Bev and Bob Benter stand with the 1957 Ford Fairlane that found its way into a Pepsi commercial 20 years ago that aired during the Super Bowl. The filming of the commercial with Britney Spears was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the Benters as was the thrill of seeing their car in such a high-profile commercial. Super Bowl Sundays always bring back the memories. Photo by Dawn Rankins.
Benters’ Super Bowl moment
It was 20 Super Bowls ago that Canyon Lakers Bob and Bev Benter’s classic car could be spotted in the Britney Spears Pepsi commercial during the game’s broadcast.
Bob and Bev invited the Friday Flyer into their home to see their “car room,” a room filled with memories of the life they share and the many amazing journeys they have had with that 1957 Ford Fairlane.
The couple purchased the car back in 1986, shortly after moving to Canyon Lake.
Bob and Bev Benter stand with a poster with their classic ‘57 Ford Farlane featured in a Lucas Oil advertisement. The car has made it into three Lucas Oil commercials. Photo by Dawn Rankins.
Bev said when Bob was painting the car after they had purchased it, he began with a yellow coat and after seeing the bold color all she could say was, “what are you doing?” Then Bob put the white paint on the top portion of the car and she was thrilled with how their classic car looked. It’s been that same yellow and white ever since.
The car is supercharged with two four-barrel carburetors, so if the Benters wanted, they could haul some booty.
In addition to that Super Bowl XXXVI Pepsi commercial in 2002, the Benters’ car has appeared in three national commercials for Lucas Oil.
When the couple was at Hot August Nights in Reno in 2002, accepting yet another award for their car, a young man approached them and said he had seen their car with Britney Spears on a Pepsi billboard in Times Square in New York City.
Bev and Bob Benter’s classic yellow and white car, far left, sits at the set of a 1950s diner used for this Britney Spears Pepsi Super Bowl commercial broadcast 20 years ago. Britney Spears sang a Pepsi jingle during the 90-second commercial entitled, Pepsi – Now and Then.
Both Bob and Bev didn’t believe it at first and being new to computer technology, it took Bev a little time to do the research, but alas, she was able to pull up a photo of the billboard and was beyond excited to see their car sitting at a 50s diner just behind a smiling Britney Spears.
“Bob, there’s our car,” Bev remembers saying. “Can you believe it, we are on a billboard in Times Square.”
The Benters find passion and joy in sharing their story and showing off their car. Their car room is filled with trophies and ribbons from car shows through the years. They are members of the Canyon Lake Car Club and often participate in shows where Canyon Lakers can come see the car that 20 years ago made it into a Britney Spears Super Bowl commercial.