Introduced in 1957, the low-priced Firesweep line gave Chrysler’s DeSoto division a much-needed boost in sales volume, but at a cost to the rest of the company. Mecum Auctions photo. Continue reading
Category Archives: Auto History
Video: Marketing the 1971 Plymouth Road Runner
By 1971, the muscle car era was winding down, but Chrysler Corporation was still in the game with the Plymouth Road Runner, now boasting all-new sheet metal. Continue reading
America’s Taxi: The 1956 Checker A8
Introduced in 1956, the Checker A8 launched a series of taxis that loyally served America’s cities for nearly half a century. Continue reading
Beating Mustang to the Gate: The 1964 Plymouth Barracuda
History might not remember it quite that way, but the Plymouth Barracuda actually arrived on the market a few weeks before the Ford Mustang in 1964. Here’s the story behind the sporty Mopar coupe. Continue reading
Bill Mitchell’s Dreamboat: The 1971 Buick Riviera
General Motors styling boss Bill Mitchell had a taste for drama in automobile design, and few were more dramatic than the boat-tailed 1971 Buick Riviera. Continue reading
Video: Creating the 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk
For 1962, Studebaker and designer Brooks Stevens pulled off a near-miracle, repackaging the ancient Hawk model as an elegant European-style GT. Here’s a closer look at the Gran Turismo Hawk, including an original factory film. Continue reading
Le Corbusier’s Dream Car: The 1936 Voiture Minimum
Architect, artist, and author, Le Corbusier helped to shape the 20th century. And by the way, he was a car enthusiast, too. Here’s his 1936 proposal for a universal automobile, the Voiture Minimum.
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