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Year: 2024
Media Analysis
Collectible Automobile sheds little light on why 1971 Mercury Cougar was ugly
When I saw that the 1971 Mercury Cougar was on the cover of the latest Collectible Automobile issue, I was particularly curious about one thing: Did Semon Knudsen have much influence on the car’s huge […]
Links
Popular Mechanics gives AMC one last chance to spin the Pacer before its launch
The January 1975 issue of Popular Mechanics offered a breathless peek at a new generation of smaller cars that would supposedly be “big on the inside but small outside.” Although the story included sketches of […]
History
When should U.S. automakers have begun producing a domestic subcompact?
We’ve had a robust discussion about when American automakers should have begun producing a domestic subcompact in the comment thread of “Aaron Severson’s Ford Cardinal story challenges auto history field.” I would like to bring […]
Data Dive
Did the 1960-64 big Ford sell so poorly because of cannibalization?
Aaron Severson (2009) has argued that when Ford added the Falcon and Fairlane in the early-60s, they did well initially but “total sales during that period remained almost flat.” In other words, the brand suffered […]
Media Analysis
Aaron Severson’s Ford Cardinal story challenges auto history field
A few days ago Aaron Severson (2024) posted an epic story about the aborted Ford Cardinal. His 22,000-word piece deepens the dialogue about this important car. In a moment we will debate some of his […]
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Letters to the Editor
Reader defends Lee Iacocca and the second-generation Chrysler Cordoba
Indie Auto reader RI stopped by to respond to our story, “Four ways Lee Iacocca contributed to the decline of Ford and Chrysler.” You suggest above that Chrysler wasted money on the 1980 Cordoba/Mirada, when […]
Data Dive
Why did the Nash-based 1955 Hudson sell so poorly?
(EXPANDED FROM 1/13/2023) Last year a reader contributed a good question for our “Story Ideas Bank” — Why was the new-for-1955, Nash-based Hudson not successful? After all, the reader noted, the Hudson “had up-to-date and […]
Fake Design
Six myths about the misunderstood 1953-54 Plymouth
(EXPANDED FROM 5/20/2022) Let’s take the time to unpack six myths about one of the most misunderstood post-war American cars — the 1953-54 Plymouth. This an important exercise because it brings to light some key […]