Plates in car comercials - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

puddle_divr · #1 08-09-2005, 10:23 AM

I have no idea why this is done... Everytime I see a car in a car commercial it has a license plate on it. The plate is always color coded to match the body color. Why is this? It drives me crazy. I am guessing they color match the plate for asthetic reasons, but why bother? Why not just leave it off? Anyone here work in the car/ ad industry that could enlighten me?

MikeTangas · #2 08-09-2005, 10:37 AM

Funny, my almost 17 year old asked me this same question a week ago.

I think it is for asthetics, so the plate color doesn't detract from the lines of the car, plus it has the added benefit of being neutral, meaning showable in any market.

cscmc1 · #3 08-09-2005, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeTangas

Funny, my almost 17 year old asked me this same question a week ago.

I think it is for asthetics, so the plate color doesn't detract from the lines of the car, plus it has the added benefit of being neutral, meaning showable in any market.

The question still remains, though... why bother to have plates on it at all?

cscmc1 · #4 08-09-2005, 10:40 AM

Another question... does your state require a rear AND FRONT plate? IL does, and it drives me nuts. I have never had a car that looked better with a front platre. They always just detract from the overall look of the car. With the TDI, I really cant put my euro plate on the front and hang the IL plate below it, for cooling reasons. I don't want to tempt fate by disrupting airflow to the radiator, intercooler, etc... Oh well!

Hogweed · #5 08-09-2005, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

The question still remains, though... why bother to have plates on it at all?

i think from a psychological standpoint people are used to seeing cars with licenses plates; they think that if there wasn't one there people would focus, subconsciously, on the absence of something in that spot. it could also be a legal protection so that somebody doesn't drive around with no license plate and blame it on a car commercial

. like the small print "professional driver on closed course" disclaimer. interesting question, though.

cscmc1 · #6 08-09-2005, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hogweed

i think from a psychological standpoint people are used to seeing cars with licenses plates; they think that if there wasn't one there people would focus, subconsciously, on the absence of something in that spot. .

I suspect you are right on the money there. Good point.

puddle_divr · #7 08-09-2005, 10:48 AM

Hmmm... I wonder how many people are on the "design board" that figure out which numbers (even if they are painted) are going to be the most appealing?

G-Benz · #8 08-09-2005, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puddle_divr

Hmmm... I wonder how many people are on the "design board" that figure out which numbers (even if they are painted) are going to be the most appealing?

Probably tied in to Hogweed's post...they choose a pattern that looks random enough that the viewer doesn't get distracted trying to decipher a message as if it were a vanity plate...

Hogweed · #9 08-09-2005, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Benz

Probably tied in to Hogweed's post...they choose a pattern that looks random enough that the viewer doesn't get distracted trying to decipher a message as if it were a vanity plate...

isn't it usually the car model number? i detest commercials; all morning i have had that stupid song form the gm commercials in my freakin' head- that cheesy rock song, sounds like joan jett or something. i can't take it

TX76513 · #10 08-09-2005, 11:46 AM

Another interesting question along the same lines. When you see a watch advertised why is the time always 10 minutes till 2 or ten minutes after 10

cscmc1 · #11 08-09-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Another interesting question along the same lines. When you see a watch advertised why is the time always 10 minutes till 2 or ten minutes after 10

Because the ad shoot took 8 hours and twenty minutes?

Hogweed · #12 08-09-2005, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Another interesting question along the same lines. When you see a watch advertised why is the time always 10 minutes till 2 or ten minutes after 10

according to international law those are the only times that it is legal to photograph watches for the purposes of advertising

gmercoleza · #13 08-09-2005, 11:54 AM

Actually, the 10 and 2 position are always selected in watch ads for subliminal reasons - at that position the watch hands form a shape resembling a smile. This was explained to me once by an advertising executive.

puddle_divr · #14 08-09-2005, 12:41 PM

I read something like that a while back. On the back of the $100 bill there is a clock tower @ Independance Hall that reads 4:10 .There is no historical signifigance to the time. It just looks good. I looked through my pockets to see if I could find one of the bills. No luck just a couple of $10s. LOL.

Here is what the US treasury website says:

There is no record that the man and woman standing in front of the hall close to the building are embracing. The hands of the clock on the hall are set at approximately 4:10. There are no records explaining why that particular time was chosen.

cscmc1 · #15 08-09-2005, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narwhal

Ii keep seeing these kids wearing shirts that read 4:20, I think it is a bible verse or something.

Something like that...

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