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Letters to the Editor
Paul Niedermeyer updates his thinking on origins of 1962 Plymouth and Dodge
Paul Niedermeyer stopped by Indie Auto to share his current thinking about the downsizing of the 1962 Plymouth and Dodge. This is a response to a story we ran almost two years ago entitled, “Did […]
Letters to the Editor
U.S. automakers adapted to Brazilian market car designs from elsewhere
CP sent in the following letter, which may have been in response to our story, “Brazilian Volkswagens show automaker’s struggle for a post-Beetle look.” I have been following the Brazilian car scene for a few […]
Auto Paedia
Brand management: The tail that now wags U.S. auto industry
(UPDATED FROM 8/21/2020) Peter DeLorenzo (2018) has argued that brand management “is now the Number 1 priority in this business.” The reason is that a “democratization of technology and luxury” has leveled the playing field. […]
Design Notes
2011 Chrysler 300C: The adults finally showed up
(EXPANDED FROM 9/18/2020) The Chrysler 300C’s styling received high praise when the car first came out in 2004. “Bold. Brash. . . . Ballsy,” gushed Motor Trend writer Arthur St. Antoine (2005) in explaining why the […]
History
Why V8 engines were less important in the 1950s than commonly believed
(UPDATED FROM 10/23/2023) One of the most pervasive myths in U.S. automotive history is that a V8 engine became essential to an automaker’s success in the first half of the 1950s. This narrative is summed […]
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Current Events
Automotive News’ commentators show outrage over Dodge’s shift to EVs
Back in December of 2021 Automotive News discontinued comments on its website in favor of those on Facebook. How have things worked out so far? Not so good, if I go by the last few […]
Fake Design
1970 Pontiac Firebird: Time to go on a diet
(EXPANDED FROM 11/26/2021) The 1971-73 Ford Mustang has been criticized for growing too big and fat (e.g., Mueller, 2010). However, Ford didn’t act in isolation. All of the pony cars bloated out when they were […]
Quotes
Lynn Townsend’s hubris led to Chrysler’s decline in 1969-70
“It has become fashionable to assume that when a company does a multibillion-dollar business, there is little that one man — even the man at the top — can do to sway its fortunes. ‘These […]