All Cars with Jon

CarScoops had an article that was picked up by the national press, talking about how the overall auto market pre- and post-covid has dropped by nearly a million sales. The premise is that automakers are chasing the higher profit margins of higher priced vehicles, leading tot he elimination of the sub-$20k market. While this is all true, it's only part of the issue. Continuing to look at the data, car prices have largely tracked inflation, and the disappearance of the sub-$20k vehicles nt only has to do with buyer preferences, but simply price increases eliminating that band of pricing. Just as we can't buy a $5000 or $10000 car today, $20,000 seems to be the new "floor" It doesn't have to be, as manufacturers in Europe and Asia offer sub-$20,000 vehicles, but it would take political will and buyer preferences changing to welcome those to our market.

When Datsun became Nissan... and Why!If you're old enough, you'll remember the Datsun name. but then, in 1981, the Datsun name slowly disappeared and Nissan took it's place.The story behind it is long and fascinating!

Back in the 1950s, Goodyear's polymer researchers created a new plastic/rubber - Neothane. Easy to manufacture, it had the benefit of being translucent. Goodyear got excited, creating colored tires lit by lightbulbs inside and predicting tires that could color-match the car, it's interior, or even be quickly changed out to coordinate with your wife's dress. But the material was critically flawed and Goodyear's engineers couldn't overcome the material's weaknesses. After about 10 years later, they quietly cancelled the project and it doesn't even get a mention on their website.

When Chrysler bought the troubled AMC from the also troubled Renault in 1988, one quirk was a brand new sedan and a contractual obligation to use nearly 300,000 Renault engines. Chrysler rebranded their AMC dealers as Jeep-Eagle dealerships, combining the off road jeeps with a hodge-podge collection of badge engineered imports. 10 years later, the division was closed down, only having ever released ONE made-for-Eagle car... the Vision.

The Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon debuted in 1978 and continued, largely unchanged, for 13 model years, while spinning off multiple variants including the Charger, Rampage, and Shelby GLH-S's. Unheralded, they challenged the famous K Cars for sales, and are directly responsible for Chrysler earning the government backed loans that saved them from bankruptcy.

Struggling from Bankruptcy Dodge once again created a new market for themselves with the midsized truck - the Dodge Dakota. It's story starts long before that, but through 3 distinct generations the Dakota offered near full-sized capabilities in a more manageable size. Ultimately cancelled, Dodge, now RAM, finds itself without a competitor in that market segment.

Chyrsler has been on life support for about 25 years. Other owners from Daimler to FCA to now Stellantis have promised to revitalize the brand, but now it sits with one product in the minivan.I've believed Stellantis CEO Tavares when he said brands had 10 years to be turned around, and a belief that they were working on new platforms and powertrains that would be appropriate for the North American market, versus just taking FCA platforms and giving them a facelift and saying "good enough".But my optimism was misplaced. The 2nd quarter financials were poor, and Stellantis is now on the warpath to eliminate brands if they aren't profitable. Chrysler is an obvious target, and I'm mad as heck about it.After starving the brand for new product, including the 3.5 years Stellantis has been formed, suddenly it's potentially on the chopping block. How unfair an end to a storied brand.

A Far Too Brief History of King Midget!

A Far Too Brief History of Knox Automobile

The Fire Truck A FarToo Brief History from Roman times to today!

A far too brief history of the Chicken Tax and why we can't have nice small trucks!

A Far Too Brief History of Crosley!