Autocar (magazine)

Autocar
Autocar magazine logo
Editor Mark Tisshaw
Categories Automobile
Frequency Weekly
Circulation Decrease30,672 (1 January – 30 December 2016)[1]
Publisher Haymarket Group
Year founded 1895
First issue 2 November 1895
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Website www.autocar.co.uk

Autocar is a weekly British automobile magazine published by Haymarket Motoring Publications Ltd. It was first published in 1895[2] and refers to itself as "The World's oldest car magazine".[3] There are now several international editions including China, India, New Zealand and South Africa.

History

1897 advert for Autocar
14 October 1932 issue

The publication was launched as The Autocar by Iliffe and Sons Ltd[4] "in the interests of the mechanically propelled road carriage" on 2 November 1895 when, it is believed, there were only six or seven cars in the United Kingdom. In his book Drive On![5]

L. J. K. Setright suggests that the magazine was set up by Henry Sturmey as an organ of propaganda for Harry J. Lawson, founder of the Daimler Company and a journalist on the magazine in its early days. Henry Sturmey stood down as editor of The Autocar magazine and left the company in 1901.[6]

Autocar claims to have invented the road test in 1928 when it analysed the Austin 7 Gordon England Sunshine Saloon. Autocar has been published weekly throughout its life with only strikes in the 1970s interrupting its frequency.

In 1988 Autocar absorbed the rival magazine Motor, with which it had done battle on the newsstands since 1903. From the September 7 1988 issue the magazine became Autocar & Motor. It reverted to Autocar for the September 21 1994 issue.

The magazine has scored many firsts in its history including the first full road tests and independent performance tests of the Jaguar XJ220, McLaren F1, and the Porsche 911 GT1.

It was also the first magazine to produce independently recorded performance figures for the Bugatti Veyron, which were published in the 31 May 2006 issue.

Regular features

  • News – includes "scoop" photographs and information about still-secret future models.
  • First drives – brief road tests of new models.
  • Group tests – analysis of how a model compares relative to rivals
  • Motorsport – summaries of current racing news, predominantly in Formula 1 and rallying.
  • Road tests – Thorough test and analysis of one new model per issue. In the issue closest to Christmas, Autocar traditionally publishes a "road test" of a more unusual vehicle. These have included tests of New Routemaster, HMS Ark Royal, Concorde, and HMS Diamond.
  • Used car news
  • Long term car tests
  • New car data

Writers

In the 1950s, the magazine's sport editor, John Cooper, used Cooper T11 parts to create the Cooper-Alta.[7] Former Autocar writers include Russell Bulgin, Chris Harris, and former Top Gear presenter James May.[8]

Current Autocar writers include Richard Bremner, used car expert James Ruppert, Editor at Large Matt Prior and Editor in Chief Steve Cropley.

The current editor is Mark Tisshaw, a former deputy editor, news editor and reporter for the magazine.[9]

International editions

Autocar has been licensed to publishers around the world, and is now published in sixteen countries outside the United Kingdom, including China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam.[10]

Price

In 1952 The Autocar retailed for one shilling, equivalent to five pence in post decimalization British currency. In 1968 the cover price of Autocar was increased from two shillings to two shillings and six pence[11] (equivalent to a post decimalisation increase from ten pence to twelve and a half pence). By 1972, the price had increased fivefold in the two decades since 1952, to 25p.[12] In 1992, the price was £1.25.[8] As of June 2017, the magazine sells for £3.80.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.abc.org.uk/Products-Services/Product-Page/?tid=2444 Autocar profile at abc.org.uk
  2. ↑ "Car magazines in 1993". Mag Forum. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "The online home of the world's oldest car magazine". Autocar. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  4. ↑ Grace's guide British Industrial History Retrieved 26 February 2013
  5. ↑ Setright, L. J. K. (2004). Drive On!: A Social History of the Motor Car. Granta Books. ISBN 1-86207-698-7.
  6. ↑ Grace's guide Iliffe and Sons Retrieved 26 February 2013
  7. ↑ Kettlewell, Mike. "Cooper: Forerunner of the Modern Racing Car", in Northey, Tom, editor. World of Automobiles (London: Phoebus, 1974), Volume 4, p. 430.
  8. 1 2 "James May - Autocar - a set on Flickr". Flickr. 21 May 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "Mark Tisshaw appointed new Autocar Editor". haymarket.com. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  10. ↑ "Haymarket Media Group - Magazine - Autocar". Haymarket. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "News and Views: Autocar 2s 6d". Autocar. 128. Vol. (nbr 3752). 11 January 1968. p. 59.
  12. ↑ Jeffrey Daniels (28 May 1977). "25 Years Ago". Autocar. 146. No. 4203. pp. 58–61.
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