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HomeDesign excesses

Design excesses

1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Data Dive

Which high-performance pony cars sold best in the early-1970s?

October 25, 2024 Steve 5

(EXPANDED FROM 5/2/2023) When car enthusiasts talk about high-end pony cars, they tend to focus on which ones were the fastest or won the most races. I would like to focus on a nerdier question: […]

1958 Chevrolet Impala front quarter
Gallery

Redesigned 1958 Chevrolet was sort-of successful in pushing back against Ford

October 11, 2024 Steve 18

Ford’s aggressive efforts to retake the top-selling crown from Chevrolet reached a crescendo in the 1957 model year, when it out-produced its rival by more than 170,000 units. Ford’s main advantage was a new body […]

Parody ads about the auto industry and media
Our Sponsors

Mitsubishi Outlander shows America how an SUV can be downright beautiful

September 20, 2024 Steve 0
1971 Mercury Cougar front
Letters to the Editor

Reader insists that the 1971 Mercury Cougar ‘wasn’t ugly at all’

September 12, 2024 Steve 3

KH stopped by to respond to our story, “Collectible Automobile sheds little light on why 1971 Mercury Cougar was ugly.” It wasn’t ugly at all. It looks much better than all the other “cookie cutter” […]

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 […]

2024 Mazda Miata
Drive-By Musings

If you dislike recent styling trends does that mean you only like old cars?

September 7, 2024 Steve 10

Jim stopped by to respond to our story, “Styling comparison: C8 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray versus the original.” He wrote: “I think it would be nice to know which modern sports cars, if any, you do […]

2022 Chevrolet Corvette front
Design Notes

Styling comparison: C8 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray versus the original

September 5, 2024 Steve 17

(UPDATED FROM 10/19/2022) When I finally saw a new mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette Stingray in the wild a few years ago I wondered why General Motors called it a Corvette. The so-called C8 generation is simply […]

1975 AMC Pacer X
Links

Popular Mechanics gives AMC one last chance to spin the Pacer before its launch

August 2, 2024 Steve 4

The January 1975 issue of Popular Mechanics offered a breathless peek at a new generation of smaller cars that would supposedly be “big on the inside but small outside.” Although the story included sketches of […]

1955 Hudson
Data Dive

Why did the Nash-based 1955 Hudson sell so poorly?

July 23, 2024 Steve 21

(EXPANDED FROM 1/13/2023) Last year a reader contributed a good question for our “Story Ideas Bank” — Why was the new-for-1955, Nash-based Hudson not successful? After all, the reader noted, the Hudson “had up-to-date and […]

1974 full-sized low-priced cars
History

1974 AMC Ambassador: Was its styling ruined by bumper regs?

July 15, 2024 Steve 7

(EXPANDED FROM 9/11/2020) Readers of Indie Auto can offer feedback either by commenting or by sending a direct message here. A few years ago a reader used the latter route to vigorously defend the looks […]

Posts pagination

« 1 … 8 9 10 … 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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