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Home2025September

Month: September 2025

1965 Rambler Ambassador 990 convertible
Data Dive

Did the 1965-66 AMC Ambassador sell better when it had a unique snout?

September 19, 2025 Steve 4

In the “Story Ideas Bank” James Duvall suggested that Indie Auto look into whether the 1965-66 AMC Ambassador sold better when it had a unique snout. To be more specific, he asked: “Why didn’t the […]

Hyundai dealer at night
Current Events

Automotive News tries to tap its ruby slippers to make tariffs go away

September 18, 2025 Steve 2

A recent Automotive News (2025) editorial looked suspiciously like it was trying to tap its ruby slippers together to make tariffs go away. That may be a comforting fantasy out of The Wizard of Oz. […]

Auto history bookshelf
Media Analysis

Where do auto historians get their information?

September 17, 2025 Steve 4

(EXPANDED FROM 3/26/2021) The electronic forum of the Society of Automotive Historians has not managed to generate much activity, but one of its all-time, most-useful useful posts was instigated by Jvolgarino (2021). He asked how […]

1959 Cadillac
Gallery

1959 Cadillac epitomized what was wrong with U.S. car styling

September 16, 2025 Steve 13

The 1959 Cadillac may not have been the most excessive design to come out of the late-50s and early-60s, but I still think that it epitomized what was wrong with U.S. car styling. The new […]

1973 Buick Apollo
History

Would GM have done better in the 1960s and 1970s under Alfred Sloan?

September 15, 2025 Steve 18

(EXPANDED FROM 1/19/2022) In a discussion about market segmentation a few years ago, DECG50 asked a good question: Would General Motors have been more disciplined if Alfred Sloan still headed the automaker in the 1960s? […]

Peace Arch
Photo Essay

Road builder Sam Hill championed the Peace Arch between the U.S. and Canada

September 14, 2025 Steve 0

A while back we talked about Sam Hill, a champion of Pacific Northwest road building. He also helped to create monuments such as the Peace Arch. This is an installation on the western-most border between […]

1957 Lincoln
Quotes

If you think the 1957 Lincoln looks bad, picture the tailfins being even taller

September 13, 2025 Steve 4

When John Najjar was tapped to head the Lincoln brand’s design studio, one of his first projects was to complete the 1957 models. In an oral history conducted by David R. Crippen and Douglas A. […]

1948 Studebaker
Ad Nauseam

Ad man struggles with what to do about a 1948 Studebaker and a wiener

September 12, 2025 Steve 1

Howard Boyce’s caterpillar-shaped eyebrows shot skyward when he was shown the latest draft of a 1948 Studebaker ad. “How could you waste such terrific artwork on such boring copy?” he stammered. His boss was used […]

2008 Scion xB
Design Notes

Toyota ruined the Scion xB by making it too big

September 11, 2025 Steve 11

(EXPANDED FROM 1/22/2021) Toyota has had an enviably strong track record here in the United States, but it has had a few misses. They include its mishandling of the ill-fated Scion subbrand. Although one could […]

1941 Plymouth
Links

George Walker predicted in 1940 a space-age version of a 1960s camper van

September 10, 2025 Steve 4

(EXPANDED FROM 6/1/2023) The November 1940 issue of Popular Mechanics included an article about the just-introduced 1941 car models. However, curiously enough, Detroit’s latest wares were overshadowed by a cover story about the “automobiles of […]

Posts pagination

« 1 2 3 »
  • Is Jaguar smart to run away from its design heritage?
    October 8, 2026 20
  • AMC Pacer clay model
    Why does Joe Ligo’s PBS series sanewash AMC’s mid-70s recklessness?
    October 6, 2026 20
  • 2026 Ram pickups
    A pyrrhic regulatory rollback and how poorly the 1978 Matador coupe sold
    October 2, 2026 12
  • 1962 Chrysler 300
    Did the 1962-65 Chrysler 300 ‘dilute’ the letter series?
    September 29, 2026 7
  • 1968 Ford Mustang
    Three rules led to a stultifying level of conformity in 1960s U.S. car design
    September 24, 2026 12
  • 1976ish Toyota Corolla
    Data on imports sheds light on their dramatic gains from 1964-80
    September 18, 2026 5
  • 1974 Chrysler New Yorker
    1974 Chrysler New Yorker was a tragedy that played out on four levels
    September 16, 2026 16
  • Internet problems reminded me of U.S. automakers in the 1970s
    May 2, 2026 1
  • 1956 Buick hood scoop
    Readers brainstorm ideas for future Indie Auto stories
    October 14, 2022 141
Society of Automotive Historian award to Indie Auto

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