When “Ridiculous” Becomes Revolutionary

This classic Volkswagen ad flips skepticism into admiration. It pairs a Beetle with a 1940s television, mocking how both were once seen as dumb ideas. The headline—“Two ridiculous gimmicks of the 1940’s”—turns doubt into proof of success.

Marketing analysis

VW embraced criticism and turned it into credibility. Instead of fighting perceptions, they leaned into them. That humility and self-awareness made their message more human and more persuasive.

Why it works

• Turns a negative (ridiculed product) into a strength (proven innovation)

• Uses humor to build trust

• Contrasts old skepticism vs. modern success

• Makes the brand relatable by admitting imperfections

Examples

• Apple’s “Think Different” celebrated outsiders.

• Tesla’s “crazy” electric cars disrupted the industry.

• Airbnb’s “Belong Anywhere” once sounded naive—and won big.

Creative Variations

Hand-drawn pen style

Classic 1950s print ad

Futuristic style

Funny style

Annotated sketchbook style

Eye-tracking heatmap