1964 Prince Gloria 6 & Skyline 1500 Royal Visit Vintage Advertisement

1964 Prince Gloria 6 & Skyline 1500 Royal Visit Commemorative Advertisement This exceptionally rare 1964 Thai print advertisement for the Prince Gloria 6 and Prince Skyline 1500 serves a dual purpose: promoting luxury Japanese automobiles and commemorating the historic state visit of Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko of Japan to Thailand. Distributed by Rex Motors, this artifact encapsulates a pivotal moment of cultural and economic diplomacy during the mid-century automotive boom in Southeast Asia, captured just years before the Prince Motor Company merged with Nissan. This artifact represents a profoundly fascinating intersection of commercial automotive advertising and international diplomacy during the mid-20th century. The prominent headline, elegantly typeset in traditional Thai, reads: "ขอถวายการต้อนรับ มกุฎราชกุมารอากิฮิโตและเจ้าหญิงมิชิโกะแห่งประเทศญี่ปุ่น" (Welcoming Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko of Japan). This specific phrasing explicitly anchors the document to December 1964, when the Japanese Royal couple undertook a highly celebrated seven-day state visit to Thailand on behalf of Emperor Showa. This visit was a cornerstone event in post-war Asian diplomacy, aimed at solidifying the economic and cultural ties between Thailand and a rapidly industrializing Japan. The Prince Motor Company was uniquely positioned to leverage this monumental diplomatic event. Born from the remnants of the Tachikawa and Nakajima Aircraft Companies after WWII, Prince was a highly prestigious manufacturer known for its advanced aeronautical engineering standards. More importantly, the brand possessed deep, historical ties to the Japanese Imperial Household, a relationship that would culminate in the creation of the bespoke Prince Royal limousines for the Emperor. By highlighting the Royal Visit in their Thai marketing, the local distributor, Rex Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd., and its dealer, Tien Nguan Motors (located on the bustling Surawong Road in Bangkok), brilliantly aligned the Prince brand with ultimate nobility, prestige, and the strengthening diplomatic bond between the two nations. The vehicles featured in the engraving represent the absolute pinnacle of Prince’s mid-1960s lineup. The top illustration showcases the Prince Gloria 6 (S40 series), a luxury flagship celebrated for its sophisticated styling and smooth inline-six engine. Its design was heavily influenced by the American automotive aesthetic of the era, featuring a distinctive "flat deck" profile and an ornate chrome front fascia. Sitting below is the Prince Skyline 1500 (S50 series), a slightly more accessible but equally refined sedan. While presented here as a stately family car, this exact chassis would soon lay the groundwork for the legendary, race-winning Skyline GT lineage that continues to captivate automotive enthusiasts today. Visually, the advertisement is a masterclass in mid-century printmaking, employing a striking, high-contrast line-block engraving technique. The meticulous rendering of the grilles, hubcaps, and body lines against a dark, textured background creates a highly sophisticated "blueprint" aesthetic that emphasizes the cars' engineering precision. However, the true archival weight of this piece lies in its impending obsolescence. By 1966, severe financial pressures and guidance from the Japanese government would force Prince to merge with Nissan. Therefore, any ephemera bearing the solitary "PRINCE" marque—especially an international, diplomatically-themed document as culturally layered as this—is considered an incredibly scarce and poignant testament to the brief, brilliant independence of one of Japan's most storied automakers.

Category: Cars

Year: 1964

Rarity Class: S

Last updated: October 14, 2026

Paper & Print Condition

Printed on relatively inexpensive commercial paper stock, likely intended for a newspaper or a contemporary local magazine. The paper has undergone natural oxidation, transitioning from its original off-white to a rich, uniform tan or yellow. Despite the degradation of the acidic paper, the black ink application is flawless. The line-block engraving technique used to depict the vehicles holds remarkable detail, preserving the intricate shading and chrome reflections envisioned by the original illustrator. Minor edge chipping is visible along the bottom margin.

Provenance & Rarity

This piece originates from Bangkok, Thailand, distributed by Rex Motors and Tien Nguan Motors. Its rarity cannot be overstated. Advertisements from the Prince Motor Company prior to their 1966 absorption by Nissan are highly collectible globally. This specific artifact, however, serves as a localized commemorative piece for the December 1964 visit of Crown Prince Akihito to Thailand. The intersection of local Thai automotive history, Japanese Imperial history, and pre-merger Prince branding makes this a Class S archival document.

Rarity & Condition Summary

While the paper shows expected signs of aging inherent to 1960s mass-market printing, the historical context embedded within the text elevates the artifact tremendously. Surviving examples of temporary commemorative commercial ephemera from Southeast Asia are exceedingly uncommon. Rated Class S for its deep socio-political provenance and its preservation of the Prince marque's independent legacy.