This morning a co-worker sold me a crate full of vintage car magazines, more than 70 issues in total, so I thought it might be nice to share some of the highlights with my favorite Hoons. This issue is chock full of amazing stuff that happened well before I was born, but I loved every page more as I flipped through. That cover art really sets the tone for a high quality, well edited, and gorgoeusly produced periodical. They just don’t do magazine art direction like they used to. This cover, featuring Citroen’s beautiful ID-19, stuck out to me as I was rifling through the case of beautifully preserved magazines. While I will likely end up re-selling many of these magazines, this particular cover is so striking that I will definitely be framing it and hanging it in my home.
What did I learn by reading this issue? Well, I learned that Denise McCluggage (longtime hero of mine) paired with Ruth Levy for an all-woman racing pairing at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1958 driving a Porsche-Abarth Carrera GTL (unfortunately a non-finisher thanks to gearbox troubles). I learned that the Fiat-Abarth 750 sprinted to sixty in a scant 19.6 seconds. I learned that you could buy a brand-spankin’ new Arnolt-Bristol Bolide in racing trim for only $4250. And I learned that Mickey Thompson himself had taken out an advertisement in the “Market Place” section in order to attempt selling his “Cad-Kurtis”, which he named as “one of the fastest cars in U.S.”, calling for $2000 or best offer.
In case you were wondering, Porsche no longer recommends Castrol. They’re all Mobil 1 these days…
This is a fascinating picture showing off the inboard drum brakes of Lance Reventlow’s Scarab street car.
Jeff really should see if Aston Martin’s classic program could find him a DBR1 to drive. Or, you know, I could fill in for him if he’s busy.
This lovely illustration accompanied a satirical article saying that the XKSS had solved Europe’s congestion issues, because if everyone drove them, they’d be out of the way fast enough that traffic would never form. Fun read.
So here’s the box of magazines I got. All of them are individually wrapped in plastic, and they appear to be in near-mint condition. Should I continue going through these and posting them here with photos, or should I not waste my time? Holler about it in the comments below. Maybe it’ll be a semi-regular thing.
Magazine Time Machine: Road & Track June 1958
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30 responses to “Magazine Time Machine: Road & Track June 1958”
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Wow. The style of the XKSS illustration looks so familiar. Who’s the artist? It reminds me of the cartoon, “Major Upsett”, that was still running in R&T when I started reading it in the early ’70s.
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Illustrations reprinted from Punch Magazine artist “Russell Brockbank”
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Yes, Brockbank! He was the guy that drew Major Upsett.
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Brockbank’s cartoons were genius.
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And a question for Chris Hanzel and others – what are the differences between the Citroen DS and ID? Are the single non-aero headlights only seen on the ID?
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I asked him the same question on Facebook this morning. Here’s the reply.
ID was the lower buck “level” of a DS (moar plastic vs metal, etc) and 19 is a 1900cc motor vs the 21 and 23 which were, you guessed it, 2100 and 2300 CCs. The early DSs had the single headlight fenders which then morphed into the dual headlight with turning for Europe and fixed for MURICA. Other differences abound but that’s basically how I compare the models.-
Okay, cool. Thanks!
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Aside from trim and engines, the IDs had fewer power assists (thus “idea despoiled”). Depending on the year and the model, they didn’t have standard power steering, “DS” brakes, and/or semiautomatic transmission. All DS and ID had hydraulic suspension.
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Bring them Bradley. I’d love to see more of this stuff.
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I agree, I’d love to read more of this.
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This was when John and Elaine Bond were still the publishers.
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$4250 in 2015 dollars is about $35,000. Still not a bad price for the Bolide, except they aren’t made anymore. What a shame. Edit: Bolide is also a fancy astronomical name for Fireball.
http://www.sportscardigest.com/wp-content/gallery/lime-rock-historic-festival-concours-2011/dsc_5629.jpg-
The Arnolt Bristol Competition won its class at Sebring a couple of times. I would gladly pay $35,000 today for a car that could win its class at Sebring…
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Wasn’t there some discussion about a crap can series to run at Sebring, featuring Chrysler Sebrings? $35K could maybe pay for one that wouldn’t blow up.
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The 24 Hours of Lemons did a Sebring at Sebring thing last year, were any team who entered one would get in free. Only two teams took them up on it.
http://www.murileemartin.com/UG/LFL14/067-UG-Sebring-IMG_1566.jpg-
Sebring All The Sebrings, then bring them to me!
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Took them up to be let down? Or did they finish?
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They finished 16th and 18th out of 27 cars. They were fairly reliable (compared to other FWD Mopars that have raced in Lemons anyway).
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I still have boxes of my R&Ts from the late 50s and early 60s.Back then they road tested cars regular people could afford.
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Aside from throwaway European economy cars, the sports cars that R&T tested were priced in the top 25 percent of the market. They were considered toys for professional men who were doing well enough to own a family car plus an expensive personal car (many families only had one car), and single playboys.
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It was fascinating to read about Triumph TR3s and 4s, MGAs and Bs, Vauxhalls, Humbers, Fiats, Panhards, Renaults -the humdrum and the exotic. As a kid I also read Hot Rod, Car Craft, Motor Trend, Sports Car Illustrated and any other car mag that showed up on the news stand. I would read and reread them for hours. Truly the golden age of automobile periodicals.
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More of this kind of thing!
There’s definitely less class and restraint to today’s car magazines – I don’t feel compelled to wear lots of tweed to read R&T, unlike the back issues.
And yeah, I’ve got a book shelf full of old R&T and C&D issues (plenty inherited from a friend’s father who was clearing house to downsize), along with a handful of Track and Traffic, an old Canadian publication from the 60s. They’re all fun to read, especially with the gift of retrospect (I’ll give you a hint – we look a lot less fondly on the Citation than people did in 1980).
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I was a C&D subscriber when the Citation came out. Man, did they love it. X!
Keep going through them! Love period ads, pics, and insight!
Wonderful score! When I was a kid, I bought a big trove of sixties R&T. That was a magical time for automotoring.
When I left my parents house, I gave away maaany banana boxes with car papers, maybe 12-13 years worth. It filled a car and broke my heart.
My personal preference are comparisons. In the old days, you usually got a full page or more detailling the technical differences. Solid numbers. Excellent explanations of why exhibit A handles like exhibit F would never even try.
Keep ’em coming!
Well, this is a special interest topic on a niche interest site… even if you came up with something really cool (<- niche in a niche in a niche…), in a novel and innovative presentation (<- nich in… you get it), I wouldn't expect the Hooniverse to become the new Redacted, publicity and money wise. (I prefer observing and contemplation to gawking, anyway).
That said, I really enjoy Chris' Carchive (which touches mainly eras in which I was alive already), and would enjoy this, too.
This is pretty great. I’d like to see more of this, as well. I like keeping old car magazines around to leaf through from time to time.
Also, found a period photo of Mickey Thompson’s Kurtis:
http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/KurtisCars3.html#KurtisCars3
Don’t destroy your mint original copy just to make a poster.
Copy it at high resolution and reprint, then we all can have one.
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