The only other place you will see a number of Millers and their progeny run, is at the Indy Carb Day festivities, where they put a big tent up behind the museum, to display all manner of vintage Indy cars. They allow them a couple of 20 minute sessions, on Friday and Saturday. Great to hear Millers, Offies, Novis, Quad Cam Fords, and more if you never heard them race! Don't miss it!!! ... View more

A great deal of credit should be given to Buck Boudeman, who recreated the Sub with an appropriate engine. He drove it many times, on the Milwaukee track during the July Millers AT Milwaukee event. It even ran at Pebble, making billowing clouds of blue smoke on the award dais, before he had rebuilt the engine. Buck, Chuck Davis, and Dave Uihlien, were the premier Miller collectors that actually ran their cars. Did extensive research, working with author Mark Dees and Gordon White and others. Their efforts really brought p[roper recognition to the Miller "racing dynasty". BTW I have a copy of the first edition and the reprint, for sale! ... View more

Not much in SE Michigan. Are these only Hagerty sponsored? For example: Rockin' Rods in Rochester (400 cars) Woodward Dream Cruise week, NOT M-1 anything... NSRA Nats North 2000 car street rod show Frankenmuth show weekend Eyes On Design at Edsel Ford Estate (invitational) This is just for starters... Bakers Cruise In on Sundays, in Milford Hines Park Cruise In Culvers Cruise In, every Tuesday (400 cars) ... View more

As I recall, while being in Industrial Design school at Wayne State University, I believe it was NHTSA or some Fed Agency that looked at proposals for the "Safety Car" about 1970. They provided grants and performance specs. GM was the only auto manufacturer that submitted a vehicle. The others were built by non-auto companies eager to get some Federal largesse. Only the Gm one wasn't butt-ugly and that was being generous! The interiors would only fit 1 size of human, due to ridiculous padding that entombed the occupant. Volvo did NOT participate. ... View more

A friend of mine worked very closely here and there, with Renault people in aerodynamics. He liked to characterize their engineering, as "doing a bang-up 90% job" ... View more

They do use superior US nuclear plant designs, as the best in the world. Too bad, so-called activists, don't see it that way here. ... View more

While working at AMC, ca. 1983, as the French were taking over, we got the LeCars and then the R5. It was kind of legendary, as being very fast and capable and a bright spot for AMC. Then we heard that a local Detroit driver was killed in one, which definitely took the bloom off the rose and we lost confidence in French engineering. ... View more

Nicely done!! Even the music was pleasant and not annoying, too! ... View more

You are really confused about the word "DESIGN". What is being discussed here is aesthetic design ONLY. Service engineering is another discipline entirely. No one ever mentions how high or difficult maintenance is, for a beautiful woman! ... View more

Far too many sedans and especially SUVs, are indistinguishable from each other at 200 feet. Even the promising Saturn/Sky Miata-wanna-bes looked like Mr. Potato Head designs, with interchangeable graphic "faces", but the almost-trucks are the worst, in front and side views. While we are at it, using 6" wide black frits on window openings to hide sloppy construction, should have their knuckles rapped hard! Loses all design intent of the window graphics, reduces visibility, and just looks stupid! ... View more

If p[eople only had a bit of appreciation for all of the time and effort that goes into product identity "badging", they would be ashamed to black all of the badges, trim, and wheels out. Problem is a new generation thinks that all black is bad, or menacing, or looks tough. This is such a bad cliche', but supposedly, marketing thinks it is the way to go. I hate black interiors, also, as they feel like caves and don't lift your spirits by use of color and brightwork. (Won't mention stupid fake wood.) Ever since the Japanese went to 2 interior colors for simplicity of manufacture, all of the other OEMs followed suit. The most daring ones might put a dash of red stitching on a premium package, but colorful interiors are a thing of the past! There has been a big shift in car selling, that sticks dealers with inventory they pay taxes on. So they have no interest in selling anything "off the rack", that isn't white, black, or grey (silver). That is why OEMs sell 8 out 10 "colors" as those, plus blue-black, green-black, burgundy-black, or other neutral non-colors. They will give you a choice of 1 red and maybe another odd color. The exclusions are little cheap cars or small SUVs/CUVs. ... View more

Government Regulations for high mileage conflict with everything else. Aero is the cheapest and easiest way to more mileage, but has to start very early in the process. Have you EVER told your boss they are wrong? I didn't think so... They usually are more concerned about sales volume and not making waves. No balls, no glory! ... View more

The Chrysler LH "Cab Forward" cars had great presence and passenger-centric packaging, until Daimler killed it for their old school RWD. Chrysler managed to pull out the 300 and Charger/Challengers but have been starved for new modern versions by carpetbagger management. The real problem is timid Planning and Marketing management, forcing bland designs. Assertive car guy management will break the mold and the segments like the tall Neon (PT Cruiser) or the high hood Dodge Ram pickups that everyone else is following. If you can't lead the parade, you will be an also-ran, depending on your dealer body to make sales goals. Aero is NOT the problem. Good aero has some basic tenets, but it is dependent more on design execution than just making it slippery. You do know it is design management that sells designs to the other departments? If it is timid, or not up for a fight, camels are what you get, instead of horses. ... View more

WTH is a "looser"? Nothing about the Viper is a loser! Won LeMans 3 times, kicked GM's Vette in the azz to step up their game, and the first AFFORDABLE supercar! ... View more

RAM = Really Awful Marketing, since we killed 75 years of DODGE Trucks! ... View more

I have heard that it is illegal to gas up at an airport. No road taxes paid,,, and ? ... View more

Nuclear is the green answer! Oh wait, haven't built one in 45 years due to technological ignorance, so we are...screwed! ... View more

AMC designed and built most of their own cars. Commodity parts like alternators, starters, carbs, & transmissions always come from a supplier... for EVERYONE! Ignorant insults doesn't make it true. ... View more

Forced by Fed bureaucrats &eco-nazis, extorted from the taxpayer that didn't vote for any of it. What could possibly go wrong? ... View more

hydrogen ICE or EVs is a better solution. ... View more

EVs suck, sorry! ... View more

The reason convertibles don';t sell are: 1. High PRICE! 2. NO marketing 3. High PRICE! 4. Value proposition Life is too short, NOT to drive a convertible. Problem is, the marketing geniuses only build for the upscale market, not the affordable one. Chrysler built convertibles like the 600 Dodge, LeBarons, Sebring/200s that were a great value in an affordable, fun car for 4 adults. Not little secretary cars for MG wanna-bes, or hyper-expensive 2 seaters. The somewhat pin-headed Sebring-200 retractable hardtops are the best value in a convertible, with great looks, decent performance, and adult sizing. Unfortunately, the carpetbaggers running Chrysler killed the platform. The PT Cruiser convertible was slightly smaller, but still an excellent value in a more esoteric design. DaimlerMercedes doesn't know how to build affordable cars. Chrysler had to show them how not to rebuild the cars at the end of the assembly line. Electric anything, no matter how fast or stupidly large is NOT a plus for the automotive world. Idiots can't drive in "slow" 80MPH traffic, that have to go even faster, so they need EVs? Still about as fun as a Yamaha Golf Cart! ... View more

Hollywood BS Revionist History is all. HF II never rode in a GT40. Certainly not like that! The lame portrayal of Beebe, should have provoked a lawsuit, too. Capris were nice cars, but rather small. Surprised to see HF II in one. ... View more

I agree that these are fun cars. Making the Charger an icon isn't all bad either. It certainly is a distinctive design. Unfortunately I can only say I've seen maybe 3 of these movies as that is all that is recycled on free TV. I wouldn't pay anything to see any of them, and the net result is all too predictable, anyways. One complaint. Said it would show all of the cars. Couldn't really tell, with only 8 photos for 9 movies, and all but 2, were black, this was more click-bait than anything informative. If you can brighten them up to be viewable, don't bother, an don't oversell the article! ... View more

OOH... they might have a lot of them use evil fossil fuels!! Do these dudley-do-wrongs not actually follow the science? EVs aren't "green". The ICE ones put out neglible pollution, unless you buy the scam that Co2 is pollutant. If so, we need to quit eating meat. And get the 3rd world economy to quit burning the rain forests, tires, and dung, and drive $40k EVs, instead. ... View more

Lovely car, is the nose still fiberglass? Has a good profile and better 3/4 view than others. They do make an alternator that fits inside what appears to be a stock Ford generator now. BTW, it is LINCOLN Zephyr gears, NOT Mercury. Surprised there aren't more period photos with all of the Drake-type books out there... ... View more

Not sure what design credential you have that would call weird. They were as good or better, than any Big 3 accouterments. Remember Levis upholstery? Nothing that cool from staid Ford and GM. The AMX and AMX II were trend setting designs with performance equal to many other fast cars... Hurst shifters not good enough? Full gauges standard? Methinks you really weren't there in the '70s. Another well loved, but almost forgotten car, was the Gremlin, in either generation. Blew the doors of Vegas and Pintos, carried 4 adults and were reliable, easy to maintain and use. Most were driven into the ground by multiple hand-me downs until the rust worm got them or they exceeded 150k miles. ... View more

And the worst styling! Corolla who? Honda what? I don't know where you were, what you played or designed, but I would bet it doesn't survive today. The 1979 Chrysler 300 (Was supposed to be M), had the incredible bad luck to come out in time for Fake Energy Crisis II. You could buy 2 very reliable Omni/Horizons ,for the price of a 300. These were the fastest Chrysler cars that year, comparable to the Lil Red Express truck and even Trans Ams and Vettes! Downsized from B bodies, they still were large enough to get 5 people in them and a huge trunk. The 360 4bbl was the HD police version with a forged crank and other goodies, dual catalytic convertors and dual exhaust, only red leather interiors and spinnaker white exteriors and a great die cast chrome cross hair grille. ... View more

The Opel GT was appreciated, but more like a baby Vette. The '68-'71 Javelin was better styled, without the ridiculous Corvette-style, fender humps. The Grand Am was well thought of, but might have been too expensive, as they didn't sell well. Might be interesting to see their pricing vs the similar same bodies from the other divisions... I believe they also had adjustable pedals, a first for any American car. Also had swivel bucket seats as an option, too. ... View more

Scharf certainly was an early promoter. The display at the DIA was the relentless pursuit by Bob Edwards, to establish that auto design belongs in an art museum. Especially in Detroit, the motor capital of the world! You might also mention the numerous retired auto designers, that assisted in the procurement and selection of said art. There was also the League of Retired Auto Designers and several ad hoc informal coffee groups, too that have contributed art and volunteers. ... View more

A waste of pixels... 😞 ... View more

There were NO further K car derivatives. It was obvious to all that a new platform was needed. In the Advance Studio, we did the BH car. Along the way, we got a new plant in Bramalea Ontario that had good quality and automation... ... View more

Gee, what is YOUR interest and investment in this silliness? ... View more

So is THAT why you bought it? 🙂 ... View more

And THAT doesn't make any dam sense, either!! ... View more

A guy I worked with who had a horse farm said: "The ONLY reason to buy a pickup is to haul manure!". Judging by all of the non-trade pickups I see out there, I have to agree. If you need to haul stuff, a van is the best solution. Unfortunately all of the vans now are made elsewhere, with dubious reliability and values. If you want to haul people AND stuff, a minivan is still the Swiss Army Knife of vehicles. Not the questionable design Asian copies, but the real deal, once derisively called Soccer Mom cars. Now THE Soccermom Utility Vehicle IS the S.U.V. So many are wanna-be Jeep Cherokees, that likely will never even see a dirt road, but make cute commercials with dogs driving. ... View more

The mid-60s, Pontiac inline six, was a SOHC engine, well thought of at the time, but no further development... ... View more

There was a very famous hot rod, V8-60, 27T here that the older gentleman wanted to sell. No one stepped up o help him market the car, despite being a first Autorama winner. He was asking $27k for an historic, really well done, car. A local guy came along and scammed him for $10k, then turned right around and sold it for 6 figures to the big time LA museum hot rod collector. People here were aghast. A famous author and promoter had offered at least $35k as soon as he heard about the car getting sold but was refused. So many people were down on the last seller, he finally went back and "gave" the original builder another $10k. What a guy, right? This is exactly what is wrong with flippers. Ripoff and deceive a seller, rather than provide info and a fair price so you can make a few bucks more. Can we say ETHICS, here? ... View more

Really needed a larger number of photos and or video of the cars and place! Got an address? Nice article on some of the people that keep the vintage Indy stuff alive! ... View more

The Zephyr was very pretty, but NOT even close to the same car in design, ride, or handling! It sat so high, you could look down on an Airflow. It also came years later, when Ford had nothing remotely close in execution. The Airflow influenced many production cars prior to the Zephyr, like Fiats, from 500s to 900s, VWs, Peugeots, Renaults, Tatras, Citroen, Toyotas, and more. The architecture was new and better than anything, anyone else had out at the time. That influenced car design for the next 50 years- Lincoln can't say that. IF you look at the context of contemporary modern design in transportation, architecture, and product design, this was considered very good design and received accolades and awards. 20-20 Prejudiced hindsight says it was ugly, but that comes from ignorance rather than any actual knowledge. When they redid the car in '35 they lost the Art Deco, modern waterfall grille. If you ever see a rodded coupe, NOT the 2 door sedan, they look really good. What gets ugly, are the limousine buses, with too many windows and bad proportions. I bet that is a problem with all extended wheelbase models. ... View more

No mention was made of the annual swap meet there. My boss had a chrome shop destroy his 4 knockoffs from a 1928 Lebaron-bodied Imperial. He was able to find another set there. ... View more

Smothers Brothers were a big deal back in the day. Google and Wikipedia it. ... View more

By the way, Henry Ford II had the Renaissance Center (aka Ren Cen) built in 1977 as the tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere. The complex was know as a city within a city. GM Bought it in 1996. ... View more

The Grand Prix on Belle Isle, was a stupid misunderstanding of the term and the racing. They kept the name, but changed to Indy cars! Local moron media and public never knew the difference. At lest the drivers weren't as whiny! ... View more

Per the article: "...since Ford did build its headquarters a few years later, at the corner of Woodward and East Grand Blvd." is NOT True. It was only at the Highland Park MI location at Woodward and Manchester. The Admin building and one row of the factory are left now, with no plans to restore either. The GM building was 2 blocks west of the Woodward-Grand Blvd. intersection, built ca. 1927... ... View more

So go troll a GM or Ford site. Better yet, troll a Toyota or Hyundai one! While you are at it, ignore ALL of the other OEM bad decisions. They had far more volume and sold more mistakes! ... View more

Hey! Remember TWO door cars? Taken over by ugly, old-man taxis as "hip"! I remember there was a higher -up exec that had been trying to kill Plymouth since the mid-'80s. Well he finally got his wish, lost sales volume and a good portion of the market to the carpetbagger stupidity from europe! ... View more

Despite what the climate Chicken Littles say, CO2 is NOT a pollutant! It is a natural product of life, used by plants and produced by life forms. The increase in it can be more easily traced to the extra 5 BILLION lives on earth, since the the 19th century. ... View more

So only the PLYMOUTH Prowler and not the Chrysler Prowler?? Unless one is selling said vehicle, why does any of this matter? It will always be what a buyer is willing to pay. The uneducated buyer is more likely to get stiffed, but that is called a learning curve and not doing your due diligence. ... View more

Trouble is, the ICE is NOT politically "woke" by eco-nazis... I won't be here to mourn it! ... View more