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HomeMedia Analysis

Media Analysis

Auto history bookshelf
Media Analysis

Where do auto historians get their information?

September 17, 2025 Steve 4

(EXPANDED FROM 3/26/2021) The electronic forum of the Society of Automotive Historians has not managed to generate much activity, but one of its all-time, most-useful useful posts was instigated by Jvolgarino (2021). He asked how […]

Media Analysis

David Burrell’s take on the 1962 Dodge and Plymouth got only partway there

September 8, 2025 Steve 4

(EXPANDED FROM 5/11/2022) Back in 2019 David Burrell wrote one of the better overviews of the downsized 1962 Dodge and Plymouth. However, he went astray on some important details. Unlike some other historical accounts, Burrell (2019) […]

1958 Ford Skyliner
Media Analysis

Is Jim and Cheryl Farrell’s critique of the 1958 Ford’s styling unfair?

August 21, 2025 Steve 17

(UPDATED FROM 10/7/2022) Did the facelifted 1958 Fords have less-attractive styling than the all-new 1957 models? Jim and Cheryl Farrell (2022) suggested in a Dean’s Garage story that the answer is yes. Indeed, they concluded […]

1967 Pontiac Grand Parisienne
Media Analysis

Popular Science’s predictions for 1967 cars weren’t always on target

August 11, 2025 Steve 4

(UPDATED FROM 5/19/2021) The July 1966 issue of Popular Science breathlessly predicted what U.S. automakers had planned for the next model year. Even though introductions were only a few months away, a surprising number of […]

1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Media Analysis

Could American Motors have survived if it ditched passenger cars for Jeeps?

July 18, 2025 Steve 8

In conjunction with his recent Public Broadcasting series on American Motors, Joe Ligo (2025) wrote a provocative article for Hagerty. He wondered whether AMC might have survived for at least a while longer if it […]

2018 Fiat 124 and kid
Media Analysis

How come a car that goes 0-60 in 9.7 seconds is now so terrible?

July 10, 2025 Steve 13

(EXPANDED FROM 2/3/2022) The attention economy can be unforgiving, so it makes sense that auto media outlets would be aggressive in marketing their content. For example, the other day Rob Delisa submitted a comment to […]

1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am front quarter
Media Analysis

Does a decline in car design — and car culture — mirror a decline in America?

June 27, 2025 Steve 3

American car-buff media tend to talk down to their readers to the point where I sometimes wonder whether editors — or at least their overseers on the business side — think we’re just a bunch […]

Media Analysis

Automotive News staff struggle to transcend paper’s checkered past

May 30, 2025 Steve 2

The May 19th print edition of Automotive News ran two commentaries that debated California’s ability regulate pollution caused by the automobile industry. In the first commentary, Reporter Larry P. Vellequette (2025) acknowledged that the industry […]

Media Analysis

Do car ads need to talk down to people in order to be engaging?

May 22, 2025 Steve 6

One of the laziest kinds of clickbait in the auto history media are posts of old advertisements, commercials and various types of marketing videos. All too often the text that accompanies the ads could be […]

Automotive News April 28, 2025
Media Analysis

Automotive News declared war on Trump tariffs but only brought a squirt gun

May 13, 2025 Steve 3

Automotive News’ April 28 front page reminded me of a daily newspaper announcing the start of a war. Rather than the usual assortment of product launches and resume-polishing profiles of auto executives, the industry journal […]

Posts pagination

« 1 2 3 … 13 »
  • 1965 Studebaker Cruiser proposal
    Car Life speculates about why Studebaker shut down its South Bend plant
    July 17, 2026 8
  • 1956 Lincoln
    The 1956 Lincoln’s styling proved to be a one-year wonder
    July 17, 2026 18
  • 1975 Mercedes-Benz 450 SL
    1975 Mercedes-Benz 450 SL lacked the taut brilliance of its predecessor
    July 14, 2026 6
  • 1988 Oldsmobile Toronado
    Did GM go too far in downsizing the 1986 Riviera, Toronado and Eldorado?
    July 10, 2026 16
  • J. 'Kelly' Flory Jr.
    J. ‘Kelly’ Flory Jr.’s American Cars series is pricey but valuable
    July 10, 2026 4
  • 1968 Pontiac Firebird green convertible
    1967-72 Pontiac Firebird shows limits of ad illustrations
    July 7, 2026 10
  • Miscellaneous ramblings about being on the road
    June 25, 2026 5
  • 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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