Through the decades
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John K. Teahen Jr.’s coverage of the auto business spanned seven decades. Here are snippets of his work from each one.
1950s
Auto dealers and auto buyers shuddered last week as they read reports of an expected steel price July 1. "Is it going to be 1956 all over again?" they asked.
1960s
One observer summed it up like this: "Nobody in his right mind would have given up a GM franchise last year."
1970s
"There was good news and there was bad news in the dealership mortality field during 1977, but the good outweighed the bad."
1980s
Porsche Cars North America has an answer for those who think there's nothing new in auto pricing. Last week the importer announced two price increases at the same time.
1990s
"Republic (Industries) wants to group its hundreds of franchises and dealerships under the AutoNation brand. Sorry, Mr. Huizenga, it won't fly."
2000s
It wasn't a fun time on the home front, but nobody was shooting at us or crashing airplanes into tall buildings. It was a different story in the trenches. But Americans are a hardy lot. They came through World War II stronger and more united than ever before. The stage is set again.
2010s
GM's August share was 18.7 percent. Remember when the Justice Department had a special unit studying GM with the goal of breaking up the auto giant? It wasn't all that long ago.*
*The last line of Jack's last column, published Sept. 18, 2012
