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Home1970s

1970s

1968 Chevrolet Impala taillights
Design Notes

1968 Chevrolet Impala shows how much American cars changed in 10 years

October 24, 2024 Steve 4

We recently took a look at a 1958 Impala, so let’s fast forward 10 years. The 1968 Impala illustrates how much the U.S. auto industry had changed in one decade. The 1968 Impala was almost […]

1968 Imperial Crown Coupe
Gallery

Why did the 1968 Imperial sell so poorly in a booming market?

October 4, 2024 Steve 28

The domestic luxury-car field saw output rise by a healthy 11 percent in 1968, but the Imperial went in the opposite direction — down by almost 13 points. At least on paper, the Imperial should […]

1966 Oldsmobile Toronado
Links

Motor Trend’s predictions in late-1964 were decidedly hit and miss

October 2, 2024 Steve 7

Motor Trend’s November 1964 issue predicted a few things that didn’t happen. They included: Of these two items, a sporty Pontiac sounded more plausible — and perhaps reflected an effort by the likes of John […]

Media Analysis

How good were the top automotive journalists of the past?

September 25, 2024 Steve 3

Jim Volgarino recently suggested in our “Story Ideas” bank that we take a closer look at the top automotive journalists of the past: “I think Tom McCahill began the long line of auto writers that […]

Collectible Automobile covers
Media Analysis

What kind of cars does — and doesn’t — Collectible Automobile put on its cover?

September 16, 2024 Steve 11

Stéphane Dumas (2024) recently commented that “it would have been a shock if a car from the 1980s” was on the cover of Collectible Automobile magazine. The newest model he could remember was a 1975 […]

1971 Mercury Cougar front
Letters to the Editor

Reader insists that the 1971 Mercury Cougar ‘wasn’t ugly at all’

September 12, 2024 Steve 3

KH stopped by to respond to our story, “Collectible Automobile sheds little light on why 1971 Mercury Cougar was ugly.” It wasn’t ugly at all. It looks much better than all the other “cookie cutter” […]

1960 Ford wagon
History

In 1974 Harry Bradley anticipated the American wagon’s future

September 10, 2024 Steve 7

(EXPANDED FROM 11/9/2022) A few years ago Dean’s Garage reprinted a prescient essay Harry Bradley (2022) wrote way back in 1974 about the future of the American station wagon. His article made a number of […]

1985 Renault Alliance convertible
Links

Motor Trend tries to put a positive spin on Renault bailing out American Motors

September 9, 2024 Steve 2

A 1980 Motor Trend story on the tie up between American Motors and Renault had a few intriguing wrinkles scattered among all the puffery. For example, Fred M. H. Gregory reported that AMC was close […]

1968 AMC AMX
Fake Design

1968-70 AMX was American Motors’ answer to a question nobody asked

September 3, 2024 Steve 15

(EXPANDED FROM 3/24/2023) Our recent discussion about a smaller, more internationally-flavored Ford Mustang led me to expand on a previously-posted story about the 1968-70 AMX. American Motors was arguably in a better position than Ford […]

Fake Design

Would the 1969 Ford Mustang have sold better if it had been smaller?

August 27, 2024 Steve 21

J P Cavanaugh’s (2024) story about the 1969 Ford Mustang got me thinking about this hotly debated car. I say “hotly debated” because the comment thread of this reposted Curbside Classic article is filled with […]

Posts pagination

« 1 … 18 19 20 … 42 »
  • 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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