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HomeAuto culture

Auto culture

1981 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Ad Nauseam

DeBest ad for the 1981 Pontiac Trans Am that was never printed

June 17, 2026 Steve 2

(UPDATED FROM 7/17/2023) Pete DeBest thought he had it made. He followed his dad into the car business by landing a gig at Pontiac’s ad agency as a copy writer. Things went great at first. […]

1957 Nash Ambassador
Multimedia

Three videos: The death of car culture, rich people’s cars and the 1957 Nash

May 29, 2026 Steve 6

Our first video, from the YouTube channel America Revisited (2026), argues that the country’s car culture is dying off with the Baby Boomers. The video goes on to suggest that car culture was about “freedom […]

Parody ads about the auto industry and media
Our Sponsors

Collectible Cars: Is a strippo Chevy cool or uncool?

April 17, 2026 Steve 2
2026 GMC Yukon 4T4
Drive-By Musings

If you could have foreseen the future in high school, would today’s cars surprise you?

March 31, 2026 Steve 16

(EXPANDED FROM 11/1/2023) When this query was originally posted more than two years ago it elicited a fascinating range of responses. I have thus wondered if the passage of time might spur additional thoughts by […]

Data Dive

U.S. auto industry challenged by dramatic societal changes in postwar era

March 26, 2026 Steve 9

(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 […]

1976 AMC Gremlin
Media Analysis

How Stuff Works still embarrasses itself with a dumb 1970s car quiz

October 13, 2025 Steve 4

(EXPANDED FROM 10/10/2018) Seven years ago I came across an advertisement for a How Stuff Works quiz about vehicles from the 1970s (Tyler, 2018). The promo stated that “no one is getting a perfect score […]

1967 Dodge Charger
Media Analysis

Popular Mechanics got many things wrong about 1968 cars but one thing right

October 1, 2025 Steve 2

(EXPANDED FROM 1/18/2023) The June 1967 issue of Popular Mechanics was published only a few months prior to the beginning of the 1968 model year for U.S.-built cars. Even so, an article by Bob Irwin […]

1965 Pontiac Grand Prix rear
Photo Essay

LeMay’s 47th annual car show was a car-themed party for regular folks

August 31, 2025 Steve 5

Yesterday I made a pilgrimage to LeMay’s annual car show. Here I am talking about the one held by LeMay Collections at Marymount (2025a) rather than the other local venue, America’s Car Museum (2025). I […]

1999 Volkswagen Cabrio commercial
Multimedia

What’s been lost as car drivers have become more insulated from outside

August 26, 2025 Steve 8

(EXPANDED FROM 5/21/2024) A drive through a lovely rural area in Oregon reminded me of a Volkswagen Cabrio commercial from decades ago. The spot did an unusually good job of showing the sensuousness of driving. […]

Simcoe Cafe
Photo Essay

A golden opportunity to escape the rat race — if you don’t need it too badly

August 24, 2025 Steve 0

Recently Indie Auto posted a photo essay about the old cars of Goldendale, Washington. If you were intrigued by a small town that functions as a veritable automobile museum, let’s explore other aspects of this […]

Posts pagination

1 2 … 13 »
  • 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
Society of Automotive Historian award to Indie Auto

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