For a long time no one offered much of a challenge to the domination of the big car producers. Some compact and subcompact automobiles being made were by foreign manufacturers, but Detroit did not at first take seriously the possible threat of competition. During the immediate postwar era foreign-made vehicles had a reputation, usually deserved, for being poorly designed, especially with regard to comfort and basic performance. Also, imported cars were practically impossible to have repaired if something went wrong. With the exception of the Volkswagen Beetle and certain expensive luxury automobiles, foreign cars were not considered a serious option for the car-buying American public in the late 1940s and the 1950s.

Change in Attitude.

By the late 1950s certain changes had begun to occur. For one, the foreign auto companies made their cars more mechanically sound than before. Also, the demand for...