Lines Of Distinction: Chevrolet 1976
I was 9 when America celebrated its Bicentennial in 1976. That sprit of celebration extended to Chevrolet who’s tagline read “Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet,”. American automotive exceptionalism was in full swing as Chevy had recovered from the recession and fuel crisis.
1970 – 1976 Plymouth Duster: A Compact Car Revolution
All competition aside, no discussion of Plymouth sales during this era is complete without mentioning its creative youth driven marketing strategy This is where Plymouth (and Dodge) had a advantage with a two prong campaign that appealed to kids with Warner Bro. Road Runner characters and emerging new car buyers in their 20s and 30s who responded to the psychedelic styled art of Peter Max.
1986-1994 Jaguar XJ6: Caught Between Two Worlds
Inside, the XJ40 was a masterclass in “old-world” luxury on the surface. It featured soft leather and real walnut trim. While some rivals opted for garish flashy digital displays, Jaguar used seven hidden processors to run a sophisticated hybrid dash that appeared traditional when powered down. Prominent analog dials were supplemented by LED functions displays only when the ignition was turned. The system was a bit too much for the traditional Jaguar saloon buyer who on average was older and less tech savvy than those for BMW or Lexus.
2014 -2026 Dodge Durango: The HEMI Holdout
Longevity is both a strength and weakness of the Durango. With 5 or so years of looking the same, and so many options, its difficult to tell most models from each other when well equipped. The interiors don’t always suggest the upscaling as you go up the line. Aside from stitched leather sport seats, a badges on the steering wheel is usually the biggest indicator of trims to the casual observer.
1962-1964 Ferrari 250 GTO: The Real GTO
The American Muscle car was not as crude as some of its critics suggested, or at least the Pontiac wasn’t. To the Ferrari’s defense, it managed to create 300+ hp from just 3 liters while Pontiac needed double that displacement to make 348hp. The test Pontiac was massaged with a dealer’s “Bobcat” treatment making it atypical of the factory GTOs in dealer lots. Still the stunt launched a muscle car legend while reaffirming Ferrari’s status as the one to beat.
1980 to 1991 Peugeot 505: If Its Not Broken…
Introduced to America for the 1980 model year, the 505 replaced the 504 in Peugeots line. Although it was considered big by European standards, it was smaller than the popular Ford Taurus. The 505’s looks were a blend of American practicality and European austerity. Not quite blocky as most European cars or as rounded on the edges as American cars, the 505 look was straightforward and unpretentious. Perhaps the 505’s most distinctive feature were early car’s slant-quad headlight clusters that looked inspired by the 1959 Buick Invicta.
2017 – 2023 Chevrolet Bolt: Giving The People What Want
The first-generation Bolt took the form of a subcompact hatchback with a tall profile, reflecting GM’s hesitation between a traditional sedan and the emerging crossover trend. This height provided excellent visibility and headroom. Stylistically, it avoided looking “weird,” opting for a “futuristic flying buttress” aesthetic that shared design DNA with the Cruze and Volt, featuring geometric air ducts and a glossy black grille cover. Despite its top-heavy appearance, the floor-mounted battery provided a low center of gravity, offering roadholding comparable to the Cruze or Volt.
2026 Buick Electra L7: Big In China
When I was in 5th grade, the principal of my school drove a lemon‑crème colored Buick Electra 225 with a white landau top. It was a big, proud car that … Continue reading
Lines of Distinction: Eagle 1992
Though I never really paid much attention to what else was on the showroom floor that day at Ricart Jeep Eagle. The Eagle line was evolving with the full-sized Premier, a car based on a Renault. The Talon and Summit, a compact sedan, wagon and three door hatchback coupe rounded out the compact options in Eagle’s line. Except for the Normal Illinois built Talon, all of Eagle’s cars were essentially captive imports made in Japan (parts of the Summit line) or France (Premier). As such, Chrysler pushed the brand as a sophisticated alternative to domestic offerings.
1992 – 1999 Rover 800 Coupe: Almost a Legend
Some effort was made to further distinguish the Rover from the Acura with multiple styling tweaks from Richard Woolley and David Saddington overseeing at least two iterations as the car became more America focused (by the thinking of the English). Its fascinating to think that two separate teams were trying to figure out how to Americanize the same car with slightly different outcomes.
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