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HomeDealer networks

Dealer networks

1962 Plymouth
History

1962-64 Plymouth: The odd case of prescience interruptus

May 9, 2026 Steve 11

(EXPANDED FROM 8/25/2023) The 1962-64 Plymouth is one of the most prescient U.S. cars of the 1960s. Aside from the 1953 Plymouth, the 1962 redesign represented the first serious effort by a Big Three automaker […]

Fiat 128 photo by Rudolf Stricker
Links

Even in mid-70s Consumer Reports warned about spotty import dealer service

December 23, 2025 Steve 5

(UPDATED FROM 12/11/2023) The Consumer Reports 1975 Buying Guide was fairly positive about imported cars but cautioned about dealer service. The annual guide, which was published in December 1974, noted that some foreign brands had […]

1968 Plymouth VIP
History

1966-69 VIP: Why Plymouth couldn’t sell brougham

September 25, 2025 Steve 15

(EXPANDED FROM 3/7/2023) At least on paper, the VIP luxury series suggested that Plymouth was keeping up with the Chevrolet Caprice and Ford LTD in the late-60s. However, the car’s terrible sales suggest that something […]

2025 Toyota Tundras at dealer
Photo Essay

What is a Toyota dealer trying to sell us Americans?

September 7, 2025 Steve 7

I had to get my Toyota serviced this week, so let’s take a quick look at what the Japanese automaker is currently trying to sell us Americans. Of course, this is but one data point […]

1977ish Lincoln Continental Mark IV
History

Five ways Lee Iacocca contributed to the decline of Ford and Chrysler

September 4, 2025 Steve 13

(EXPANDED FROM 7/18/2023) Our discussion about the Ford Maverick got me thinking about Lee Iacocca. More than any other car, the Maverick reflected how Iacocca’s sensibility differed from that of Robert McNamara, the father of […]

Quotes

The plight of postwar car dealers sheds light on when seller’s market ended

May 3, 2025 Steve 5

The plight of postwar car dealers can shed light on when seller’s market ended. Charles E. Edwards’ (1965) book, Dynamics of the United States Automobile Industry, offered a scholarly dive into the data that included […]

1951 Nash Rambler grille
Data Dive

Implosion of early-1950s compacts hints at product-proliferation dangers

April 15, 2025 Steve 12

The most significant postwar trend among independent automakers was a rush to compact cars. Between 1950 and 1953 four automakers came out with new entries. This would prove to be a double-edged sword. On the […]

Chrysler dealer at night
Quotes

Peter DeLorenzo dunks on car dealers’ short-sighted greed

February 8, 2025 Steve 10

Peter DeLorenzo is back from a break in writing his column . . . and is in a foul mood. He is particularly critical of dealers being “insanely” optimistic in the wake of the Trump […]

Parody ads about the auto industry and media
Our Sponsors

Survey finds that dealers view Trump through rose-tinted glasses

January 27, 2025 Steve 0
1953 Plymouth
Fake Design

Six myths about the misunderstood 1953-54 Plymouth

July 19, 2024 Steve 20

(EXPANDED FROM 5/20/2022) Let’s take the time to unpack six myths about one of the most misunderstood post-war American cars — the 1953-54 Plymouth. This an important exercise because it brings to light some key […]

Posts pagination

1 2 3 »
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    Speedreaders.info is a rare source of book reviews, but quality varies
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  • 1958 Lincoln
    1958-60 Lincoln: Failing to beat GM at its own game
    June 2, 2026 15
  • 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
  • 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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