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Home1980s

1980s

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 […]

1979 Mercury Capri
Data Dive

When did the Ford Motor Company begin to ‘phone in’ the Mercury brand?

August 13, 2024 Steve 20

An Indie Auto reader recently inquired as to when the Ford Motor Company began to “phone in” the Mercury brand. Also asked: Why did Ford do this and was it ultimately a sound decision? Since […]

1982 Cadillac Cimarron
Ad Nauseam

If you had to write a 1982 Cadillac Cimarron ad what would you say?

August 8, 2024 Steve 5

Harry Waltz knew that, as the lowest guy on the totem poll, he would get stuck having to write the 1982 Cadillac Cimarron ads. He tried every trick in the book to avoid the inevitable, […]

1980 Chrysler Cordoba
Letters to the Editor

Reader defends Lee Iacocca and the second-generation Chrysler Cordoba

July 24, 2024 Steve 18

Indie Auto reader RI stopped by to respond to our story, “Four ways Lee Iacocca contributed to the decline of Ford and Chrysler.” You suggest above that Chrysler wasted money on the 1980 Cordoba/Mirada, when […]

1970 Toyota Corolla
Data Dive

Data on imports sheds light on their dramatic gains from 1964-80

July 10, 2024 Steve 4

A recent post on Ate Up With Motor’s Patreon page discusses the rise of the imports in the United States. Aaron Severson (2024) draws upon data he dug up from a report by the U.S. […]

1988 Oldsmobile Toronado
History

Did GM go too far in downsizing the 1986 Riviera, Toronado and Eldorado?

July 1, 2024 Steve 12

General Motors has been criticized for going too far in downsizing its 1986 E-body personal coupes, which included the Buick Riviera, Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado. Sales fell off a cliff, but they didn’t recover […]

Parody ads about the auto industry and media
Our Sponsors

Trending Books: The tragic story of the Corvette

May 16, 2024 Steve 0
1980 Buick Skylark
Links

New Yorker story shows difficulties of an outsider reporting on auto industry

April 25, 2024 Steve 5

Industry coverage by journalists from outside the automotive media can be a mixed bag. They are less likely to succumb to the groupthink that can undercut reporting from the likes of Automotive News or a […]

Parody ads about the auto industry and media
Our Sponsors

Book showcases 100 boring cars that nevertheless changed lives

April 23, 2024 Steve 0

Posts pagination

« 1 … 6 7 8 … 16 »
  • 1950 Nash Rambler hood ornament
    Speedreaders.info is a rare source of book reviews, but quality varies
    June 3, 2026 0
  • 1958 Lincoln
    1958-60 Lincoln: Failing to beat GM at its own game
    June 2, 2026 12
  • 1957 Nash Ambassador
    Three videos: The death of car culture, rich people’s cars and the 1957 Nash
    May 29, 2026 6
  • 1963 Mercury Marauder
    1963 Mercury Marauder: Ford tries to do a premium-priced car on the cheap
    May 27, 2026 11
  • Did 1964 Ramblers share more parts between size classes than competitors?
    May 26, 2026 1
  • 1976 Tatra T-613
    Tatra was yet another automaker that deemphasized aerodynamics by 1970s
    May 22, 2026 12
  • Patrick Foster shows how International Harvester failed to adapt
    May 13, 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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