed in there less than I did, what was the change over value for used donkeys on a new Falcon I wonder.
Here in SoCal we had Cal Worthington and his dog “Spot”.
Sometimes Spot was a bear, a tiger, a raccoon, horse.
“Buy a new car for your wife, she will love you all your life, go see Cal, go see Cal, go see Cal”.
He also had a dealership in Alaska.
Long time PNW and No Cal residents will remember Les Schwab’s annual FREE BEEF promotions where you received some amount of meat from the freezer in the showroom depending on whether you bought 2 tires or 4.
The story goes that at one point one of his rancher customers was in desperate need of tires to get his beef to market and didn’t have any cash. So Les agreed to take beef in trade for those tires which he in turn gave away to customers. The tradition lasted for decades until the family finally sold the business.
Considering Ford’s recent recall history, donkeys might be accepted in trade over some Ford models.
Great story! I had no idea how colorful Ted Britt’s ads used to be.
I grew up in NoVa in the ’80s and ’90s, and I went to high school with one of Ted’s grandsons, Ray. (He was one of like a dozen kids; the family had a mini-bus to move the family around!)
Ted Britt Ford had dropped the Western motif by the time I remember their ads, but I do remember the dealership stickers with the double horseshoe.