It’s interesting to look around in Detroit, where I go every few years, and recognize the preponderance of cars from U.S. automakers – Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.
Everywhere you look are Fords and Chevys and Dodges and Cadillacs.
Back home in Denver, a look up and down the streets and in the parking lots will show a strong mix of Subarus, Toyotas and Hondas thinning out the domestic labels.
The difference is that the Big Three U.S. auto companies are based in Detroit, always have been.
So, it is no surprise that Michigan is by far the “most patriotic” of all states in purchases of new cars and trucks.
Figures provided by TrueCar (an automotive analysis company) showed that 79.2 percent of new vehicles sold in Michigan in the past year were built by Chrysler, Ford and GM. Midwestern states dominate the remainder of the top 10.
North Dakota was second with 68.1 percent, followed by South Dakota 65.6, Iowa 63.2, Wyoming 62.6, Montana 61.1, Nebraska 59.7, Oklahoma 59, Arkansas 55.7 and Indiana 54.5. Colorado is far down the list at around 40 percent.
The 10 states least likely to buy new domestic vehicles, according to TrueCar, are Hawaii at only 19.4 percent, followed by District of Columbia at 22.6, California 22.9, Connecticut 25.8, Massachusetts 25.8, New Jersey 26.7, Rhode Island 28.7, Florida 29.8, Maryland 30.3 and Washington 30.6.
Drawing in Boulder for Shelby GT500
Representatives of the Shelby American Collection in Boulder have begun selling tickets for a chance to win a 2014 Shelby Mustang GT500 to support museum operations, and in celebration of next year’s 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang.
Only 4,000 tickets, at $50, will be sold, according to Steve Volk, one of the founders of the Shelby American Collection. The drawing will be at the museum’s annual fundraising party Sept. 14 in Boulder.
“This car is equipped with the most powerful production V-8 engine ever built, and is arguably Ford’s ultimate muscle car to date,” said Volk.
For more information, visit ShelbyAmericanCollection.org on the web.
Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.
