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1950s
Readings
Patrick Foster shows how International Harvester failed to adapt
(UPDATED FROM 9/4/2020) International Harvester is the post-war U.S. automaker that has received the least attention from historians. Thus, Patrick Foster’s book, International Harvester: The Complete Story, is a particularly welcome addition. The format is […]
Design Notes
1966 Mercury Colony Park wagon was an unsung bright spot for the brand
(EXPANDED FROM 10/7/2022) Mercury’s Colony Park never got much attention, but it saw steadily increasing sales through the second half of the 1960s. For example, in 1966 almost 19,000 of the top-of-line Mercury wagons were […]
Literature
1965-71 Pontiac ads tried to dazzle with hip sophistication
(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 […]
History
1954 Chevrolet was beginning of the end for GM’s brand hierarchy
(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 […]
Links
Might Detroit have embraced front-wheel drive earlier if McNamara had stayed at Ford?
(UPDATED FROM 1/16/2024) The Chrysler Corporation’s decision to shrink its big Plymouth and Dodge for 1962 occurred at a tumultuous time — the U.S. auto industry was reportedly considering even more dramatic changes due to […]
Drive-By Musings
Why the 1968-69 Javelin was not Richard Teague’s best AMC sporty coupe
In a comment thread to a recent story we have debated whether the original Javelin was Richard Teague’s best sporty coupe design. I would like to flesh out my rationale for why it wasn’t. This […]
Letters to the Editor
Reader argues that success of GM’s hierarchy of brands was ‘dumb luck’
Indie Auto reader Captain My Captain recently weighed in on our story, “How might GM have better adapted its hierarchy of brands to changing times?” He offers an unusually in-depth and colorful assessment, so I […]
Data Dive
U.S. auto industry challenged by dramatic societal changes in postwar era
(UPDATED FROM 1/25/2024) A few years ago Indie Auto reader Constant Reader suggested in the “Story Ideas Bank” the following scenario: “You’re 25 & just bought your first new Chevy, at what ages and which […]
Drive-By Musings
How might GM have better adapted its hierarchy of brands to changing times?
Michael Karesh (2026) stopped by to comment on our review of Thomas Bonsall’s book about the Edsel. I think that Karesh makes an important point about General Motors’ handling of its passenger-car brands. Thus, I […]