Author: Mark Swingle
Mark has been a technical writer for many years, working for automotive suppliers. He has always been an avid reader of magazines and websites dedicated to the domestic auto industry, and spent a lot of time analyzing sales trends in changing automotive markets. Mark’s fascination with the automotive industry began by reading yearbooks as a young child that highlighted the yearly changes cars used to receive every fall. From that, he developed a love of model car building.
The cars of his childhood were mainly large Ford and Chevrolet sedans. Some of his previous restoration projects include a 1967 Plymouth Valiant, a 1980 Plymouth Volare Road Runner, and a 1989 Dodge Dakota Sport Convertible.
You can reach Mark at +1.516-531-4021.
09/19/2020
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Jeep Gladiator gets a Willys Edition for 2021
For 2021, it appears Gladiator is following in the footsteps of Wrangler by adding a Willys model that upgrades a Sport with better off road capability. Willys isn’t Rubicon level, but has some nice upgrades and the package contains a nice discount as was the case with the Wrangler’s Willys editions. Some parts of the […]
04/14/2020
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Bronco vs. Wrangler – A battle a long time in the making
The Jeep Wrangler can trace its lineage back to the old military Jeeps. Rumor has it that in the 1960s, Ford wanted a bigger part of the military market (which Ford saw as potentially very profitable) and the original Ford Bronco was an attempt to lure the military away from the Jeep designs. If so, […]
04/09/2020
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Diagnosing and configuring your modern Mopar
With the complexity of modern cars, even a do-it-yourself mechanic needs some diagnostic help in their toolkit. I recently decided to try OBD JScan. It’s an app for iPhone and Android targeted at Jeeps but it also supports many other FCA vehicles. I found that the application shows support for even more vehicles than the […]
03/02/2020
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Should Ford take the SUV path less traveled?
With the upcoming Ford Bronco and the Ford “Maverick” (the likely name for the baby Bronco), it seems Ford is taking an interesting path for its more rugged CUVs/SUVs. Current Ford CUVs like Escape, EcoSport, and Edge are likely to remain on-road based offerings, which is the segment with the most buyers. But Bronco and […]
02/28/2020
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Could Peugeot be the source for a new Ram Dakota?
With PSA joining with FCA, much of the discussion has been on possible products for the US brands, mostly focused on Chrysler’s thin lineup. But there’s another possible product for a North American brand – the Peugeot Landtrek, a surprisingly capable pickup developed with a Chinese partner. What if this could become the basis for […]
02/20/2020
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Was 2019 a boom for pickup trucks? Yes, but not a record
There has been a lot of talk about the growth of pickup truck sales in the US. In reality, truck sales still haven’t quite hit the volume in the US they reached in 2005. 2005 was a good year, but then truck sales plummeted in 2008 and 2009, and have been on the rebound every […]
12/31/2019
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Mustang Mach-E First Editions Reservation Full
It seemed that Ford putting the Mustang name on a CUV, an electric powered one at that, generated a little bit of controversy among the Mustang faithful. However, Ford has announced that it has filled the reservation list for the First Edition models of the Mustang Mach-E. The First Edition costs $61,000 and is based […]
12/10/2019
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Who makes the best police cars?
When is a police car not a police car? When it’s a Chevy Tahoe, Ford Explorer, or Dodge Durango, or even an F-150 pickup. The only traditional police cars left are the Dodge Charger and, bending the rules a bit, the Ford Fusion Hybrid. (Ford does not actually use the civilian labels on its cars, […]
07/08/2019
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Market Share Analysis – Full Size Trucks First Half 2019
The full-size pickup truck market is 2 million plus sales per year market in the US. The market has been growing steadily after the economic shock a decade ago. It is possible the full-size truck market may continue to grow even if the overall new vehicle market contracts for 2019. There are three major players, […]
07/03/2019
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Lee Iacocca Dead at 94
Lido Anthony “Lee” Iacocca has died at the age of 94 from natural causes. He is survived by two daughters and eight grandchildren. He was born October 15, 1924 to parents who had immigrated from Italy. He rose to the position of #2 at Ford, before his infamous firing. He is credited with being the […]
