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Media Analysis
Collectible Automobile’s 1974-83 Jeep Cherokee story avoids inconvenient questions
The February 2024 issue of Collectible Automobile has a story about the 1974-83 Jeep Cherokee. As is typical for this magazine, you will find lots of nice photos and a comprehensive recitation of product specifications […]
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 […]
Design Notes
Porsche 914 reflected an interesting theory that didn’t work as well in practice
Mid-engine sports cars were trendy in the late-1960s, so in theory it made sense that Porsche would come out with one given its background with rear engines. It also made sense that the maker of […]
Fake Design
Was the 1973-77 Chevrolet Monte Carlo’s styling ‘honest’?
(EXPANDED FROM 12/24/2021) Curbside Classic commentator XR7Matt (2014) offered a fascinating justification for the stylistic excesses of the 1973-77 Chevrolet Monte Carlo: “Space efficiency is marketing buzz that everyone has fallen for in recent years, it’s actual day […]
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
Is Tesla Cybertruck a brilliant breakthrough or a gimmick?
(EXPANDED FROM 3/12/2021) When Tesla’s Cybertruck was unveiled a few years ago, Electrek commentator Benjamin Winters (2021) dismissed the design as “objectively bad.” When he received pushback, Winters countered by arguing that “I’m an industrial […]
Letters to the Editor
Paul Niedermeyer updates his thinking on origins of 1962 Plymouth and Dodge
Paul Niedermeyer stopped by Indie Auto to share his current thinking about the downsizing of the 1962 Plymouth and Dodge. This is a response to a story we ran almost two years ago entitled, “Did […]
Letters to the Editor
U.S. automakers adapted to Brazilian market car designs from elsewhere
CP sent in the following letter, which may have been in response to our story, “Brazilian Volkswagens show automaker’s struggle for a post-Beetle look.” I have been following the Brazilian car scene for a few […]
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. […]