1958 Oldsmoble
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Groupthink

A tendency toward groupthink has been a chronic problem in the American automobile industry since the mid-50s. This was a key driver of the domestic automakers’ dramatic decline from the late-60s onward. More recently, foreign […]

1958 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
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Pillar (A-D)

Some of the American automobile’s more significant design changes have been reflected in the pillars of a greenhouse. For ease of discussion, pillars have been alphabetized. An A-pillar is on each side of a windshield. […]

1948 Cadillac tailfins
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GM envy

GM envy is a tendency of other automakers — first domestic and later foreign — to slavishly copy the basic structure and strategy used by General Motors in its heyday. This has occurred despite General […]

1970 Oldsmobile Toronado
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Grosse Pointe myopians

“Grosse Pointe myopians” is pejorative term that automotive journalist Brock Yates (2018) gave to the management class of domestic automakers in a review he wrote in 1968. That essay was subsequently expanded into a book, […]

Man fixing antique car at LeMay annual car show
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LeMay car show offers a remarkable mix of vehicles

The Pacific Northwest is lucky to have a nationally prominent automotive museum. America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington is worth an occasional visit because of its interesting variety of vehicles. However, I spend more time with […]