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HomeGeneral Motors

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Trending Books: The inside story of The Studly One

October 16, 2025 Steve 0
1954 Ford ad
Data Dive

Was the ‘Ford blitz’ to blame for the collapse of independent automakers?

October 2, 2025 Steve 45

(UPDATED FROM 10/28/2022) If I had to pick a favorite Indie Auto story, this one would be in my top five. It is one of the longest pieces I have written — roughly 4,600 words […]

1967 Dodge Charger
Media Analysis

Popular Mechanics got many things wrong about 1968 cars but one thing right

October 1, 2025 Steve 2

(EXPANDED FROM 1/18/2023) The June 1967 issue of Popular Mechanics was published only a few months prior to the beginning of the 1968 model year for U.S.-built cars. Even so, an article by Bob Irwin […]

1959 Cadillac
Quotes

Reader complains about our criticism of the 1959 Cadillac

September 27, 2025 Steve 0

Jane stopped by to complain about our criticism of the 1959 Cadillac in a recent story (go here). She wrote: “Deride the ’59 Cadillac all you want but it’s considered an iconic American car and […]

1968 Plymouth VIP
History

1966-69 VIP: Why Plymouth couldn’t sell brougham

September 25, 2025 Steve 15

(EXPANDED FROM 3/7/2023) At least on paper, the VIP luxury series suggested that Plymouth was keeping up with the Chevrolet Caprice and Ford LTD in the late-60s. However, the car’s terrible sales suggest that something […]

1959 Cadillac
Letters to the Editor

That night when Cadillac lost its mind

September 21, 2025 Steve 2

CaptainMyCaptain graciously shared the following transcripts from his files, dated late 1956, Detroit, MI. This was in response to our story, “1959 Cadillac epitomized what was wrong with U.S. car styling.” I. “Have you seen […]

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? […]

1953 Chrysler Town & Country rear quarter
Gallery

1953 Chrysler Town & Country was the granddaddy of today’s large SUVs

August 28, 2025 Steve 0

The 1953 Chrysler Town & Country wagon was one of the more obscure cars of the early postwar period, but it was essentially the granddaddy of today’s large sport-utility vehicles. Not the only one, but […]

Readings

Ed Cray’s ‘Chrome Colossus’ offers a masterful history of General Motors

August 25, 2025 Steve 2

(EXPANDED FROM 1/2/2021) Ed Cray’s history of General Motors is one of the better automotive books in my library. A big reason why is that Chrome Colossus: General Motors and its Times eschewed the usual […]

Posts pagination

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  • Is Jaguar smart to run away from its design heritage?
    October 8, 2026 21
  • 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
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