Practical Classics mag- any good??

[oman5]

I agree, Kim Henson is really dedicated. I can remember reading an article 25 years ago where he fitted an electric fan to his ital. he still has the same car today.

In every pic of him though I think it looks like he is surreptitiously sneaking out a squeaky fart.

[CortinaDave]

I get it on a cheap sub, cos its owned by the same company I work for. I used to buy all the classic mags, but now everything's on the Internet, and the mags are near a fiver each so it's really only PC and occasionally car mechanics I read.

 

Used to quite enjoy classics monthly, but it's very stats chasing cloth cap MG and triumph based these days, so I've not bought a copy for ages.

[sloth]

i read ppc, which costs me a tenner here......

[Junkman]

Craptical Plastics margarine makes my brain go all mushy mushy.

 

Every page looks like a Microsoft screen with too many windows open, and frankly, I don't give a shit reading the umpteenth time about a geezer rebuilding the gearbox

of his OMGMGBGTBYMG in his Kentish outhouse, with no other tools than his pulled out toenails, after his children had moved out and the dog had died.

[PiperCub]

I've bought it since 1987, (got a bound set of 80-88 from free-ads to complete the set), still like it, it's the only one that doesn't get too carried away and covers a pretty wide selection of cars. As said, Glover's work is always amusing but there will always be issues where not everything will be of interest but on the whole it's good, well written and grounded, enjoy the Staff Cars section - I always have.

 

Due to popularity and the need for any mag to appeal to trhe masses, there's doubtless an article of some kind on one of the usual suspects, Minor/Mini/MGB/Fords etc - it's the nature of the beast. I do think they should do more on the less well known marques though. When they do, it's a refreshing change, eve if I personally have no previous interest or desire to buy one.

 

The only othere one I buy is Car Maniacs, have done for a similar time. Rather too much modern for me now but still a good read. Might start 'Viewing before buying' soon though. Good for keeping up with modern auto tech, well written in the main.

 

Don't bother with much else, occ. Practical Performance Car or CCW if there's something interesting to me. Loath the coffee-table bollox ones like C&S for the reasons already stated by others.

 

Loved Jalopy mag - still have all editions. Was great when in A5 form, went A4 and downhill to failure, shame. Loved Used Motorcycle Guide back in the day until the owner sold up. Never heard of Brownmag until I showed up here.

 

Remember AWOL - used to read in WHS, bit too 'Look at my alternative lifestyle' for me. Done by the guys that did 'Grey Bike' mag (for grey import jap bikes in the mid-90's), that was pretty good & informative. Don't buy bike mags as v.badly written by kids mainly.

[Cheggers]

I'm a fan of Motorpunk, a nice irreverent mix of "proper classics" & shite - www.motorpunk.co.uk

[purplebargeken]

UBG was actually pretty good! UJM is forever a part of that lol++

 

Shame when AWOL went away.

 

I reckon PC will be a tesco flick through from now on.

[dollywobbler]

For folk who prefer mags with lots of text and less design, The Automobile is well worth a glance. A prominent Autoshiter works on the title but I love how it feels like the classic mags I read as a child, even though the subject matter is out of my comfort range - ie pre-1960.

[Richard]

UBG was actually pretty good! UJM is forever a part of that lol++

 

Jalopy was a spin-off from Used Bike Guide, with mostly the same people. UBG was always a bit more irreverent than the Used Motorcycle Guide, but both consisted mostly of reviews and stories sent in by readers.

[scruff]

Pre 1960 is for winners, every issue is an education and no MGBs!

[Guest bangerfan101]

nick larkin is a fucking oxygen theif with a unhealthy fetish for old busses

[dollywobbler]

Ah yes. He also has a few choice words for banger racers.

 

In the January '15 issue of PC, he seems to be calling for an E-Type Jag to retain its Autoshite looks. I wholeheartedly agree with him!

[Alexg]

PC is the only monthly mag I'll by now. I like the layout, I like the articles, and there's a clear dedication to less fashionable classics. A subscription is on my Christmas list.

[Inspector Morose]

Your opinion, speaking as a prison with a very unhealthy obsession with mass urban transit vehicles. Nick's alright, I know him of old through bus preservation, he can get a little to "enthusiastic"'on subjects at times. I take it he got your goat when he when's off on one about Banger racers in the 90's?

[Partridge]

nick larkin is a fucking oxygen theif with a unhealthy fetish for old busses

Did he banger race the oxygen after stealing it?

[chaseracer]

[Partridge]

A personally a race meeting for pre-67 air is a good idea. 

 

A bit rich calling somebody an oxygen thief though - what's he ever done to you?

[oman5]

Nick Larkin is ok by me,he is an enthusiast who puts his money where his mouth is and actually does rescue endangered chod rather than just saying "oh that's a shame someone should save it" .

I reckon banger racing has been done to death on here, let's not start that again

[Angrydicky]

Used to buy Practical Classics religiously up until about 10 years ago when that Martyn Moore took over as editor and it started going downhill from there. I actually enjoyed Will Holman's writing style - thought he was a good laugh.

 

When I buy magazines now I always look out for articles by Nick Larkin, Kim Henson and Peter Simpson. All knowledgeable, old school journalists with a strong and genuine interest in the less popular old cars. A lot of the journalists on classic car mags now - and I'm probably going to upset some people here - don't really seem that interested in the cars. It just looks like they've bought an MGB GT, an easy to maintain, fun car that's easy to get parts for, simply for the magazine until they flog it and move onto Carp Fishing Monthly or something. I usually only buy mags if there's a specific feature or a number of cars within the mag that interest me. I know the age of classic cars is getting younger, but Porsche 944's, Rover BRM's and Mazda MX5's don't really interest me and I'd like to see more older stuff in PC. But I suppose it's the 1980's and 1990's performance cars that sell the mags these days.

 

I should really take out a subscription to the Automobile, as I don't think I've ever seen a copy in a newsagent. Even a friend of mine, heavily involved with the VSCC was surprised (but pleased!) when I told him it was still going.

[Taff]

I know it's not the point of the thread but I thought it was a shame when Streetfighter went under

[Uncle Jimmy]

As they look so similar Christopher Biggins should write for P.C and Pop Larkin should appear in Pantos and on 'I'm a celebrity,get me out of here'.

[twosmoke300]

Umg and ubg were a great read when I was younger .

[Richard]

Are either of them still on the go? I suppose there's little call for them now that you can get all the reader-generated content you want on the Internet.

[warren t claim]

http://yewemmgee.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

[Partridge]

Are either of them still on the go? I suppose there's little call for them now that you can get all the reader-generated content you want on the Internet.

Perzactly. Somebody else in the business told me that's partly why so many mags are going feature lead, rather than info lead. They're relying on great quality pictures and individual cars of special interest (The Minder's Motors issue of PC is a good case point of this) more and more. There's still a hardcore of old boys who don't venture on the net though, so it isn't a lost cause just yet.

[danthecapriman]

I've bought Practical Classics for years and always found it a good read. It doesn't always feature cars or projects that I personally find interesting or useful but I still like to read it. They seem to understand that not everyone can afford an Aston or E type and there's way more classics around than MG's and they do feature a lot of 'normal' stuff. They also make the effort to appeal to everyone, so aswell as the older more established classics they feature some much newer cars too. I don't really have a lot of interest in cars from the 90's onwards but it's nice to see such a variation.

 

I get Classic Ford mag very occasionally, but I really am not a big fan of modified classics, and this is predominantly what features in it. I get bored of yet another Escort ruined by creating a rally replica with a shitty Zetec engine shoved in it.

They do now and again feature some nice standard cars though and that's usually why I buy a particular issue, and there's some parts suppliers etc advertised that come in handy.

 

I also get Classic American mag now and then. Some nice cars in it, and again some advertisers come in handy.

[fordnut]

I occasionally have a browse through it whilst in the queue at the Post Office. There a few interesting articles although the majority isn't my cup of tea, I can't stand MGBs or Nick Larkin!

 

As for Nick Larkin he should put his money where his mouth is as already mentioned. I find his comments quite offensive when it comes to banger racing. There wouldn't be a following for a lot of cars without it!

 

I suscribe to a few of the more specialist mags Classic Ford and Fast Ford. Classic Ford is always an excellent read but Fast Ford has been going downhill of late, full of ads, poorand often recycled content. Having said that there are quite a few customers cars in the mag this month.

[PiperCub]

Jalopy was a spin-off from Used Bike Guide, with mostly the same people. UBG was always a bit more irreverent than the Used Motorcycle Guide, but both consisted mostly of reviews and stories sent in by readers.

 

Yes & no

 

Agree - IIRC it was Frank Westworth who wrote/edited(?) both. Rod Kerr also wrote for both.

 

Disagree - UBG was a rip off of UMG's format which had been going since 1986 (I remember buying the 3rd edition from the shop on my uni campus not long after I arrived). While the original owner/editor Bill Fowler was about, it was way more irreverent than UBG which was OK-ish on it's own but weak in comparison with UMG as it had advertisers to appease/not offend whereas UMG had none and BF didn't seem give a crap what he said (Loose Lines - his editorial was always pretty on the money) or what he printed in others articles.

 

Don't know if either is still about, Fowler sold up UMG (about 2001/2??) after which it was crap so I stopped buying.

[AlabamaShrimp]

As a random bloke that doesn't really read about cars other than on here it's the only magazine I've bought on a whim in the past. Was OK to read but full of adverts but on the whole OK.

 

I had a look at this months due to someone mentioning the minder cars, but I put it back as the other articles were again messing with bmc stuff.

 

No offence if it's your thing but I'm sick to death of a classic car* only been seen as pre 65 and English, how many times can they go over the same ground

[warren t claim]

Yes & no

 

Agree - IIRC it was Frank Westworth who wrote/edited(?) both. Rod Kerr also wrote for both.

 

Disagree - UBG was a rip off of UMG's format which had been going since 1986 (I remember buying the 3rd edition from the shop on my uni campus not long after I arrived). While the original owner/editor Bill Fowler was about, it was way more irreverent than UBG which was OK-ish on it's own but weak in comparison with UMG as it had advertisers to appease/not offend whereas UMG had none and BF didn't seem give a crap what he said (Loose Lines - his editorial was always pretty on the money) or what he printed in others articles.

 

Don't know if either is still about, Fowler sold up UMG (about 2001/2??) after which it was crap so I stopped buying.

The UMG now has an online presence here http://yewemmgee.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1