|
|
Jun 25, 2013 13:27:05 GMT
|
Is there any word on the Retro Ford magazine? I've got a subscription and haven't seen an issue this month yet. Assume if it is coming there might be delays caused by the changeover. I'll have to keep an eye out for the father-in-laws retro cars mag in the post too. I got a copy of the 'new' retro ford late last week was almost exactly the same but I guess any changes will happen over the next couple of issues not an improvement but not worse
|
|
|
|
|
Em
Part of things
Fuel Injected? Carb Infested!
Posts: 601
|
|
Jun 25, 2013 18:21:44 GMT
|
Feels like a bit of a cut’n’shut job to me, this issue. A bunch of features from the previous team (including our very own dbizzle!) and a bunch of stuff from the new guys, which to me, kinda feels like ‘filler’. Three buying guides in one issue? That’s two too many. Early days yet and I guess this issue was rather hurriedly assembled while the deal was going through, but it feels more like a classic mag than a modified-classic mag this month. And there’s more than enough classic mags, I think. Be interesting to see how it pans out; I’m hoping for a bunch of frighteningly in-depth technical features on arcane stuff that’s relevant to about half a dozen readers… Glad is still going though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 25, 2013 19:11:57 GMT
|
Fear not, this hasn't gone un-mentioned, and yes, there was a bit of a scramble for the new publisher to get to grips with the format from scratch. Keep watching the skies, etc. As for keeping up the random eclectic features... without giving anything away, I'm working on half a dozen or so features that'll be right up your street.
|
|
|
|
Em
Part of things
Fuel Injected? Carb Infested!
Posts: 601
|
|
Jun 25, 2013 20:58:08 GMT
|
Excellent news!
That all sounds very promising, looking forward to the next issue already!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 25, 2013 22:04:55 GMT
|
Hope the new publisher pulls it off. Keep watching the skies, etc.
|
|
|
|
sumpcracker
Posted a lot
Yes, I’m still here.
Posts: 1,751
|
|
Jun 26, 2013 10:49:39 GMT
|
Feels like a bit of a cut’n’shut job to me, this issue. A bunch of features from the previous team (including our very own dbizzle!) and a bunch of stuff from the new guys, which to me, kinda feels like ‘filler’. Three buying guides in one issue? That’s two too many. Early days yet and I guess this issue was rather hurriedly assembled while the deal was going through, but it feels more like a classic mag than a modified-classic mag this month. And there’s more than enough classic mags, I think. Be interesting to see how it pans out; I’m hoping for a bunch of frighteningly in-depth technical features on arcane stuff that’s relevant to about half a dozen readers… Glad is still going though. Exactly my thoughts! When I spoke to Simon Jackson about my feature he mentioned that the owners of the mag (he didn't let on it was changing hands) wanted it to be more angled at the classic car side of things. I said "but there are already too many classic magazines" and "if Retro cars was made a bit more available it would likely sell more" as I don't think its lack of interest not selling it big, its the lack of people aware of it. He agreed the mag a niche and the content aimed at a different reader. This month has some great stuff! (bdizzle) but the other half seemed like practical classics . I hope the content doesn't go too much towards the practical classics style - I don't buy classic mags because they are very boring.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 26, 2013 11:15:52 GMT
|
It was the old publisher (Unity) who were pushing to make it more of a classic offering, before they canned it altogether. Simon was very much aware of this and keen to rail against it - you should have seen the furore he caused when he put the BMW-powered Ascona on the cover, and the DTM-rep Alfa 155! I'm going to miss him being editor. The new publisher (Kelsey) is very keen to maintain the spirit of what Retro Cars represents, as the mag does operate within a specific and popular niche. I suspect the fact that there was quite a straight classic bias in this issue is that Kelsey were starting from scratch with the format and, given that they operate a number of other classic mags in their arsenal, were drawing on existing resources to get it off the ground. But everything's going to be alright.
|
|
Last Edit: Jun 26, 2013 11:17:47 GMT by dbizzle
|
|
Em
Part of things
Fuel Injected? Carb Infested!
Posts: 601
|
|
Jun 26, 2013 11:58:12 GMT
|
Probably worth pointing out that Kelsey publish quite a range of fairly ‘niche’ mags already; they’ve had Custom Car for years (not as long as I’ve been buying it though!) and do stuff like Stationary Engine, Old Tractor and erm, Practical Poultry!
So I guess they’re not in it to make shed-loads of dosh and understand the ‘niche’ sector pretty well.
Challenging times to be publishing any magazine right now I’d imagine, but I wish Retro Cars all the very best!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 26, 2013 12:12:09 GMT
|
Will be interesting to see how it pans out. Hopefully well.
Covering established classics means established specialists and hence a greater amount of potential advertisers, so there's always going to be that in the mix. Getting advertisers to invest in a niche, multi-brand mag is always an issue as obviously, unless they stock a whole range of items, their products will only appeal to very a small percentage of a readership that on reflection is already small.
As someone already mentioned, I expect much of the content was already 'in stock' and the rest borrowed from other Kelsey mags, purely to meet the tight deadlines involved in a monthly magazine production schedule.
Kelsey are successful in niche publishing but as I understand it the budgets for contributors are far from high, which of course is necessary to help them stay afloat and run magazines as a profitable business. Hopefully this won't lead to a drop in the quality of the photography or the writing though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 26, 2013 12:17:01 GMT
|
|
|
|
|
|
sumpcracker
Posted a lot
Yes, I’m still here.
Posts: 1,751
|
|
Jun 26, 2013 12:18:19 GMT
|
I do hope they get it right, and reading some of the comments here they probably will. Its the only mag floating my boat now the VAG ones have gone all air ride/retrim happy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 26, 2013 16:25:56 GMT
|
would be great to see more 'in depth' articles, showing how it was done rather than just moody pictures of the finished article! still good though
|
|
I would be rich if i had not spent so much money on Cars and fast women...oh, i did waste some of it as well!
|
|
|
|
Jun 26, 2013 18:46:31 GMT
|
would be great to see more 'in depth' articles, showing how it was done rather than just moody pictures of the finished article! still good though Agreed, Volksworld have started showing pics of cars before they were restored in their features. I love seeing just how much of a shed someone has bought before sinking their life savings in a resto!!!
|
|
|
|
Hoppum
Part of things
Posts: 177
|
|
Jun 27, 2013 11:02:12 GMT
|
Only had a flick through so far but the one thing that struck me is some of the picture quality is pretty dire on the articles by the new team, the lock up feature looks like it was shot with an iPhone!
Hopefully not a sign of things to come.
|
|
|
|
Garry
East Midlands
Posts: 1,722
|
|
Jul 11, 2013 14:45:22 GMT
|
Anyone willing to buy me a copy and post it to me please? Can't see it anywhere locally.
|
|
|
|
finnie
Part of things
Posts: 195
|
|
Jul 11, 2013 21:41:31 GMT
|
Anyone willing to buy me a copy and post it to me please? Can't see it anywhere locally. I finished reading mine so PM details and you can have it.
|
|
|
|
Split-Lee
Part of things
www.OhSoRetro.co.uk
Posts: 421
|
|
Jul 11, 2013 23:45:37 GMT
|
Also cannot find it in any shops! WhSmiths, Asda, Tesco's..
Any ideas down in deepest darkest Margate....
~Lee
|
|
|
|
AB car pix
Posted a lot
Car mag' snapper
Posts: 1,337
|
|
|
It was the old publisher (Unity) who were pushing to make it more of a classic offering, before they canned it altogether. Simon was very much aware of this and keen to rail against it - you should have seen the furore he caused when he put the BMW-powered Ascona on the cover, and the DTM-rep Alfa 155! I'm going to miss him being editor.... I still have a pristine copy of that waiting to get framed! One of my favourite shoots....
|
|
1979 Chrysler Horizon 1.3 GL 1980 Ford Granada 2.8 Ghia 1985 Ford Sierra 3dr 1985 Ford Escort Mk3 1988 Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 1989 Ford Escort 1.3 Popular 1995 Volvo 960 1996 BMW 525i 1998 BMW 323i 1999 BMW 530d 2003 BMW 530i . www.facebook.com/ABCARPIX
|
|
|
|
Jul 14, 2013 21:07:09 GMT
|
anyone in Edinburgh area know were i can get one? cant find them anywere!
|
|
|
|
richy
Posted a lot
Flatheads forever....
Posts: 1,764
|
|
Jul 15, 2013 14:25:47 GMT
|
On a similar note I've heard a few very distant rumblings about another magazine in the making....
|
|
|
|
|