mark IV / Autolite connection?

Just wondering if there is an interesting story as to why looking at vintage photos
Of 67' Le mans , the mark iv 's seem to have a Autolite sparkplug decal on rear cowl that comes and goes throughout the racing week. Also the drivers had Shelby jackets with only sponsorship being Autolite sparkplugs. Thanks
 

Randy V

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Autolite is/was owned by Ford and Spark Plugs were a high profit consumable item which rarely lasted more than 12,000 miles... Good place to advertise!
 

Pat

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I think Ford had to divest Autolite over some antitrust issues years ago. It's now owned by Honeywell.
 
Interesting....I know in a time where sponsorship/advertising was minimal, my question was more in the direction of why would a couple little decals not be on the car in one photo and a couple days later be there and all the color photos post race.....they're gone again.
 

Randy V

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It's an interesting question Larry now that you've rephrased...

If you are a sponsor of a car and your decal is in a prominent location - you want pictures of that car with YOUR decal clearly showing so you can put that picture in Magazines and on posters right?
Are you going to want to make pictures of other sponsor's decals as well? Not likely... Most of the time the other decals were removed or obliterated in some manner.

In the years I've been associated with racing (40 or so), I have seen very few cars that had only one sponsor.. Most have had primary sponsors and a number of associate sponsors.
If you look at most any NASCAR car these days, you see them as rolling billboards for almost every automotive product under the sun.. NASCAR used only as one example - there are many others...
 
Interesting....I know in a time where sponsorship/advertising was minimal, my question was more in the direction of why would a couple little decals not be on the car in one photo and a couple days later be there and all the color photos post race.....they're gone again.

In 67 Sponsor logo's weren't allowed on cars. They went through scrutinizing without them and then the cars were stickered up just before the race.
 
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