Indie Auto

1963-65 Buick Riviera shows GM’s struggle with personal coupes

by Steve in History 17

(UPDATED FROM 12/14/2023) The 1963-65 Buick Riviera was one of the more memorable designs of the 1960s. However, the car didn’t really look like a Buick. Nor did it sell very well — arguably due to its confused personality and penny pinching by General Motors. One might think that GM would have tried harder because it was playing catch up. The [...]

Motor Trend asked former car designers to offer frank views on the 1961 models

May 19, 2026 5

(UPDATED FROM 8/28/2024) Motor Trend had an intriguing article in its December 1960 issue. Former designers supposedly gave their “frank opinions of what is right and wrong with all of the 1961 cars” (1960, p. 29). Let’s walk [...]

Patrick Foster shows how International Harvester failed to adapt

May 13, 2026 5

(UPDATED FROM 9/4/2020) International Harvester is the post-war U.S. automaker that has received the least attention from historians. Thus, Patrick Foster’s book, International Harvester: The Complete Story, is a particularly welcome [...]

Was the 1978 Cadillac Eldorado the most excessive car of the brougham era?

May 12, 2026 28

(EXPANDED FROM 1/5/2024) Reasonable people can debate what was the most excessive car of the brougham era, but I would propose the 1978 Cadillac Eldorado for top honors. To be more specific, I would point to the top-of-line Custom [...]

1966 Mercury Colony Park wagon was an unsung bright spot for the brand

May 11, 2026 9

(EXPANDED FROM 10/7/2022) Mercury’s Colony Park never got much attention, but it saw steadily increasing sales through the second half of the 1960s. For example, in 1966 almost 19,000 of the top-of-line Mercury wagons were produced. [...]

Why is the Toyota Sienna minivan’s styling out of this world?

May 3, 2026 9

(UPDATED FROM 3/4/2024) AUTOMOTIVE VIEWS NEWSWIRE — It’s no accident that the Toyota Sienna minivan stands out from the crowd when it comes to styling. Disturbed by declining sales, the automaker decided to give [...]

How much do Trump policies have to hurt auto industry before it supports Dems?

by Steve in Current Events 21

In early April the average new car price hit $50,729. This was an $820 jump in just 30 days. Meanwhile, first-quarter new car sales have slowed. A recent Automotive News (2026b) editorial claimed that “there is no doubt” rising prices have contributed to the sales decline. And in another unsigned editorial, the trade journal once again complained that [...]