Word on the street is Future publications are pulling the plug on Retro Cars Mag.
I am well annoyed with this as this mag has done more for the Dolomite than any other publication.
Scotts car being just one of the many featured...........
A link to another forum.......
http://www.retrocarclub.co.uk/forums/in ... topic=4057
Thoughts.......
Demise of Retro Cars Magazine?
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1300dolly
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Lewis
>edited to sound a little less harsh 
<
It was an interesting premise which showed excellent grounding at the start of it's run but rapidly went downhill - I don't think the staff really appreciated what they were writing about or where to direct the magazine.
Unfortunateyl, after it's downfall over the last year, I'm not going to miss it. Content was usually poorly written, with an uninteresting, repetitive selection of articles which more often than not were factually incorrect - somehow the articles seemed to be lacking a certain je ne sais quais regarding the love for all things auto.
However, I guess it is a sad loss of a magazine which covers a gap that no others, at the moment, do.
I think when you look at the 'staff cars' section, you get a real good idea on how interesting the magazine will be - like PPC, with Charlie's aero engined Meteor, whatever sheddy car Kev is hacking about, Dale's totally intense antics and so on....you think "Yea, this is a rocking lot."
Then you compare it to Retro Cars as it is now :
'we bought a Citroen off ebay and polished the wheels a bit'
'we bought a pub-landlord-spec Jaguar off eBay and changed the wheels'
'we bought a van-engined porsche and made a half-ars'd track car by taking the carpet out'
Just really makes you think "hm, maybe not this month, 'eh?" It's gone to pot as well on features, it seemed to be come MG and Alfa monthly for the most part. When a magazine starts using the same photos & text from previous feature cars in its "Buyers guide" you do have to wonder if they're actually bothered or not...
The early ones were really quite good
Shall have to step in with an alternative magazine, then!
<It was an interesting premise which showed excellent grounding at the start of it's run but rapidly went downhill - I don't think the staff really appreciated what they were writing about or where to direct the magazine.
Unfortunateyl, after it's downfall over the last year, I'm not going to miss it. Content was usually poorly written, with an uninteresting, repetitive selection of articles which more often than not were factually incorrect - somehow the articles seemed to be lacking a certain je ne sais quais regarding the love for all things auto.
However, I guess it is a sad loss of a magazine which covers a gap that no others, at the moment, do.
I think when you look at the 'staff cars' section, you get a real good idea on how interesting the magazine will be - like PPC, with Charlie's aero engined Meteor, whatever sheddy car Kev is hacking about, Dale's totally intense antics and so on....you think "Yea, this is a rocking lot."
Then you compare it to Retro Cars as it is now :
'we bought a Citroen off ebay and polished the wheels a bit'
'we bought a pub-landlord-spec Jaguar off eBay and changed the wheels'
'we bought a van-engined porsche and made a half-ars'd track car by taking the carpet out'
Just really makes you think "hm, maybe not this month, 'eh?" It's gone to pot as well on features, it seemed to be come MG and Alfa monthly for the most part. When a magazine starts using the same photos & text from previous feature cars in its "Buyers guide" you do have to wonder if they're actually bothered or not...
The early ones were really quite good
Shall have to step in with an alternative magazine, then!
Last edited by Lewis on Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:12 am, edited 3 times in total.
... Still Sprintless.
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White Flame
^
Bit harsh Lewis, I think you were in it at some point!?
For me, it picked up where CCC left off, but like you say with a bit more conviction from the right staff it could go from strength to strength.
And as previously stated, our beloved Dolomites have had more than the normal press coverage in Retro
For me, it picked up where CCC left off, but like you say with a bit more conviction from the right staff it could go from strength to strength.
And as previously stated, our beloved Dolomites have had more than the normal press coverage in Retro
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Lewis
Yea I was...well, it may sound harsh but it just seems that they let it go to ruin and it kind of irritates me, it had so much potential and I did love the early ones - with Darrens Cosworth in it, twin cam conversions - I still leaf through the early ones and I do enjoy reading them....but pick up a recent one and I just put it back on the shelf and pick up PPC, Custard Car or Street Mach...<Cough> "American Car World" instead
Or maybe Practical Classics, that seems to be enjoying a bit of a resurgance at the moment
Or maybe Practical Classics, that seems to be enjoying a bit of a resurgance at the moment
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AdamF
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smifter
It'll be a big shame if it does go.
Its not as good as CCC but it makes the other classic car mags look incredibly dull - probably because it isn't written by v-neck pullover wearing 50 year old virgin obsessive complusive types with dodgy facial hair (and thats just the women!).
Typical hairy classic car magazine editor:-
I know some of the articles are getting it a bit of max power for classics image but the cars featured are almost always built by joe average and there are some innovative conversions. This months has got everything from a 2.3 lotus twincam Vauxhall Viva to a Skoda Estelle!
Nah, you can stick your picking gravel out of tyre treads monthly, Retro cars floats my boat!
p.s. No offence to you beardy types - just having a laff
Its not as good as CCC but it makes the other classic car mags look incredibly dull - probably because it isn't written by v-neck pullover wearing 50 year old virgin obsessive complusive types with dodgy facial hair (and thats just the women!).
Typical hairy classic car magazine editor:-
I know some of the articles are getting it a bit of max power for classics image but the cars featured are almost always built by joe average and there are some innovative conversions. This months has got everything from a 2.3 lotus twincam Vauxhall Viva to a Skoda Estelle!
Nah, you can stick your picking gravel out of tyre treads monthly, Retro cars floats my boat!
p.s. No offence to you beardy types - just having a laff
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1300dolly
got to agree with lewis about the buyers guide section.
buying a second hand head and
buying second hand wheels seem to be a very regular feature with the odd buying second hand brakes thrown in.
The staff were changed after about a year and their own cars feature heavily but is this because there is a lack of intrest in readers sending in their own storys. acase of i' cant be arsed to write a story but want everyone else to'
But i do hope they carry on as i has done a lot of good for the retro scene.
Didn't miss you Al, looks like we are reading from the same book.
buying a second hand head and
buying second hand wheels seem to be a very regular feature with the odd buying second hand brakes thrown in.
The staff were changed after about a year and their own cars feature heavily but is this because there is a lack of intrest in readers sending in their own storys. acase of i' cant be arsed to write a story but want everyone else to'
But i do hope they carry on as i has done a lot of good for the retro scene.
Didn't miss you Al, looks like we are reading from the same book.
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Doc Hudson
Yep,just stood in Tesco's and read it... But didn't Buy it !!!!. 
But there again i couldnt see anything about dolomites in it .... If we are talking about recyling material though the front page of classic car weekly features Carl Dandridge (and hat) in his purple herald coupe. This upgrading feature was used in practical classics years ago................. 
Andy
But there again i couldnt see anything about dolomites in it .... If we are talking about recyling material though the front page of classic car weekly features Carl Dandridge (and hat) in his purple herald coupe. This upgrading feature was used in practical classics years ago................. Andy
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Mr.Speedy
Mr Speedy Said,
I've just had a comformation letter from retro cars for another 12 months subs so I don't think their packing up just yet.
That's handy should have the Sprint done before then(Touch Wood).
Only fitting it should go back in there once it's finished.
Anybody else had there car featured twice for the same mag?
I've just had a comformation letter from retro cars for another 12 months subs so I don't think their packing up just yet.
That's handy should have the Sprint done before then(Touch Wood).
Only fitting it should go back in there once it's finished.
Anybody else had there car featured twice for the same mag?
2011 Mini Clubman John Cooper Works. S Daily Driver.
1980 Dolomite Sprint with a touch of BLTS
Balanced Lightened and Tweaked 13B Rotary and SsuperCharged.
Back in my possession 22 September 2019.
Rebuilding the Sprint time taken so far, 111Hrs@15/12/2020
212Hrs @31/12/2021
352 @ 28/11/2022
455Hrs @ 20/10/2023
565Hrs @ 07/12/2024
This is time taken at the Sprint not necessary time worked.
Member TDC no 0471
Project 13B Sprint now back on..
No Pistons No Cams how’s it gonna Run Brap Brap?
1980 Dolomite Sprint with a touch of BLTS
Balanced Lightened and Tweaked 13B Rotary and SsuperCharged.
Back in my possession 22 September 2019.
Rebuilding the Sprint time taken so far, 111Hrs@15/12/2020
212Hrs @31/12/2021
352 @ 28/11/2022
455Hrs @ 20/10/2023
565Hrs @ 07/12/2024
This is time taken at the Sprint not necessary time worked.
Member TDC no 0471
Project 13B Sprint now back on..
No Pistons No Cams how’s it gonna Run Brap Brap?
