Take the vintage Pepsi Challenge

As a child of the eighties, I’m very familiar with the marketing campaign that was the Pepsi Challenge taste test, which was launched in 1975 and popularized throughout the next couple of decades. The idea behind it was very simple and proved to be considerably effective for the Pepsi company. Participants were given two unmarked cups, one contained Coca Cola (Coke), the other housed Pepsi, they were then asked to try both sodas and decide which one they preferred based on taste alone. PepsiCo generally reported that more folks preferred the taste of Pepsi cola to that of Coke.

While it’s been years since I’ve consumed any soda, growing up on those rare times when I did have pop, I recall preferring Pepsi to Coke (though I don’t remember ever holding a Pepsi Challenge of my own). Interestingly in talking to others of my generation about their cola preference, it seems that Pepsi often wins out, whereas people of my parent’s age bracket really seem to favour Coke. Whether this has to do with Pepsi’s aggressive advertising throughout the 80s and 90s (such as the use of celebrities like Michael Jackson and Britney Spears to endorse their products) or not certainly up for discussion.

Today I thought it would be fun to hold a Pepsi challenge of my own, though this one won’t give you a sugar rush or have you second guessing your own taste buds. While recently perusing the pages of Miss Retro Modern’s Flickr stream, I happened across two utterly stylish vintage soda advertisements, one for Coke and another for Pepsi. I was immediately struck by how deeply elegant they are, both feature exceedingly well dressed young adults, they’re targeted at a the well groomed, clean-cut 1950s middle to upper class, and both are wonderful pieces of advertising artistry.


{1955 Coca Cola ad.}

{VS}


{1959 Pepsi ad.}


My challenge to you, dear readers, is to look briefly at both vintage ads and tell me which one you prefer? Don’t over-think your decision, just go with your gut (alla Blink). There’s no right or wrong choice, this is just for kicks.

Interestingly I feel like I’m drawn a little more to the Coke ad. There is something about the face of pretty young woman in her white pearls and smart outfit that ever-so-slightly reminds me of a younger version of one of my grandmas. This subtle personal tie causes the Coke ad to win this challenge for me. Which soda ad speaks to you first, who wins the Vintage Pepsi Challenge in your books? :)