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Year: 2025
Quotes
How Ford responded to safety issues with the original Econoline van
Indie Auto reader James E. Duvall recently commented about how the Falcon-based Econoline van and truck had such a front-end weight bias that they could flip on their front end under intense braking unless there […]
Drive-By Musings
Let’s grade William Mitchell’s 1970s car designs
William Mitchell was vice president of design at General Motors from December 1958 through July 1977 (Wikipedia, 2025). I have previously raised the question of whether he stayed in his position too long (go here). […]
Media Analysis
Motor Trend’s take on AMC’s decline shows limitations of auto punditry
The May 1966 issue of Motor Trend included an unusually long article about the woes of American Motors. The piece was written by Editor Donald Mac Donald, so presumably it displayed the magazine’s most sophisticated […]
Current Events
Of bold predictions and an increasingly dicey EV future in the U.S.
In the latest of a series of stories about Tesla’s declining fortunes, Automotive News quoted an analyst with a cheery view of the future. “I believe the controversy surrounding Elon and Tesla will persist for […]
Design Notes
Which looked better: Exner’s 1966 Duesenberg or 1971-87 Stutz Blackhawk?
(UPDATED FROM 9/20/2021) A few years back Hemmings published a for-sale ad about a 1966 Duesenberg prototype designed by Virgil Exner (Stohl, 2017). The car shared major styling themes with another one Exner subsequently designed — […]
Gallery
ID. Buzz shows how VW has rejected qualities that made the Microbus iconic
At the auto show I attended last fall, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz appeared to generate considerable attention. Even so, sales are reportedly so sluggish that “huge discounts” are being offered. One factor could be buyer […]
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Photo Essay
Automotive deaths: Where are our memorials?
(EXPANDED FROM 7/31/2020) I have driven past the above-shown memorial for so many years that I was surprised to see it gone last summer, presumably because of a road-improvement project. While making this stretch of […]
Links
Trade expert says Trump’s on-and-off tariffs create business uncertainty
A few days ago economist Paul Krugman (2025) asked tariff and trade expert Mary Lovely for her take on the Trump administration’s recent actions. Her responses in a question-and-answer interview were eye opening. One of […]