1993: NAIAS Detroit Auto Show

As the lights were turned up and the doors thrown open to the public at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show, more than just sheet metal was on display. For reflected in the shiny fenders and bumpers were the fortunes of the companies that came to display their wares.

Most chose to play to their strengths. For American companies, it was trucks and hot rods; for imports, bold concept cars and a mix of mid market sedans.

Chrysler, undisputed king of concepts and clearly a company on a roll, spiced this show with a trio of dream vehicles – Thunderbolt, Prowler and Ecco. Porsche helped solidify the show’s international stature and gave its flagging reputation a large boost with its Boxster. The Detroit debut for Boxster was a bold move, re-emphasizing the U.S. market’s importance to the sports car maker and putting its reputation and future success on the line with a precursor to its new 986 “entry level” car that draws heavily from its past. A lukewarm reception would have spelled disaster, but Porsche didn’t disappoint.

Still, 1992 was a particularly rough year for General Motors and that was reflected in the absence of its huge corporate display, the low profile of top execs and the dearth of concept cars from the planets largest automaker.