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The question of whether size matters when it comes to auto safety has a long history
The argument that big vehicles are safer than small ones has been floating around since imports first made inroads in the U.S. during the late-1950s. For example, in 1958 Road & Track magazine quoted the […]
Satire
1950-51 Studebaker was ‘pinnacle of postwar styling’ that could have saved automaker
Now that The Truth About Cars is publishing stories developed with artificial intelligence, Indie Auto has no choice but to keep up with the competition. We have thus created a new feature called “The AI […]
Media Analysis
Curbside Classic commentators tease out undiscussed aspects of 1950s independents
One of the best parts of Curbside Classic is the comment section. For example, a story about the 1961 Studebaker Lark had a wide-ranging discussion about why why American Motors did better than Studebaker-Packard in […]
Design Notes
One of Hudson’s fatal mistakes was the 1951-54 Hollywood hardtop
(EXPANDED FROM 5/31/2021) A few years ago I stumbled across the Hudson Motor Car Fan Club. Its Facebook page didn’t offer much historical analysis but did have some cool photographs. I was particularly taken by […]
Design Notes
1961-63 Imperial: Ode to Virgil Exner’s neo-classical excesses
(EXPANDED FROM 3/19/2021) Virgil Exner was a champion of neo-classical styling throughout his career. His best designs were arguably a handful of 1950s Chrysler show cars but his most influential work didn’t come until later. […]
Current Events
Would William Mitchell have cared if auto-accident repair became too costly?
Peter DeLorenzo (2023) continues to insist that design is the “Ultimate Initial Product Differentiator” in the American automobile market. Among “mainstream” vehicles he singles out the Cadillac Lyriq for bringing “high-concept executions to the street.” […]
History
Why V8 engines were less important in the 1950s than commonly believed
(UPDATED FROM 10/23/2023) One of the most pervasive myths in U.S. automotive history is that a V8 engine became essential to an automaker’s success in the first half of the 1950s. This narrative is summed […]
History
Who were the five worst leaders of postwar U.S. automakers?
(UPDATED FROM 5/7/2021) Warren Buffett has argued that the Number 1 problem a company can face is choosing the wrong chief executive officer. Buffett, who is CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has said that over the […]
Letters to the Editor
Did Great Depression, path dependency color independents’ postwar choices?
DECG50Â offered an intriguing response to our article, “Did early-postwar independent automakers try too hard to be different?” I’m front-paging the comment to give it wider attention. I wonder if the lingering effects of the depression […]