27 replies to this topic

[David Birchall]

Magazines come and go but why did "Super Car Classics" have to go? It was the best presented classic car mag with the best writers and subjects. Ten years later I still get copies out just to read the same articles again. OK it had a dumb name but what happened to it?

[dbw]

check with the press....i'm sure mr.nye has been in touch with kobayashi san.......[considering the state of the economy over there i'm amazed CG still exists.]

[Jack-the-Lad]

Yes, Supercar Classics was wonderful. I believe I have a complete set. I think it was associated with Car magazine and probably didn't generate sufficient revenue to justify its production costs. It reached a point where it was profiling cars that didn't correspond with the magazine's title (I own a 914/6 and, as much as I love it, it is no supercar!), so maybe lack of suitable editorial content was also a problem. The title certainly limited the available subject matter. After all, how many true "supercars" have there ever been?

Jack

[dbw]

sorry..have i confused "supercar classics" with "supercar graphic"?....never heard of the former and couldn't afford the latter.
apologies..[BTW scg was a wondeful publication..i think one of the best..even better if you could read japanese]

[David Birchall]

No, I realy mean "Supercar Classics". Published in the UK from about early 84 to 1992?. in late 1991 it morphed into "Car Classics" and then just disappeared in 1992. The writers included: Ronald "Steady" Barker, David Burgiss-Wise, LJK Setright, George Bishop, Roger Bell, Mark Gillies, Steve Cropley, Ian Fraser and Nick Baldwin (Does he contribute to this Forum? and if not...) amongst many others. The magazine seldom if ever got bogged down in "Grey Porridge" and had an international appeal. It was published by Andrew Frankl so maybe we should just ask him.

As regards "Car Graphic". I wondered about the reference to Kobayashi. A great magazine but you needed a Japanese girlfriend to really get the full benefit from it...the magazine I mean.
I was stunned on an occasion when I went into a tobacconists in Tokyo (I used to work for an airline), picked up a copy of "Car Graphic", flipped through it and found a picture of me racing!! As you can imagine I was screaming at the japanese girl at the counter "Thats me! Thats me!" and she was smiling and bowing in time with my yells! It was an article on the Monterey Historics in 1979. Needless to say, I still have the magazine.

[Paul Newby]

Yes, Supercar Classics was a great read. I've just recently pulled out the box with all my copies in it (plus copies of far too many other magazines) and been going through them. I don't have a complete set, although I appear to be missing a few that I thought I had Don't you hate it when they go missing!

Supercar Classic started off as a quarterly in 1984, went monthly in 1987 and finished in September 1991. Jack the Lad is correct in that, by the time they got to 1991, all the supercars had been done to death and there were articles on just classics - but thankfully no grey porridge! 1991 also happened to be just after the classic car market had peaked and there was a mini-recession, so advertsing revenue for the classic motor trade may have tailed off.

Coincidentally this was the same time that Australia's great specialist car magazine Sports Car World , ironically started by Ian Fraser (whose publishing house FF Publishing started Supercar Classics) finally folded - apparently halfway through the production of an issue! SCW's demise was pure accounting, it had been supported by big brother Wheels and a new accounting system meant that it had to pay its own way. I suspect that Car was no longer willing to support Supercar Classics.

There were attempts to fill this niche in the market with Car Classics in 1992 (4 editions ) and then Superclassics in 1996 (I think) again with 4 copies, but its time has passed. Classic car magazines are now more egalitarian and the "greed is good '80s" gone forever ;)

[baggish]

Originally posted by Paul Newby
There were attempts to fill this niche in the market with Car Classics in 1992 (4 editions ) and then Superclassics in 1996 (I think) again with 4 copies, but its time has passed. Classic car magazines are now more egalitarian and the "greed is good '80s" gone forever ;)

Two minor corrections: there were actually nine editions of Car Classics in 1992. Superclassics was 1995.

Jon

[Paul Newby]

Originally posted by baggish


Two minor corrections: there were actually nine editions of Car Classics in 1992. Superclassics was 1995.

Jon

That's interesting? We only ever got 4 copies of Car Classics surface mail in Australia. As for Superclassics, there were only four of those, weren't there? And I was taking a guess on the year - those mags are underneath my Evos on the shelf.

[baggish]

Originally posted by Paul Newby
That's interesting? We only ever got 4 copies of Car Classics surface mail in Australia. As for Superclassics, there were only four of those, weren't there? And I was taking a guess on the year - those mags are underneath my Evos on the shelf.

Yes, I believe there were four Superclassics. My memory is a little hazy over Car Classics, but I believe I took out a subscription. I don't have issue 5: if I remember correctly, I couldn't find it in the shops here in the UK and so took out a subscription to save the effort. Looks like they stopped shipping to Australia at the same time. Issue 9 is the last one I have.

Originally posted by Paul Newby
Classic car magazines are now more egalitarian and the "greed is good '80s" gone forever .

Yes, it's a strange paradox in a way that when Supercar Classics was being produced in the "greed is good '80s", no (or relatively few) new supercars were being produced. So they quickly ran out of subjects. Now, those days are supposedly gone forever and yet we have Cizetas, Paganis, Farbouds, Ferrari Enzos, new Lamborghinis, not to mention Maybachs, etc, etc, all described faithfully in Evo as you say.

Jon

[PRD]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by David Birchall
[B]No, I realy mean "Supercar Classics". Published in the UK from about early 84 to 1992?. in late 1991 it morphed into "Car Classics" and then just disappeared in 1992. The writers included: Ronald "Steady" Barker, David Burgiss-Wise, LJK Setright, George Bishop, Roger Bell, Mark Gillies, Steve Cropley, Ian Fraser and Nick Baldwin (Does he contribute to this Forum? and if not...) amongst many others. The magazine seldom if ever got bogged down in "Grey Porridge" and had an international appeal. It was published by Andrew Frankl so maybe we should just ask him.


The publishers were acquired by Murdoch magazines and they binned it in September 91. Excellent magazine with great writing, but making it a monthly rather than quarterly meant they had to spread their material rather thinly. Pretty much the same ground is covered by Classic & Sportscar now, which I think is marginally better than Classic Cars.

Paul

[Jack-the-Lad]

Well, I just sorted out my magazine collection and discovered that I'm missing the Winter 1984 issue of Supercar Classics. If anyone has one (or knows of one) for sale please send me a message.

Many thanks.

Jack

[group7]

I know that this thread has long been dormant. I wonder if anyone has a copy of Super Car Classics, autumn 1983, with a Ferrari daytona on the cover, if anyone has one for sale please let me know.

 

 

Thank You..Mike and a Happy Christmas.

[Paul Parker]

I know that this thread has long been dormant. I wonder if anyone has a copy of Super Car Classics, autumn 1983, with a Ferrari daytona on the cover, if anyone has one for sale please let me know.

 

 

Thank You..Mike and a Happy Christmas.

 

I have a complete run of these but at the moment they are languishing in UK storage and the problem is that accessing them costs £25 + VAT, doncha just luv the way that we are punished by HM Treasury and the administrative classes.

[backfire]

Just come across this thread. As I understand it (speaking to the final editor Mark Gillies at the time of the closure), Supercar Classics was run at a loss by FF Publishing (at the time they could well afford it from the profits of their other titles) as they just wanted to produce the best classic car mag they could. 

When EMAP bought FF they were horrified by the cost of Supercar's production and immediately canned it. I understand Mark tried to buy the title from EMAP without success, so I suspect that the title name is now with Bauer who took over EMAP Publishing.

It's no secret that Supercar Classics was one of the inspirations behind the launch of Octane 

[Jack-the-Lad]

Is there a definitive list somewhere of exactly how many issues there were of "Supercar Classics" and their cover dates?  Not the predecessors or successors, just ScC.  I have what I believe is a complete set  and would like to have them bound, but I'd hate to do that and then find out there are one or two more issues that need to be stuck in!

 

Thanks.

 

Jack

[cooper997]

This is as up to date as I currently know - as I don't have every one. Clarification from other TNF members would be good.

 

Autumn 83 – cover Ferrari Daytona Spyder. First issue.

 

Winter 83/84 – cover 4 Porsches.

 

 

Spring 84 – cover Jaguar D Type.  

 

Summer 84 – cover Ferrari 275GTB/4 ??

 

Autumn 84 – cover Bugatti T51 & 59.

 

Winter (84)/85 – cover 6 Lancia Stratos.

 

 

Spring 85 – cover Aston Martin DB3S with roof.

 

Summer 85 – cover Ferrari 250GTO.

 

Autumn 85 – cover 2 E Types. 

 

Winter 85/86 – cover BMW M1.

 

 

Spring 86 – cover Lamborghini Miura.

 

Summer 86 –  cover Alfa Romeo ‘Nuvolari’s’ 8C 2300.

 

Autumn 86 – cover RRC Walker Moss Ferrari 250GT.

 

 

Winter 87 – cover Maserati Bora.

 

June 87 – cover 2 Austin Healeys.  First monthly issue

 

July 87 – cover AC Cobra.

 

Aug 87 – cover Mille Miglia.

 

Sept 87 – cover Ferrari 212 Barchetta.

 

Oct 87 – cover Lotus Elite.

 

Nov 87 – cover Iso Grifo.

 

Dec 87 – cover Aston Martin DBR2 sport racer.

 

 

Jan 88 - cover Porsche 911

 

Feb 88 - cover Maserati 250F.

 

Mar 88 - cover red Countach.

 

Apr 88 – cover Ferrari Lusso in field.

 

May 88 – cover Lightweight E Type.

 

June 88 – cover ????Porsche 550 Spyder.

 

July 88 – cover Muira & Daytona

 

Aug 88 – cover Corvette.

 

Sept 88 - cover red Ferrari 308GTB.

 

Oct 88 - cover Lamborghini Espada.

 

Nov 88 - cover ‘rally’ Porsche 911.

 

Dec 88 - cover Mercedes Benz W196.

 

 

Jan 89 - cover E Type & DB5.

 

Feb 89 - cover orange Lotus Elan.

 

Mar 89 - cover red Ferrari Dino.

 

Apr 89 - cover Porsche 356, Citroen & MB 280SL.

 

May 89 – cover XK SS

 

June 89 - cover Alpine A110 & 911.

 

July 89 - cover 250LM. 

 

Aug 89 - cover big Healey. 

 

Sept 89 - cover Stirling Moss & 300SLR. 

 

Oct 89 - cover Lamborghini Urraco.

 

Nov 89 - cover Jaguar XK120 & Vincent Rapide.

 

Dec 89 - cover 6 Lancias.

 

 

Jan 90 – cover 2 AC Cobra Daytonas.

 

Feb 90 - cover Jensen Interceptor.

 

Mar 90 – cover Ferrari 365GT4-BB.

 

Apr 90 - cover Porsche 911s.

 

May 90 - cover 300SL Gullwing.

 

June 90 - cover Lotus 72 & Esprit.

 

July 90 - cover Jaguar C Type.

 

Aug 90 - cover Aston Martin DB5 ‘’007.

 

Sept 90 - cover Ferrari convertibles.

 

Oct 90 - cover 4 Alfas.

 

Nov 90 - cover 'GRX 5D' Works Mini.

 

Dec 90 – cover Jaguar XK120. 

 

 

Jan 91 - cover Porsche 924.

 

Feb 91 - cover Ford GT40s.

 

Mar 91 – cover MGB (now Supercar & Classics). 

 

Apr 91 - cover Aston DB4GT & Ferrari 250SWB. 

 

May 91 – cover TR4, Benz & 356.

 

June 91 - cover AC Cobra '39 PH'.

 

July 91 - cover 3 Jaguar E types.

 

Aug 91 – cover 512BB, Countach, Pantera, M1 & Bora.

 

Sept 91 - cover Aston Martin. Final issue.

 

 

Stephen

 

edited to include JB Miltonian's corrections/addition

Edited by cooper997, 31 December 2014 - 03:33.

[Librules]

 

When EMAP bought FF they were horrified by the cost of Supercar's production and immediately canned it. I understand Mark tried to buy the title from EMAP without success, so I suspect that the title name is now with Bauer who took over EMAP Publishing.

It's no secret that Supercar Classics was one of the inspirations behind the launch of Octane 

I was interested in the mention of Bauer in the UK.   They must have a big influence globally in what we get to read in print these days.   Living Downunder I only recently became aware that they have purchased all the ACP titles which covers many genres, but in the motoring sense includes  Wheels/Motor/Auto Action/Street Machine and possibly others.  So far they seem a benevolent dictator but time will tell.  Maybe Ray can tell us what they're like from the inside.....

[john aston]

Supercar Classics , unlike Octane , did not feature an excess of lifestyle features and the house style wasn't one of unutterable smugness either. Shame, because Octane has some good features - well written and illustrated- but I am afraid its editor's scribblings are often patronising and elitist tosh .

[Jack-the-Lad]

Thank you, Stephen.  I'll check your list against what I have.

 

Jack

[David Birchall]

Cooper 997--Thanks a lot!! Now I realise how many I am missing!

[cooper997]

Glad it's of assistance Jack & David.

 

If either of you (or anyone else) can help fill in any of the gaps, then I'll edit that list to complete it.

 

Stephen

[ensign14]

Supercar Classics , unlike Octane , did not feature an excess of lifestyle features and the house style wasn't one of unutterable smugness either. Shame, because Octane has some good features - well written and illustrated- but I am afraid its editor's scribblings are often patronising and elitist tosh .

 

Yet Octane has been going for longer than Supercar Classics managed.  Perhaps the lifestyle features are the price to pay...

[backfire]

Yet Octane has been going for longer than Supercar Classics managed.  Perhaps the lifestyle features are the price to pay...

 

You are probably right. The sort of money FF spent on features would be totally unfeasible today with the gradual demise of the printed media. It may have been the August '91 cover shoot (I can't be bothered to go up to the loft to check), but I can remember Tim Wren (ace snapper) telling me that they had taken all the cars to Scotland on a transporter and then flown everybody (inc. owners) up & wined and dined during the two day shoot.

 

A lot of the feature cars in Octane (& other classic mags) are being marketed for sale & in many cases, at least the photography comes from the marketing budget (i.e. mag gets them for free) - this is particularly true of studio shoots. If Supercar Classics wasn't commercially viable back in the day (as I said in my previous post, it was subsidised by the other titles from FF, Car, Truck & Truck and Driver), then we are not going to see it's exact like again.

[JB Miltonian]

Stephen:  Since you asked for corrections, I have a couple of minor items to report.

 

The Mercedes in the group shot on the cover of April 1989 is a 280SL, not a 230SL.

 

The Ferrari on the cover of March 1990 is a 365GT4 BB, not a 512BB.

 

I believe the cover of Summer 1984 is a Ferrari 275GTB/4, but I don't have that issue to confirm.

 

I'm missing the first six issues of Supercar Classics, but have all the rest.  One of my favorites!

[cooper997]

Thanks to JB Miltonian for the corrections & additional info.

 

Here's the cover from the first issue, Autumn 1983.

 

how to take a screen shot

 

Gavin Green, must have taken over the editorial chair after only a few issues of SCC. Another Aussie motoring journalist and son of Evan Green. Amongst the many caps Evan wore was BMC Australia PR, Donald Campbell's Lake Eyre PR, Trials director & competitor, newspaper reporter, book author & TV presenter. It was while Evan was a director at GMH in the late 70's, Gavin had the editor's chair for the Holden Parts and Accesories 'Pointers' magazine. I haven't looked at a 'CAR' magazine in years, so I'm not sure if GG's still involved with the title.

 

Stephen

 

 

[john aston]

I only skim Car in the newsagents but read the odd copy at dentists.I stopped getting it in about 1990 . GG is  still involved and does an opinion piece; as excellent as he always was. But the rest of the mag is terrible as far as I can see; factoids instead of articles and a sneering , pun-laden and hyperbolic style which would be fine in a music fanzine but which is pretty ghastly in this format. Setright , Bishop , Llewellin , Manney and Bulgin would be rotating in their graves. Those unfamiliar with Car in the early years may be surprised to hear that it covered motor sport very well indeed - I especially recall a long interview between Setright and Chapman which was in contrast to the sort of press release flim- flam we get now

[Roger Clark]

I subscribed to Car for many years but cancelled after it merged with Performance Car. It seemed to me that the editorial style of Performance Car had taken over, even though the Car title was retained. There is a book available, The Best of Car, the 70s and 80s which contains contributions from most of the best writers, but no Bulgin, unfortunately.

I've got most of the monthly Supercar Classics listed above. I used the have the quarterly ones but I don't know where they are!

[Alan Cox]

I'm missing the first six issues of Supercar Classics, but have all the rest.  One of my favorites!

A couple of your missing issues currently on offer, JB:

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item27f5994fcc

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1c2992cd8f

I note that a couple of copies of the first issue have recently realised prices ranging from a bargain £1.49 to £39.99 on eBay