Nothing says “Chevy toughness” like Bob Seger’s anthem paired with rugged visuals—mud-drenched pickups, back-breaking payloads, cowboys drinking coffee and napping in the cab of a Silverado to hide from a bull. It’s like every truck commercial distilled into one super-potent dose of pickup iconography, with Seger’s baritone turning it into more than just an ad. These moments have become automotive legends.

Chevrolet Cheyenne Vintage Pickup Truck Commercial–Pulling a 187-Ton Log Train (1973)

Dusty ‘70s  grit meets smoky woodlands in this forestry classic. It’s as vintage as it gets—primal, no-nonsense hauling power, with a voiceover that feels like your gruff grandpa lecturing you about “work ethic.” This commercial is badass, though. The Cheyenne hauls logs like toothpicks. It’s brutal, it’s strong, it’s Chevy flexin’ hard, and that tagline still echoes: “It never forgets it’s a tough truck.”

This one is like all the truck commercials distilled down to one super-potent truck commercial overflowing with truck commercial iconography: cowboys, bulls, and a truck. Nothing says “pickup truck” like a bunch of cowboys drinking coffee and napping with their hats over their eyes in the cab of a Silverado to hide from a bull. 

Ford Vs. Chevy Ditch Commercial (1988)

These head-to-head competition commercials are just great. This feels like a style from a bygone era. I don’t know if tastes have changed or if corporations are more legally cautious, but it's rare to see a company call out a rival manufacturer like this anymore. 

Set up like a backyard showdown, these good ol boys test a Silverado against an F-150 to see which can cross this 18-in ditch. Rather predictably, the Ford is bested by the trough where the Chevy truck skates through the test with ease. Hell, if that don’t settle the war, I don’t know what will. 

Chevy Silverado "End Of The World" Commercial (2012)

This one isn’t nearly as old as the others on this list, but this is, without question, one of the best Chevy commercials ever made. Playing on the then-timely 2012 Mayan calendar prediction, Chevy is letting owners know that even the end of the world won’t stop your bow tie truck. Naturally, the restarting of the world is in the hands of Chevy owners because they are the only ones to survive – well, them and a box of Twinkies. 

Music is a major theme for these commercials, and Chevrolet went with the very funny choice of “Looks Like We Made It” by the very un-trucky entertainer Barry Manilow.

Chevy Heartbeat of America Commercial (1987)

This one has more cheese than a Wisconsin family reunion. This commercial is the visual representation of Sippy-Cup country music. You halfway expect the song to be about a dead hunting dog. But there’s a lot to enjoy here. These old commercials show us a close look at the culture of the time. All of these commercials are meant to appeal to consumers of the day. 

The theme of truck drivers being the “real Americans” is a super-common trope in these commercials. Of course, we know this is a silly stereotype, but Chevy certainly thought appealing to this notion would sell more trucks. 

Honorable Mention: “See the USA in Your Chevrolet” (1953)

This classic jingle goes all-in on post-war optimism: cross-country freedom, Route 66 road trips, and those rosy early-morning starts. It sums up Chevy’s vision of Americana so nicely, it still makes you want to hit the road.

I know this isn’t a truck commercial, but come on. This is as iconic a vintage car commercial as it gets. Before Ford, Dodge, and Chevrolet were hiring '90s country singers to rewrite country hits to be more about trucks, Dinah Shore was singing about Chevrolets. This is nearly an overdose of America, but it's classic and still charming after all these years. 

Chevy Commercials Have Changed, But Not All That Much

Chevy commercials have always pitched more than horsepower—they attempt to sell identity, strength, and a slice of Americana. Whether they’re hauling timber, cruising the open road, or poking Ford fans, these ads aren’t just memorable—they’re iconic.