Cars & Parts writer Dave Duricy dared me not to read his column The Chryslerist in the July 2010 issue. Like the build quality of a Yugo, I failed miserably.

It’s a good article with a lot of historical information packed onto one page. I also like direct quotes from somebody who was there when the car was new. Quotes help to avoid the dreaded Book Report Syndrome.

I like these kinds of articles, but as with all cars up to about 1930, I found myself wanting to feel what it’s like to drive one of these pre-war jalopies. I wonder how this article could have played out as a video.

Maybe short one-pagers like this would be a good way to expand the Cars & Parts brand by creating short videos about the cars that could accompany the print articles. After all, magazines won’t be the exclusive outlet for classic car stories forever. Once the Hemmings Geezer Generation is eating tapioca in a nursing home, younger classic car fans will demand content that appeals to them in their preferred medium or media.

Just a little burst of cognitive speed there.

P.S. Nice Vance Packard reference at the end of the article, Dave.

Tags: DeSoto