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HomeDesign excesses

Design excesses

1938 Graham sharknose front
Fake Design

The 1938-40 Graham didn’t just fail because of ‘sharknose’ styling

February 10, 2023 Steve 4

(EXPANDED FROM 1/15/2021) The 1938-40 Graham is a popular topic in the auto history media because of the car’s infamous “sharknose” styling. What gets little, if any, attention is that even if the design had […]

1966 Studebaker Sceptre taillights
Media Analysis

Accounts of Brooks Stevens’s Studebaker Sceptre and siblings can vary

February 3, 2023 Steve 13

Dean’s Garage has reposted a Hemmings story about a number of proposed Studebakers designed by Brooks Stevens. Daniel Strohl (2023) primarily focused on the Sceptre, a replacement for the ancient Hawk. I find the photographs […]

1955 Packard 400 taillight
Letters to the Editor

Reader offers his perspective on why Packard died

January 26, 2023 Steve 8

Indie Auto has received a pair of comments from a reader we will call D.B. His first comment was in response to our story, “The 1955 Packard’s styling was an evolutionary dead end.” D.B.’s second […]

Parody ads about the auto industry and media
Our Sponsors

Collectible Cars: If you had to choose one?

December 9, 2022 Steve 0
2020 GMC pickup
Quotes

Designer of 2020 GMC Sierra HD strived for a ‘pissed-off feel’

November 28, 2022 Steve 2

“I already had an idea of what I wanted to convey. A lot of inspirations were locomotives, really high-end and futuristic military equipment, NASA, and really high-tech objects. . . . The front end was […]

2013 Infiniti Q50 headlight
Design Notes

2013 Infiniti G50: How to overdo a promising design

November 7, 2022 Steve 3

(EXPANDED FROM 3/29/2016) Nissan Motor Company has had bursts of design brilliance. For example, the 2007-2013 Infiniti G-series sedans were downright elegant in their subtlety (Wikipedia, 2022a). Alas, when it was time for an updated […]

Parody ads about the auto industry and media
Our Sponsors

Automotive Views: Luxury brands race to enter promising new market

October 21, 2022 Steve 0
Ed's Auto Reviews 1959 GM car
Multimedia

Ed’s Auto Reviews offers a lite but fun take on automotive history

October 10, 2022 Steve 8

A kind reader recently informed me about Ed’s Auto Reviews. These are relatively short videos on YouTube that cover a broad range of auto history topics. For example, a recently posted episode called “Mistake of […]

1958 Studebaker front
Letters to the Editor

1958 Studebaker’s styling was ‘quite in line’ with the Big Three’s

September 27, 2022 Steve 19

Peter recently submitted a comment that took to task our article, “1958 Studebaker: Honesty is the best policy.” One part of his critique was that I “mis-quoted facts.” I strive to be accurate — particularly […]

Parody ads about the auto industry and media
Our Sponsors

Auto & Debt magazine road tests the new standard in camping trucks

September 23, 2022 Steve 0

Posts pagination

« 1 … 13 14 15 … 20 »
  • 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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