I think it goes back way farther than that. Look at car ads from the 1950s and 60s, for example. They give off that romantic vibe.

No doubt. I was thinking Volkswagen, but I'm not sure if that was about love so much as just evoking emotion and humour with design. Apple is the earliest I can relate to at least. My first 13" Mackbook Air was perfect. You definitely see people who cherish their car (Ferris Bueller Ferrari comes to mind).