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July 25, 2013

1954 Oldsmobile Rocket F88

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Harley Earl, the legendary automotive stylist, designed the F-88 under the belief that it would have outsold the Corvette and forever changed automotive history.
Unfortunately Chevrolet, which produced more GM products than any of its other divisions, convinced the GM board of directors to cut the Oldsmobile project. Dark Roasted Blend: American Concept Cars Showcase, Part 2

Posted by gerardvanderleun at July 25, 2013 1:32 PM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.

Your Say

Rocket 88, arguably the first rock and roll song ever recorded

http://youtu.be/WcFIj8OuIEI

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 25, 2013 3:30 PM

The auto biz in Detroit was always a war between the bean counters and the car guys. The car guys made stuff you wanted to drive - Mustangs, Camaros, or the pic above. I still remember the sound of a Chrysler Turbine spooling up at the Auto Show.

The bean counters made interchangeable front/rear fenders (an idea that never quite caught on) and basically squeezed the life of of the biz by making everything the same. They also tried to replace all the UAW guys with robots, so they weren't all bad.


You need bean counters to keep track of the beans, but you also need someone who loves the product. Hollywood is another example. The old moguls were rapacious rat bastards, but they loved making movies. Today, the bean counters run the show and we get Die Hard Part 256 and Transformers N+1. Not a Casablanca in sight.

Posted by: SteveS at July 25, 2013 7:04 PM

Thanks Chris, but I prefer the 455, biggest block alive, she was made for the straight-aways, grew up hatin' chevrolets, she's a rocket, she was made to burn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQZV6q00sUc

Posted by: Casca at July 25, 2013 9:47 PM

I'd link a video of Big Block Rock by the Blubinos from Portland Oregon but I can't find it anywhere.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 26, 2013 11:51 AM

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