The auto buff media tends to avoid discussing the political dimensions of the industry for good reason. Readers can have strong views, so why risk antagonizing anyone?
Indie Auto doesn’t want to make anyone mad, but the primary goal of this website is to provide a deeper understanding of automotive history. As a case in point, you can’t really grok the impact of the Ford blitz on independent automakers without discussing policy decisions made by the Eisenhower administration. Those choices may have helped General Motors in the short run, but they ultimately contributed to its collapse in the 21st Century.
If you are more in the mood for satire, our story on Detroit’s mobilization against an attack from outer space pokes fun at how American car design had become decidedly conformist by the early-70s.
Meanwhile, our reposted story about Volkswagen’s landmark 1960s advertising campaign illustrates how the Beetle challenged Detroit groupthink in fundamental ways.
If you’d like to better understand why Indie Auto is so different, take a read of our essay on car buff versus academic history writers.
April’s photo gallery focuses on the Jeep FC-150. Here is a good example of how the American independents could have played a much bigger role in fighting the imports if their prospects hadn’t been torpedoed by the Ford blitz. The FC-150 might have given the VW microbus a run for its money if Kaiser-Jeep had the resources to develop and adequately market a passenger-van variant.
Our mini-book review offers one of the harshest critiques ever posted in Indie Auto. That’s because, Dodge: 100 Years, reflects some of the worst qualities of contemporary auto history books. May this kind of book — a glorified advertorial — never rise from the dead.
This month’s highlighted link is about Autoweek. It says something about this magazine that some of the most interesting content relating to it has been trenchant critiques by Jack Baruth.
How often do you post?
The front page of this website is updated around the first of each month. Typically included is a mix of new and reposted material.
In addition, Indie Auto’s Facebook page and Twitter feed include a handful of “best of” stories from around the web. Lately new posts have been added roughly every other week.
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