In Jim Croce’s 1970s ditty, bad boy Leroy Brown had a “Custom Continental” and an “Eldorado too.” Well, of the two, both are still quite memorable automobile models, the former always looking a bit stodgy and sometimes Presidential and the latter, frankly a bit pimp but in some years, quiteMORE HERE
DETROIT – When General Motors was bailed out, the Pontiac brand died. General Motors customers, dealers and employees were stunned. The decision cost money, and Pontiac was well on its way to a revival. Sales just disappeared, and they were not replaced by other brands that were preserved, such asMORE HERE
While nostalgia can be a reason to bring an old brand back, strategy is the best reason. And so we hear that Nissan might just bring back the Datsun brand. And it’s not because Generation X remembers that The Bionic Woman, Jaime Sommers, used to drive a 280Z, and stillMORE HERE
The Dodge Dart will return next year; see www.dodge.com for pictures and information about the January 9, 2012 “reveal”. Based on an Alfa Romeo Giulietta, it is truly a sportscar, and bears no resemblance to the original. Nevertheless, the return is good news. Because through the years, one niche that ChryslerMORE HERE
AUBURN HILLS – The most recent issue of Automobile magazine reports that Jeep will revive that icon of the Reagan era, the Grand Wagoneer model. BrandlandUSA advocated for the return of the Wagoneer in October of 2009. The Wagoneer, with its trademark fake woodgrain siding, was built from 1963 toMORE HERE
DETROIT – It’s a shame it takes an Italian company and an old rap star to see the value in Detroit. But that’s what is mightily apparent with new Chrysler 200 advertisements, which feature Eminem and the tagline “Imported From Detroit.” The commercial has had 4.8 million view on YouTubeMORE HERE
Keeping an old brand viable is sometimes no more difficult than packaging. Here, a specialized Willys Jeep Wrangler, which according to a Chrysler LLC release dates from 2004. Basically, it’s a Wrangler, but it comes specially packaged, with a Willys decal, and Army paint colors and tires. The Willys packageMORE HERE
It is assumed that China will take us to the cleaners because of their manufacturing prowess. And yes, that is true. I recall hearing the noted Chinese scholar Arthur Waldron speaking of export China in Britain in the 18th century. Even then, the ships came to England packed with theseMORE HERE
A BrandlandUSA reader laments the missed opportunity in Pontiac: It may be that Pontiac is gone and erased from the accounting books of GM, and it may be that the heritage of Pontiac lives in the memoirs of Americana – but the fact of the matter remains that Pontiac outsoldMORE HERE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Just off the headlines. The massive shutdown of dealers ordered by the Obama administration was a massive failure. Not that you couldn’t have noticed by just talking to some of the dealers themselves. I recall running into a group of repair guys from Sarasota Chrysler-Plymouth, which isMORE HERE