The legendary Pete Brock sent this to the legendary Carl Beck, who generously shares it with us. These are the Top 10 auto producers in the world over the past 70 years.

I found it significant to watch the Japanese output wax and wane beginning with the advent of the 240Z and the end of the 300zx production, and the Chinese and American relationships reverse, beginning with the advent of the auto bailouts and NAFTA.

Remember, half of these countries had been bombed into oblivion by WWII just 5 years before this graph begins. They were rebuilt with help from our Marshall Plan beginning in 1948. We literally paid to raise our own competition out of the ashes.

Start the "YearOdometer" to watch the numbers change.
Your thoughts are welcome.

https://para-rigger.posthaven.com/top-t ... -1950-2019

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1970 240Z

Incredible video. I think Japan's decline was also affected by the devaluation of the yen. China's growth is scary. UK almost disappeared as a player.

Thanks for sharing.

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John Kish
1971 240Z - original owner

I lived in Japan or Okinawa 6 times. Each time, the currency conversion rate was 360 Yen to a dollar. Today it is 106 Yen to a dollar. When I was there, an island-wide car club called Ichiban Guruma ("Number-One Wheels") drove souped-up Datsuns, Toyotas and Mazdas. They dressed like James Dean and mimicked the American teen delinquents of the 1950s, DA haircuts and all. You had to be really dedicated to playing the role, to wear leather motorcycle jackets on Okinawa in the summer! They spent a lot of cash on their immaculate cars and they rode around together aimlessly. Today that is probably cost-prohibitive.

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1970 240Z