This is very interesting, several years ago I had the opportunity to drive several Ford Focus' equipped w/ automatic transmissions. They all would lurch on occasion at low speeds when starting to accelerate. Eventually I was assigned a new 2016 Focus as my company car. Around the time the warranty was about to expire it started doing this bucking/lurching at times. This was a 6-speed auto w/ only two pedals. I called the service department of the local Ford dealer to ask if this was something I needed to get in before the warranty was expired or if it was a common problem they would fix if it got worse. I was told they would take care of it regardless of when I brought it in and they went on to explain what was causing this. This explanation included a description of a transmission described here. The bucking/lurching was caused by the computer not knowing what gear to select, this would happy when the driver hesitated before accelerating. They said a true auto would never get the kind of MPG a manual trans could get and this manual was electronically shifted by a computer. I was also told that driving it a little more aggressively would solve the problem and it did. I had been driving it for economy (not wanting to drive aggressively in a company car) which aggravated this situation. ... View more

I hear there is a new GM ad featuring a '66 Chevy Convertible (I thought it was a '65, but the commenters have proven me wrong) that is airing on national tv way too much. reading about this made me realize how little I'm watching national tv these days. I've seen this ad exactly twice, the first was on Pump TV where I could not really pay as much attention as I would have liked, and the next was on the Hemmings website, where I was able to pay attention to it. Great ad, but there are may commenters saying they've seen it way too much, like the ad where the wife/girl friend takes the truck when the Acadia was intended for her. ... View more

This is a timeless classy ad! Very well done Hertz! ... View more

For me, the GM "real people...... Not Actors" ad campaign was a complete lie & way over done, ruined their ads for me. Reference Jeff Daniels song he wrote on this topic.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GaTXLeHX5I w/ a lawyer on retainer. ... View more

DanC, I'm w/ Rick2, I've never seen that before.....Thanks for sharing! Powerful! I know we car guys (people) are an easy target for this type of ad, but WOW! ... View more

audiobycarmine- I agree, the VW ad campaign was firing on all cylinders in this era, I think all of their ads were gold. The "What does the Snowplow driver drive to the Snowplow" ad remains one of my all time favorites. Association is a funny thing, when I think of this VW ad I also think of the Dunkin Donuts "Time to make the Donuts" ad that I think ran simultaneously w/ the VW ad in this same era. ... View more

Great article! I've mastered the skill of packing away in all the nooks and crannies, but now the idea of having the list is resonating w/ me! Thanks! ... View more

I agree, this is a very powerful message. ... View more

I had never seen many of these, so thanks for sharing them! I'd have to say that two of the most unforgettable adds I remember are the VW Beetle being driven to the Snow Plow (VW has a number of great unforgettable ads in my opinion) and the Ford Truck commercial showing scenes from the Movie, Mr Majestic I believe? ... View more

DUB6, I hear you, born in '63, I grew up a Ford guy and I know why.  My father and most of his buddies were all Ford guys and boy did they ever have some cool Ford products in the mid to late '60 and early '70's for me to fall in love with!  I felt the same distain for the other brands as you describe.  I hated those whiny Mopar starters and their Ballast Resistors that always seemed to go out at the worst time. Those big powerful Oldsmobile V8's liked to heat soak the started and they wouldn't start when hot and I can't tell you how many timing chains we had to change on those Pontiac 389's.  Many of the Chevy's we worked on had valve guide issues and blew a lot of blue smoke upon start up.  I also hated that all of those GM V8's had the distributer in the rear!  This could go on for days and sure, Ford products had their challenges too, but we were much more forgiving of those!     I can honestly say that I have completely grown out of all that.  I love them all now, I have great respect for all the Muscle Car era entrants, and the models that lead up to the Muscle Car era from the '50's.   Sure, I still like the Fords better, but all makes are welcome at my place and now I can always find a compliment rather then an insult like when I was younger.   A nice, well preserved and/or restored car is a beautiful thing, no matter what brand!   ... View more

I personally have never heard a negative comment relating to Smith's Gauges. In my opinion, it's Lucas Electrics that takes all the heat! ... View more

CamJam, speaking of 401's there was also the great 401 Buick V8 that deserves mention. Ford also made a 360 c.i. truck motor in the '70's. ... View more

Sorry Flow, I misread your comment, I thought you were referring to the 360 engine, not the 390...Oops! You are absolutely correct in your comment. ... View more

TheFlow, I thought the Ford 360 was a Truck motor that came out in 1973.  I believe it was an FE family motor and the base V8 in the '73-mid '70's Ford F-series trucks, the optional V8 was the 390 from the same engine family.  I never knew the 360 motor to be used in any Ford car models; however, the 390 was a mainstay in the cars you mention for many years going back to the  late '60's.   Later in this truck series, Ford switched from these FE motors to the M (Modified Cleveland) 351 & 400 c.i. engines.   These M series engines were in both Ford light trucks and several car models.   ... View more

Wet Dream by Kip Addotta If you don't remember this one, you have to listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l1GvDWtccI ... View more

I wish it had a black hood rather than just the black stripe up the middle of the hood.  ... View more