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HomePony cars

Pony cars

Budd XR-400
Fake Design

The XR-400 wouldn’t have ‘saved’ AMC but it pointed in a useful direction

July 7, 2023 Steve 6

(EXPANDED FROM 7/7/2021) A few years ago Stéphane Dumas quite rightly noted that another alternative to the 1964 Rambler Tarpon concept car was the XR-400. This was a 2+2 convertible proposed to American Motors in […]

1972 Mercury Cougar 2-door hardtop
Editor's Note

Reader insists that 1971-73 Mercury Cougars were ‘awesome’

June 13, 2023 Steve 9

Our story, “1967-73 Mercury Cougar: A classic goes to hell,” apparently took the smile off the face of (former?) reader SL. He flatly declared, “The 1971-73 Cougars are awesome cars. All this talk about them […]

1967 Ramber Rebel SST two-door hardtop
Media Analysis

Five questions about Aaron Severson’s take on American Motors

April 7, 2023 Steve 3

Ate Up With Motor’s Aaron Severson (2023) stopped by Curbside Classic last week to post an epic series of comments about American Motors. The thing that most struck me about his 11 comments — which […]

1969 Pontiac GTOs ad
Quotes

So what exactly is a ‘muscle car,’ anyway?

April 18, 2022 Steve 5

“For this writer, the Pontiac GTO not only defines the genre (it was a mid-size or intermediate body), but also the beginning and end of the Muscle Car Era; 1964-1974. Some might argue that the […]

BMW i3 recharging
Letters to the Editor

Looking at battery-powered vehicles from both sides now

March 3, 2022 Steve 1

George Denzinger took the time to write a lengthy follow up to our “Quotes” post, “If automakers focused more on efficiency would there be less pressure to go EV?” This is the kind of deeper […]

1965 Ford Mustang rear quarter
History

What is the right size for a Ford Mustang?

January 14, 2022 Steve 4

(UPDATED FROM 10/9/2020) Did Ford deviate too much from the original Ford Mustang’s size before finally getting it right once again in 2005? That year was pivotal because it was the first time in a quarter […]

1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 front quarter
Media Analysis

Older Ford Mustangs got too big but not the newer ones?

November 12, 2021 Steve 2

(EXPANDED FROM 5/11/2020) Automobile magazine is dead but its Facebook page continues to recycle old articles. Yesterday the one million followers of this page were blessed with a reposted history of the Ford Mustang. Aaron […]

2000 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Quotes

Is the 2000 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am uglier than a Mitsuoka Orochi?

November 9, 2021 Steve 2

“I think this is a problem akin to ‘what’s the worst movie?’ Like, yes Plan 9 or Manos are both utterly incompetent pieces of filmmaking that fail at every level, but they were also independent releases […]

Media Analysis

Collectible Automobile puffs up the 1971-74 AMC Javelin

September 24, 2021 Steve 8

Collectible Automobile’s overview of the 1971-74 AMC Javelin is a good example of what John A. Heitmann describes as auto history written by a car buff. Heitmann, who is the editor of the Automotive History […]

1967 Ford Mustang and 1969 AMC Javelin
Quotes

Bill Porter: Why as a Pontiac designer he competed most against Chevy

September 15, 2021 Steve 0

“(The AMC Javelin and AMX) were very handsome cars.  They look great on the road. They were fine, and they still look today. They’ve held up very well.  But I was in Pontiac at that […]

Posts pagination

« 1 … 3 4 5 »
  • 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
Society of Automotive Historian award to Indie Auto

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