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2020s
Multimedia
Satire of a 1960 VW ad essentially mimics marketing for U.S. compacts
(EXPANDED FROM 3/20/2023) Back in 1963, advertising executive Fred Manley presented a slide show parody about how to improve Volkswagen’s legendary “Think small” ad. The “best practices” he presented look hilariously misguided when applied to […]
Photo Essay
Rat Kool Garage doubles as a rather quirky car museum
(EXPANDED FROM 1/10/2023) Head out of Raymond, Washington on Route 6 (Wikipedia, 2020) and you cannot miss seeing an unusual assortment of old cars parked in front of the Rat Kool Garage & Customs. Among […]
Current Events
Richard Truett’s plan to ‘rescue’ the VW ID. Buzz thinks too big
Automotive News reporter Richard Truett (2025) recently recommended how Volkswagen could “rescue” the ID. Buzz, which is off to a slow start in sales. In a piece labeled a “Comment,” Truett argued that under current […]
Photo Essay
Here is one roadside attraction I didn’t just slow down for
When driving up the Quinault River Valley last summer I came across a homemade “go-slow” sign that was unusually clever. Not only that, but a pond on one side of the road was decorated with […]
Design Notes
Will cars with ‘crying-eyes’ styling withstand the test of time?
(EXPANDED FROM 2/18/2022) The automotive media tend to treat even the ugliest styling trends like the courtiers who ignore when the emperor has no clothes. I thus found it refreshing to see Sajeev Mehta critique […]
Multimedia
Two vlogs have strikingly similar takes on 1953 Studebaker Loewy coupes
I have been fairly critical of auto history YouTube channels, so I thought I would acknowledge what seemed to be a fairly good analysis of the 1953 Studebaker “Loewy coupes.” The King of Classic Cars […]
Current Events
Debate over whether CAFE killed the small car in the U.S. may be moot
Indie Auto reader Troy linked to a provocative comment by bzcat (2025) at Blue Oval Forums about why small cars have disappeared from the U.S. market. Here’s what he has to say: “Americans like small […]
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 […]
Drive-By Musings
Why does the U.S. have a far higher traffic-death rate than France?
In the late-1970s the U.S. and France had roughly similar traffic-death rates. However, in recent years the two countries have diverged to such as degree that by 2021 French people were three times less likely […]