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HomeJohn A. Heitmann

John A. Heitmann

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 […]

1961 De Soto
Multimedia

Video histories of DeSoto and American Motors aren’t as good as books

February 24, 2026 Steve 3

YouTube videos may bring auto history to a broader range of people, but they generally still aren’t as good as books. As a case in point, let’s take a look at a video about the […]

BMW customized
Photo Essay

Why don’t more people customize the paint schemes on their vehicles?

June 22, 2025 Steve 7

(UPDATED FROM 8/22/2023) This BMW reminded me of how rarely automobiles in the United States display customized paint schemes (or vinyl wraps). Note that I am talking about mass-market vehicles rather than custom jobs for […]

1976 AMC Pacer rear
Media Analysis

The downside of auto historians writing about their friends

September 1, 2021 Steve 0

(EXPANDED FROM 7/17/2020) One of the hazards of any kind of writing is that you can get too close to your subjects. In anthropology this has been called “going native.” Because we are human, we […]

Media Analysis

Wheel spinning happens when car buffs and scholarly historians don’t collaborate

April 1, 2020 Steve 0

Car buffs and academics may as well live on different planets when it comes to writing automotive history. Yet they need each other to counterbalance their weaknesses. That’s my takeaway from John A. Heitmann’s essay […]

  • 1962 Ford Galaxie 500
    Did the 1960-64 big Ford sell so poorly because of cannibalization?
    October 16, 2026 37
  • 1969 Ford Thunderbird 4-door Landau
    Was 1969 the beginning of the end for the Ford Thunderbird four-door Landau?
    October 14, 2026 7
  • Is Jaguar smart to run away from its design heritage?
    October 8, 2026 21
  • AMC Pacer clay model
    Why does Joe Ligo’s PBS series sanewash AMC’s mid-70s recklessness?
    October 6, 2026 21
  • 2026 Ram pickups
    A pyrrhic regulatory rollback and how poorly the 1978 Matador coupe sold
    October 2, 2026 12
  • 1962 Chrysler 300
    Did the 1962-65 Chrysler 300 ‘dilute’ the letter series?
    September 29, 2026 12
  • 1968 Ford Mustang
    Three rules led to a stultifying level of conformity in 1960s U.S. car design
    September 24, 2026 12
  • 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 146
Society of Automotive Historian award to Indie Auto

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