On the ninth day of Christmas…

Here are nine cars and nine commercials that shaped how Australia drives

From backyard barbies to red-dust tracks, Australian ads have always sold more than cars – they’ve sold the Aussie experience.

These ads have encoded a uniquely Australian mix of freedom, summer, and the open road – and turned catchphrases into a national vernacular.

Decades on, they still pop up in our memories and timelines because they reflect who we are behind the wheel: joyful, practical, adventurous.

Beaches, footy, flags, wildlife, and Holdens cut together like a love letter to Australia, set to the jingle that refuses to leave your head.

It’s pure Australiana and positioned Holden as “Australia’s own car”.

Buyers literally jump for joy beside their new Toyota Corolla. Sunny streets, big smiles, and the leap that launched a thousand memes.

“Oh what a feeling” has become one of the longest-lived, most successful and most recognised advertising jingles that’s still used today.

This Ford Falcon ad was classic 90s in its composition, message and marketing pitch, beautifully tapping into and leveraging the passionate rivalry between Ford and Holden.

Bet you can’t find a new car ad today poo-pooing a rival by name… This one from Ford was shot in a time when big Aussie sedans were still cultural heroes and wrapped that pride in unapologetically late-90s production values (and attitude).

Colourful, cheeky shots showing young Aussies zipping around in an affordable, cheerful new car.  

The Hyundai Excel helped democratise new-car ownership in Australia and even topped sales charts in June 1998.

A whisper – “Zoom-Zoom” – kicks off a dynamic ad showing the Mazda 323 darting through bends in the Aussie countryside.

Another of Australia’s most famous car jingles, Zoom-Zoom is still Mazda’s go-to motto.

A Nissan Patrol charging through red dirt tracks, creek crossings and scaling rugged peaks pitched the then-new off-roader to weekend explorers and serious tourers alike.

This ad in 1983 sold capability and confidence beyond the blacktop, making tough 4x4 ownership feel both aspirational and attainable for Aussie families.

A fastback muscle car cruises past, causing bystanders to lose their heads and fire off the sideways peace sign with the gleeful shout: “Hey Charger!” 

It turned a gesture into a nation-wide catchphrase and helped make the Valiant Charger a cultural hero.

The Breaker Brothers smash everything in sight except the ‘unbreakable’ Toyota HiLux.

It’s slapstick proof-testing with a punchline delivered by a very impressed grandma.

The campaign welded toughness to humour and minted a tagline that Australians still use as shorthand for durability.

Paul Hogan’s Crocodile Dundee charm sells the Outback as practical, adventurous, and proudly different –which it was when it first came out.

By pairing a beloved Aussie voice with the wagon-meets-SUV format, Subaru made Outback feel like it belonged here – ready for weekends away and long-haul road trips.

These commercials are time capsules of how Australia saw itself – sunlit, outdoorsy, together – and how we wanted to move through the world.

Which ad takes you straight back? Share your favourite moment and tag us on Facebook @carsalescomau with #12daysofcarsales.

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Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au