Remembering Jack Nicklaus the car pitchman; he endorsed luxury cars from Pontiac and Lincoln
Pro golfers tend to have special relationships with their cars. And being paid to endorse a car brand never hurt, either. In this series, Morning Read looks back at some of the greatest players in history and their sweet rides. This week, we remember Jack Nicklaus in his heyday, when he was racking up major titles and major endorsement deals, including stints with Pontiac and Lincoln.
Part 1: Arnold Palmer and Cadillac El Dorado
Part 2: Lee Trevino and Dodge Charger
Jack Nicklaus – 1979 Pontiac Grand Le Mans Safari; 1990s Lincoln Town Cars
Jack Nicklaus had two notable car deals that we found in our archives at the Antique Automobile Club of America. First, at the height of his career, he put his name behind the 1979 Pontiac Grand Le Mans Safari station wagon. The Safari was Pontiac’s main wagon line, and the Grand Le Mans was the top-of-the-line mid-size Pontiac, offering a spacious interior engineered for quiet and comfort. When the two were combined, it resulted in the Grand Le Mans Safari, which offered exceptional luxury, an impressive 72.4 cubic feet of storage (room for plenty of golf bags) and strong fuel economy (25/19).
Related: For more on cars, food and drinks, visit Morning Read's new "Hobbies" page
In the 1990s, the Golden Bear endorsed the Lincoln Town Car, a full-size luxury sedan made to go head-to-head with Cadillac’s Fleetwood Brougham. In 1990, the Town Car was Motor Trend’s “Car of the Year,” after an extensive redesign and refinement. The Town Car’s 5.0L V8 was coupled with an automatic transmission and rode on a 117-inch wheelbase. From 1992 to 1997, Lincoln offered a special-edition “Jack Nicklaus Signature Series” that featured a green exterior with white top and a white leather interior with green accents. Memory seats with power lumbar support topped off the luxurious interior, making the Town Car the most dominant full-size luxury vehicle of the era.
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