Below are excepts from my web site in terms of actual magazines profiles themselves these are my own opinions, researched in some cases like Autocar magazine - been exposed to 61 years of their magazines from cover to cover!
Then there are many sites out there reviewing magazines in terms of their profile (some are just skeltons with information grabbers that grab other peoples reviews and hard work and no doubt this will be grabbed)
but none I believe have had 61 years of experience in my 34 years reviewing Automotive magazines behind them
I Believe below are the definite works:
Lets begin with the A's
Auto Italia
A Relatively recent glossy magazine from 1996. This is a specialist and highly sought after magazine for those who own, drive and wish to own Italian Cars.
The features are very well researched and cover previews and road tests of cars available in Europe and Britain.
There is always a new cars tested although they are more advertorial but sometimes there is extensive section on buying a particular Italian cars and reports on Motorsport events are included.
Many cars to drool over!
New Entry Oct 4 2007 / Update 8th June 2008
After going through just over 77 magazines lent to me from cover to cover 1999-2007 documenting almost everthing - I now find myself questioning the first entry. Yes this is a high quality magazine but there are times when the quality is not what it should be.
There are many instances I have discovered with the so called tests of new cars that quality is questionable most serve as glorified advertorial and somethings it is not clear of a selection cars shown in the photos which is the car that actually was tested and what model! (most frustrating...!)
Although they are first to gain access in Italy to the latest Italian cars which is good but you have to raise the question : How tight are they with the manufacturers? Therefor as I have often observed in my opinion there has not been as much critizm of a particular car vs other magazines.
On The Classic and Historic front this is usually first class and in many cases offers additional material over other contemporary Classic magazines which have featured the exact same vehicles but an annoying trend is to profile or drive a classic car but not state the actual year or model which is frustrating for enthusists like myself.
Are these instances caused by its writers enjoying too much of of a good time samping the vino and forgetting the job at hand! :)
Issued: Monthly Availability:
Editor Phil Ward (his son Michael contributes with him to many of the photos; although both seem to be on site and there has been the odd situation where only 1 photo has been taken and both have claimed they have done it; so does one hold the camera for the other or is it simply one takes the photos while other develops hmmmm....)
For Kiwis
Very few retailers. Although Whitcoulls & Books and More has been known to stock it and usually those with extensive magazine offerings
Libraries in NZ: No one! Pity!
Fiat Club NZ -Wgtn has 77 copies since Aug 1999 to April 2007 (I temporarly have those which will be going back later this month lent to me by David Brise) and no doubt later editions
TradeMe: Rare to find it -Only Noticed a few turn up over the last 2 years
Indexed by me off -line : Aug 99 #36- April 2007 #131 in depth to Chassis no, ownership ship details etc
Listed On the my website January 2006 -April 2007
Source www.carmagreviews.co.nz
Australian Classic Car
Produced originally as an off-shoot of NZ Classic Car? (or were they at one stage a seperate entity) in the early 1990s by Australian Classic Motoring Press.
Features in their early days sometimes shared with those of the NZ magazine and the format and coverage was similar in its earlier days and in fact currently format similar still to NZ Classic Car in late 1990s!
Features include reader’s cars, restoration and workshop tips, and history.
Some of its earlier features were far superior for a time over its NZ Equivalent in my opinion!
For Kiwis
Issued: Monthly Availability: Impossible to find
Have not seen it stocked in New Zealand for some years Australian Distributorship of Magazines and newspapers has always been poor! (I know this from an earlier life as an Australia media Rep..when I worked for APN)
Libraries in NZ: No one stocks it! Pity Please send an email to julian.walls@xtra.co.nz
TradeMe: Rarely comes up very occassionaly particularly 1995-1998 period and these are highly sought!
Source www.carmagreviews.co.nz
Australian Muscle Car
Wow! What can I say -Probably the best magazine to come out of Australia in years if not the world!
The coverage is extensive. Wealth of information is impressive and writing is very detailed and researched. Covers any ‘muscle car’ that was either built, designed or raced in Australia
The Magazines hit the newsstands and they disappear quickly like zoooooooooooom!
Issued: Bi-Monthly Availability: (although I wish they put month issues on the cover as opposed to numbers!) Most magazine retailers, but you have got to be quick!
For Kiwis
Libraries in NZ: No one stocks it as far as I know, although Wellington Public Library has #19 as free sample from the local distributors! and as of April 2008 it was still there
Personal Collection: I have most of them since #8 Please send an email to julian.walls@xtra.co.nz if you know who does
TradeMe: Early Issues particularly Issue #1-3 can fetch up to $120 NZ each! later issues commonly in the teen #s bids from $25-45 each! Indexed by me: From issue #8 to the latest.
I understand they have produced a CD of their earlier issues thats worth looking for!
Source my web site www.carmagreviews.co.nz
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Autocar (UK)
The longest serving car magazine in the world. This has been going strong since 1895,apart from the printing strikes in the seventies. They even printed during World War I and II!
Format has changed a number of times over the year, but the most notable change was when the Australians of Cropley and Co showed the Brits how it should be done. During the seventies in my opinion the magazine (like its weekly competitor Motor) was bit of a dogs dinner full of advertisements with little in the way of car features.
Many of its early technical features were aimed at academic circles and not aimed at the average persons in the street (high-brow stuff with partial extracts from engineering seminars!).
Autocar took over Motor in 1987 and for a time the magazine was sold as Autocar & Motor until
the Motor name was dropped quietly in the 1990s. In present form its a full glossy magazine, often one of first with pictures of new cars. Road tests are extensively detailed, and it is still the best in the world in this arena in my opinion. (as word Test by others has been abused!)
However the Sports Reports are complete CRAP! Who cares what happens behind the scenes? - clearly you aiming this at E Channel Audience who have age mentality of less then 6 years old
Looking back in 1950s-1980s you produced very good reports if not excellent - although in the 19 50s you would often say "1st British home' and you spent 1-2 pages on a Brit coming 3rd while the actual non Brit winner would recieve several lines of text but still it was a bloody REPORT!Clearly you need to Pull your head in -In this AREA!
Issued: Weekly
Editor: Chas Hallet
For Kiwis
Availability: Whitcoulls and most magazine shops (although if you want the latest by air this can be expensive)
Libraries in NZ: Most central public libraries around the country stock it. National Library (Wellington) has it from 1947 (although I am told there are a very few in the veteran period as attested by fellow historians and car club researchers ).
Wellington public library used to have most from 1947 but last year turfed them out and now these only go as far back as 1986!!!
Road Test annuals since 1965 -1980 go to National Library (Palmerston North in Tremaine Street) for a look where there are also heaps of car manuals 1906-1985, which is not commonly known).
Indexed by me: extensively and reviewed 1947-2001. I also reviewed Motor 1947-1973 and 1982-1987.
source my website www.carmagreviews.co.nz
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Friday, June 6, 2008
Obscure Italian Car Makers & Models begining with A
Its been almost a year since I last posted here as my own website keeps me very busy as its very labour intensive it can take up to 3 hours to one hand type a issue of Classic & Sportscar magazine (as theres a hell of a lot of guff before you reach the features sometimes guys loose a few columists will you?) vs 30 minutes to do the weekly Autocar of the UK (Its not as good as it once was..pity The Racing Reports are complete crap!)
- I had intended to carry on with this series months ago but I was waiting until I had finished the 77 Auto Italias lent to me in May 2007 (soon to be returned) by David Brise of the Fiat Club NZ I covered the period in depth of everything in those magazines from March 1999 to April 2007
2006-2007 is on line while 1999-2007 I have another database on 300+Excel Spread sheets which records on particular car what it is where it can be found, who owns it who formally owned it ; did it race? when was it built? What s the chassis number whats the Reg new vs now ; Who Restored it etc
My Function and focus is to give you readers some references rather then going into any great depth on history of the cars _ i sure they many experts out there who know a hell lot more then I do
So to start todays post we going to start from A and work away through Z - I had originally done Lombardi way back in June 2007 (as its always interested me this unusual maker as 6 or so turned up in Right Hand Drive form in Australia in 1971) However in trying to gain photos I recieved nil response Efforts to gain photos from other european websites and clubs even when I asked permission drew a strong no particarly from a guy in Belgium which is sad that some enthusists are bit selfish with their images and ability to help others so I ask those of you who have photos of cars to reply to my blogg
Good place to start would Carlo Abarth's company . Most Italian enthusists associate Abarth as a company that modifies exsisting cars particularly Fiat true thats how they started and more less what they are today although they are owned by Fiat
So rather then going into the History itself I present you the reader to read up on it yourself
as per always give references
Note in brackets
(Aus) =Australia
(GB) =Great Britain / United Kingdom
(I) = Italy
(NZ) = New Zealand
(US) = United States
Book References (These are Reviews I referenced)
History References
- I had intended to carry on with this series months ago but I was waiting until I had finished the 77 Auto Italias lent to me in May 2007 (soon to be returned) by David Brise of the Fiat Club NZ I covered the period in depth of everything in those magazines from March 1999 to April 2007
2006-2007 is on line while 1999-2007 I have another database on 300+Excel Spread sheets which records on particular car what it is where it can be found, who owns it who formally owned it ; did it race? when was it built? What s the chassis number whats the Reg new vs now ; Who Restored it etc
My Function and focus is to give you readers some references rather then going into any great depth on history of the cars _ i sure they many experts out there who know a hell lot more then I do
So to start todays post we going to start from A and work away through Z - I had originally done Lombardi way back in June 2007 (as its always interested me this unusual maker as 6 or so turned up in Right Hand Drive form in Australia in 1971) However in trying to gain photos I recieved nil response Efforts to gain photos from other european websites and clubs even when I asked permission drew a strong no particarly from a guy in Belgium which is sad that some enthusists are bit selfish with their images and ability to help others so I ask those of you who have photos of cars to reply to my blogg
Good place to start would Carlo Abarth's company . Most Italian enthusists associate Abarth as a company that modifies exsisting cars particularly Fiat true thats how they started and more less what they are today although they are owned by Fiat
So rather then going into the History itself I present you the reader to read up on it yourself
as per always give references
Note in brackets
(Aus) =Australia
(GB) =Great Britain / United Kingdom
(I) = Italy
(NZ) = New Zealand
(US) = United States
Book References (These are Reviews I referenced)
- Abarth Guide FAZA -by A S Cosentino and Nigensha; USA - December 1985 Auto & Design ( I ) Page 69
- Abarth Fiat Based Cars by Andrea & David Sparrow ; Published by Veloce - 24March to 20April 2006 Auto Italia (GB) Page 18 Issue No. 117
History References
- On Four Wheels 1973-1975 Edition Published in weekly parts by Orbis Publishing page 5-9 'At the sign of the Scorpion' by Piero Casucci
- Brief History feature -6 December 1989 Autocar (GB) Page 65
- History "Sting in the Tail" -August 1987 Car (GB) Page 138-142
- History -"Why it died" - May 1997 Car (GB) Page 82-83
- Lot more to be added (indirectly history often mentioned as part of a feature on a particular car)
Cars themselves now I admit I am bit confused with regard to some of the models if you Abarth enthusist ..you probably can correct me on this ..
So broadly we will look at the period 1950-1959
205 VIGNALE BERLINETTA
- February 1991 Classic & Sportscar (GB) Page 70+ (here I have not reviewed in person)
- May 1990 Road & Track (US) Page 142-147
205A Coupe GT 1950 -The Fischer Green Star
- Featured at Auction -Photo only Coming auction Christies Retromobile 14 Feb 2004 Paris -Feb2004 Auto Italia (GB) Issue #90
- Mentioned at Italian cars at auction -events highlights 1950 Abarth 205A-The Fischer Green Star (see Feb news page) unique life in hands of Austrian enthusist racer Hermut Fischer selling for 105750 Euros; April 2004 Auto Italia (GB) Page 12 Issue # 92
207A SPYDER 1100 1955 : 1089cc; 66 bhp body designed by Boano of Torino and built by Menere (Abarth body builder)
Preview when new in Italy -18th Feb 1955 Autocar (GB) page 226
Preview when new in Italy - September 1955 Modern Motor (Aus) Page 48-49;81 Volume 2 Issue No 4
Preview Retropective including History of car owned a Us enthusist November 1982 Motor Trend (US) Page 102-103;105-106
to be continued...
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