Indie Auto

The good and bad of William Mitchell’s 1977 Pontiac Phantom

by Steve in Drive-By Musings 8

(EXPANDED FROM 12/18/2020) Indie Auto’s internet connection is finally working, so let’s take another look at William Mitchell’s swan song, the 1977 Pontiac Phantom. I must admit to feeling ambivalent about this concept car. Although it strikes me as one of the best-executed examples of the neoclassical look, the car’s dated qualities raise the question: Did [...]

1965-71 Pontiac ads tried to dazzle with hip sophistication

April 24, 2026 25

(UPDATED FROM 2/15/2024) I am knee-deep in a final round of packing and house painting right now, so how about following up our 1967 Grand Prix convertible story with a deeper look at the illustrations in Pontiac’s marketing. The images, [...]

1967 Pontiac Grand Prix convertible didn’t catch on

April 23, 2026 13

(EXPANDED FROM 9/1/2023) Albert Fredrick Godwin stopped by to point out that our featured 1967 Pontiac Grand Prix convertible was his car. He had displayed it at an annual auto show hosted by LeMay Collections in Marymount. [...]

1954 Chevrolet was beginning of the end for GM’s brand hierarchy

April 21, 2026 21

(EXPANDED FROM 3/1/2024) This article’s comment thread has had a recent uptick in discussion, so let’s add a bit more analysis. The 1954 Chevrolet’s greatest claim to fame — or, more accurately, infamy — was contributing to the demise [...]

Bigger didn’t prove to be better for General Motors in late-70s and 80s

April 17, 2026 44

(UPDATED FROM 12/30/2022) A few years ago we had a debate in a comment thread about the importance of scale in the U.S. auto industry (go here). I thought I would add another layer to the conversation by discussing the decline of General [...]

How much do Trump policies have to hurt auto industry before it supports Dems?

by Steve in Current Events 20

In early April the average new car price hit $50,729. This was an $820 jump in just 30 days. Meanwhile, first-quarter new car sales have slowed. A recent Automotive News (2026b) editorial claimed that “there is no doubt” rising prices have contributed to the sales decline. And in another unsigned editorial, the trade journal once again complained that [...]