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1970s
Quotes
Did 1971 Cadillac Eldorado get opera windows due to UAW strike against GM?
When Irv Rybicki was interviewed by Dave Crippen (1985) about his design career at General Motors, he told a story about how the 1971 Cadillac Eldorado supposedly got opera windows. The Monte Carlo was initially […]
Data Dive
1968 full-sized Mercury: A pioneer of brougham was overshadowed
(EXPANDED FROM 12/8/2023) One of my lingering questions from a Collectible Automobile story about the Mercury Park Lane was why it didn’t sell better in 1968 (Biel, 2021). This was arguably the first year that […]
Drive-By Musings
What do we mean when we talk about the premium-priced field?
An Indie Auto reader asked me to explain what I mean when referring to the premium-priced field. More specifically, how do I rank General Motors’ brand hierarchy — and where do I put Pontiac, Olds […]
History
Defective 1977-79 Continental Mark V showed how Lincoln lost its way
(EXPANDED FROM 4/5/2023) Some buyers of the 1977-79 Lincoln Mark V waited up to eight weeks to receive exclusive designer-series models . . . that turned out to have defective paint. At least that was […]
Photo Essay
Mid-1930s-to-70s design evolution shown at LeMay event
(EXPANDED FROM 1/1/2020) The Tacoma, Washington area has two car museums that are often confused. America’s Car Museum is located downtown in a fairly new building whereas the LeMay Collections at Marymount is eight miles […]
Media Analysis
Could American Motors have survived if it ditched passenger cars for Jeeps?
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 […]
Gallery
1973 Chevrolet Nova hatchback hints at GM’s neglect of its compacts
By 1973 the Chevrolet Nova was one of the oldest American cars on the market, but General Motors did give it some modest updates and a new hatchback. That would prove to be the only […]
Data Dive
1964-77 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu shows growth of mid-sized American cars
(EXPANDED FROM 11/2/2023) When the Chevrolet Chevelle was introduced in 1964, it was marketed as an “intermediate.” The term was awkward sounding but made some sense because the car was close to the mid-point in […]
Photo Essay
This small town is something of a working-class car museum
A huge sign in the center of Goldendale welcomes you to a “Sportsman’s PARADISE.” However, the city’s Chamber of Commerce insists that this has “Always Been A Car Town” (GCC, 2025). That’s partly because Goldendale […]