Ford asks Chevy to pull Super Bowl pickup ad, pressures NBC not to air

When this Chevrolet Super Bowl ad popped up Friday featuring a post-apocalyptic Silverado pickup and a sting at Ford, we noted it was a rare, but not unheard-of public joust between the two brands. Someone at Ford took it a little more personally: Not only did Ford ask General Motors to pull the ad, it pressured NBC to bench it from tonight's Super Bowl. The ad's still on.

In a statement released a few minutes ago, Chevrolet says Ford sent a cease and desist letter, demanding the spot showing Silverado owners munching Twinkies and mourning the non-survival of their Ford-owning buddy. A source familiar with the dispute says Ford also called on NBC to pull the $7 million, one-minute air time.

Joel Ewanick, GM Global Chief Marketing Officer, says Chevy was standing by its claims that the Silverado is "the most dependable, longest lasting full size pickup on the road."