Remember way back when there were almost no foreign cars on America's highways? General Motors, Ford and Chrysler were the major games in town. G.M. had a sliding scale of cars based on your economic wherewithal.

The millionaires drove around town in Cadillacs: a Cadillac proved a man's worth. If a man could afford to buy a "Caddie" he was obviously a man of means and a fine gentleman.

Next on the sliding scale came the Oldsmobile. Unfortunately the Olds has passed away recently and is not being manufactured anymore. In 1941, it had Hydramatic or something that shifted gears automatically. It was the first.

On the next rung came the Buick. In 1948, the Buick put three holes in the hood and revolutionized the automobile business. Buick had Dynaflow.

Bringing up the rear were Pontiacs and Chevrolets. They were good, serviceable cars but didn't lend as much cachet to their hardworking owners.

Ford was the makes of the T-Bird. It was a sports car for two. It lent the owner an air of wildness and panache. After a hiatus, Ford recently started making them again.

Chrysler made Dodge, Plymouth, DeSoto and the big Chrysler. Recently they were bought by Daimler-Benz which is a German car manufacturer.

I have a test for my readers:

When the next 10 cars pass you on the road, count how many were made in America.

Somewhere, somehow American cars have lost the pizzazz and are now relegated to second class. Our Japanese, Swedish and German friends have taken over the market. Cars made in the USA bearing American names are in the category of the Chevys and Fords of 35 years ago.

Personally, I have two American cars. I am not chauvinistic but I do not feel comfortable in the showroom of a foreign car-maker even though I know that some of these cars are put together in the USA. During the recent election there was a huge complaint about outsourcing. Buying foreign cars to me is a form of outsourcing.

I just counted 10 cars that passed me! Two of the 10 were made in the USA.