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HomeDesign

Design

1971 AMC Gremlin and VW Beetle front
Design Notes

Richard Teague’s styling helped to kill American Motors

December 20, 2024 Steve 28

(EXPANDED FROM 3/19/2021) This story has received more reader pushback than almost any other single piece that I have published in Indie Auto. Even so, I think that it epitomizes what this blog is all […]

Oldsmobile's ads were more innovative than the cars
Media Analysis

Did Oldsmobile revolutionize the car industry?

December 17, 2024 Steve 21

(EXPANDED FROM 10/31/2022) The automotive media tends to treat orphaned American brands with extra enthusiastic pom-pom waving. An example of the genre is Mark J. McCourt’s (2020) Hemmings article about Oldsmobile. He breathlessly insisted that […]

1970 Plymouth 'Cuda rear quarter
Gallery

1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda had a jump-the-shark quality

December 14, 2024 Steve 4

I just finished transferring my photo collection to a new program, so I thought I would play around with the controls. What better way to do it than by editing pictures of a 1970 Plymouth […]

Design Notes

Ford did better than Chrysler in differentiating its 1970s mid-sized coupes

December 13, 2024 Steve 13

(EXPANDED FROM 5/14/2021) A few years ago CJ and Geeber commented that the 1975 Dodge Charger would have worked better if it had been given the more distinctive design of the 1978 Magnum XE. That’s […]

Heat pump condenser
Letters to the Editor

Reader says new ‘jaGuar’ elevates ‘everyday items’ as works of art

December 10, 2024 Steve 0

Indie Auto reader MB sent in a letter to the editor in response to our story, “Jaguar Type 00’s design masterfully cures Great Britain’s industrial disease.” Yes, I agree that the new jaGuar design is […]

Satire

Jaguar Type 00’s design masterfully cures Great Britain’s ‘industrial disease’

December 9, 2024 Steve 5

Jaguar has been heavily criticized for a rebranding effort that has culminated in the unveiling of the Type 00 concept car. While I get that complainers will complain, somebody needs to cut through the noise […]

Parody ads about the auto industry and media
Our Sponsors

New book captures the excitement of a beloved era in US auto design

December 5, 2024 Steve 0
1976 AMC Pacer X
Media Analysis

Designer Bob Nixon distanced himself from the ill-fated AMC Pacer

December 2, 2024 Steve 7

(UPDATED FROM 10/4/2014) Collectible Automobile’s interviews can be a valuable means of documenting automotive history, but they can also lead us astray due to inaccuracies. For one thing, the memories of key participants can fade […]

Dodge Powerwagon
Photo Essay

Port Townsend: The American dream’s new — and old — end of the road

November 26, 2024 Steve 0

(EXPANDED FROM 5/28/2021) Some say that the American dream ends in the sun-drenched surf of California. That may have been the case in years gone by, but not anymore. In 2020 California recorded a net […]

Current Events

Why do Japanese automakers continue to make their vehicles look so scary?

November 22, 2024 Steve 4

My biggest takeaway from a trip to the 2024 Seattle auto show last week was how automakers continue to try to outdo each other in making their cars and trucks looks scary. Why? Clotaire Rapaille, […]

Posts pagination

« 1 … 16 17 18 … 43 »
  • 2006-7 Dodge Charger
    2006-2010 Dodge Charger: A cartoonish attempt at rip-roaring nostalgia
    June 5, 2026 4
  • 1950 Nash Rambler hood ornament
    Speedreaders.info is a rare source of book reviews, but quality varies
    June 3, 2026 0
  • 1958 Lincoln
    1958-60 Lincoln: Failing to beat GM at its own game
    June 2, 2026 13
  • 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
Society of Automotive Historian award to Indie Auto

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