Advertising Lesson From a Master: David Ogilvy

Reproduced below, as it appeared in The New Yorker five decades ago, is one of the most famous ads from Madison Avenue's glory days. Created by David Ogilvy, this Rolls Royce ad used a quirky quote from a motoring magazine for its headline, followed by body copy that was twenty times too long by conventional standards.

The headline became a catch-phrase of the day. The body of the ad reflected Ogilvy's heretical belief in the power of lengthy copy. If that copy is sufficiently readable, interesting and informative, it can leave the reader salivating for a product or service.