Practical Classics Magazine

[UglyAmerican]

In your airport called "Hith-roo" I discovered a magazine called Practical Classics.

 

Ok, actually someone posted on here about their car appearing in an issue in the past.

 

If you haven't checked it out, it's a must read. Especially if you're standing in the petrol station shop and have a few minutes to kill, so you don't have to lay out the 4 pounds to buy it.

 

The issue I bought features stories on the Vauxhall Viva, Austin Allegro, Ferrari 400i (that be the loser Ferrari), Lotus Elite, Yugo 45 and all sorts of other chod.

 

While I wouldn't call it an illuminating magazine (it's not like they have stories of AROnline's depth or research), how fantastic to read that on the can in lieu of some AutoExpress crap about the newest latest greatest worstest Audi A6 diesel.

[seth]

For in depth articles on old stuff (including random old chod sometimes) Classic and Sportscar is best.But PC is great at what it does. Just got the new issue in the post today. I'm trying to think if I've ever seen a hard top Renault Caravelle. Always associate the shape with convertibles.

[pogweasel]

Having been a PC subscriber for the best part of 2 decades, I've all but given it up now, 'in depth' reviews of which mole grips are 'best' and rather lite, fluffy driving articles don't really hold my attention. I'd sooner spend an extra quid to read C&SC and descend into pure automotive fantasy until it physically hurts to sit on the bog any longer....

[bigstraight6]

Having been a PC subscriber for the best part of 2 decades, I've all but given it up now, 'in depth' reviews of which mole grips are 'best' and rather lite, fluffy driving articles don't really hold my attention. I'd sooner spend an extra quid to read C&SC and descend into pure automotive fantasy until it physically hurts to sit on the bog any longer....

I still take PC, though I do agree with what Pog's observations. C&SC seems rather overloaded with advertisments by dealers with cars I could never hope to own though

[pogweasel]

That's half the fun, I find. Stuff in the PC classifieds I -could- buy, though there are rarely bargains (they are hidden in CCW!), C&SC allows me to spend money I don't have and build up a massive automotive "wank bank", for want of a better concept.

[seth]

(they are hidden in CCW!),

CCW is simply the best for finding cheap unusual cars Actually after reading Pogs analysis of PC I have to say I am finding some of the design elements a bit annoying of late. Getting tricky to see the difference between adverts and editorial at times.

[pogweasel]

Every week I find about 15 "exciting things" in CCW that make me go OOOOH, and then remember that I have [supposedly] better things to spend my money on. Though I will GRIPE about CCW in that they will run adverts much longer than the two weeks that they specify... hence I have a daily parade of 50-year-old men (who probably still live with their elderly mums) ringing me up asking me in unconfident, nasal tones about stuff I sold months ago.

[Station]

I liked the layout of Practical Classics at the times. Less pictures, more words.

[meggersdog]

Anyone else got their free copy of Classic Car Buyer yet ?A whole section on bargains under a grand (well four pages)

[Rocket88]

Prefer Practical Performance now, although nothing will ever replace the legendary Jalopy

[Andrew353w]

I was a subscriber to Practical Classics for ages and had my car featured therein, thus winning a Halfords pressure washer (thanks!) However, of late I too have noticed that the "sponsorship" of certain articles has made the magazine a bit of a non-stop advert! I still buy it, but now that Sam Glover has left the editorial team I expect I'll stop. Sam owned an amazing collection of cars and loved eastern european stuff. Now that he's left I reckon the mag's eccentricity will diminish....

[whitevanman]

I cancelled my subscription to the mag last week, also cancelled the subscription to Classics Monthly, I'm not sure about the way either have been of late, so I'll try just getting them if an article takes my fancy..

[dollywobbler]

Gripe noted Pog (though you can always drop me a line and I can get your ad removed from the system).The latest PC is a riot of French lusting this month. Great stuff.

[Mr Lobster]

When PC is good, it's really good. BUt of late its been a bit mediocre. I've hardly read the last couple of issues - had a quick scan when I bought it but then put it down and forgot about it.That said, I shall be picking it (and C&SC) up tomorrow as if its got plenty of F-tin then I shall be interested!

[babydriver]

I still love practical classics I have had it from when it first came out, will miss Sam tho. its getting to be an expensive read these days, I started to get classic car weekly to try and spend me crimbo money on a triumph to play with but quite a few times ive phoned the advert and the vender has said fook me I sold that 6 months ago where did you see the advert!!!I think sports and classics is too posh for me, the cars are way out of scope for me, I prefer the real cars in pc. then again I is a peasent.

[babydriver]

 

Talking of mags Mr Pog, does this bring back any memories? lol

[wilko]

I'm usually behind the times & only bought the March edition yesterday but I'm losing interest in PC, especially now shite lover Glover is going - their restos now seem to be more like adverts for the companies they are blagging off rather than a DIY story of triumph over adversity that inspires me to attempt something similar!They did a thing about mk5 cortinas, triumph acclaims and the like in the last issue, isn't it really about time they restored something like that to usable rather than condition 1 themselves to counterbalance the "updates on what the pro's did to our shed of a mk2 jag" articles?

[saabhappy]

I'm usually behind the times & only bought the March edition yesterday but I'm losing interest in PC, especially now shite lover Glover is going - their restos now seem to be more like adverts for the companies they are blagging off rather than a DIY story of triumph over adversity that inspires me to attempt something similar!They did a thing about mk5 cortinas, triumph acclaims and the like in the last issue, isn't it really about time they restored something like that to usable rather than condition 1 themselves to counterbalance the "updates on what the pro's did to our shed of a mk2 jag" articles?

I agree with that. They don't seem to do much of the work themselves and outsource most of it to companies specialising in the particular work and then headline it as "How we rebuilt our Jag gearbox". At least Classics Monthly seem closer to the original idea of running cheap old cars and working on them themselves.CCW is the only mag I subscribe to now, and I buy CM if I happen to have the cash spare when I see it. PC's £4.20 now, I think.

[wilko]

I nearly choked on my £2.40 Costa Cappucino yesterday when I noticed the cover price - mind you, it took me more than twice as long to read the mag than it did to down the coffee!Expanding on my last remarks, I think they have lost it in terms of what people actually want as a "practical classic" - i.e. the mk5 cortina is still something of a "starting to get classic" car in their eyes according to the february issue, whilst an utterly impractical 5.0 V12 1990's BMW 8 series is something I should buy RIGHT NOW, according to the March issue anyway - confusing?A Sierra is an old car I might consider buying, keeping in the garage and looking after - I grew up wanting an XR4i and then an RS500, and I owned various Sierras in my teens and 20's - it should be the Sierra which is the "future classic" not the mk3-5 cortina, which is already a "classic" in my eyes, and should, by rights, appear at least as much on their pages as 60's Fords?

[warren t claim]

I must admit I have not bought a copy of PC for about four years. I do read it in the free library an Sainsburys while the fem is shopping though.To be honest I started losing interest when Goldsworthy/Holman/Leaper/Hopkins departed en mass.PC used to have a good balance of humour and informative articles that seem to of been lost over the last few years, certainly the Martin Moor years were best forgotten.

[Spiny Norman]

I used to like PC a lot, but I must admit now I find I'm skimming through large parts of it and usually finish the magazine in about an hour or so. The crossword in particular I can usually get 90% through in my head in the time it takes to read the clues. The other thing that I find almost unforgivable in what is supposed to be a magazine for knowledgeable enthusiasts is the massive amount of glaring inaccuracies that should get picked up on long before it gets to production. There was a comment recently about front wheel drive Ford Mustangs...... ....And that Jag resto is taking for fecking ever! It's one of the reasons I'm looking for another mag to buy instead, I quite like the sister publication 'Classic Cars', where the emphasis is more on the driving than the lying under it covered in shit, which isn't something I'm keen on, but it's a bit up-market for my pocket.

[Mr Lobster]

Anyone else got their free copy of Classic Car Buyer yet ?A whole section on bargains under a grand (well four pages)

Yeh, it's alright actually. Although appears to be a blatant copy of CCW and out of the two I'd buy CCW as I tend to pick it up occasionally now.

[Polystratus]

I'm usually behind the times & only bought the March edition yesterday but I'm losing interest in PC, especially now shite lover Glover is going - their restos now seem to be more like adverts for the companies they are blagging off rather than a DIY story of triumph over adversity that inspires me to attempt something similar!They did a thing about mk5 cortinas, triumph acclaims and the like in the last issue, isn't it really about time they restored something like that to usable rather than condition 1 themselves to counterbalance the "updates on what the pro's did to our shed of a mk2 jag" articles?

I agree with that. They don't seem to do much of the work themselves and outsource most of it to companies specialising in the particular work and then headline it as "How we rebuilt our Jag gearbox". At least Classics Monthly seem closer to the original idea of running cheap old cars and working on them themselves.CCW is the only mag I subscribe to now, and I buy CM if I happen to have the cash spare when I see it. PC's £4.20 now, I think.

The last time brought PC on a regular basis was when they featured a 2CVwobbler rebuild, I dont buy the mag these days much as it seems to be one big advert, and at the same increasing in price.Thats true Classics Monthly seems to be how PC should be. The future classics article in PC was a bit rubbish as it featured cars that were 30 years old, no doubt if they started featuring 20 year old cars or younger, they'll get a ton of emails and letters from Mr Angry MG owner.

[hennabm]

I wonder if they read this website because it should start to ring alarm bells amongst those with editorial control. I have lost interest in PC since they started featuring modding eg the V8 in the merc and the stupid idea of making the Humber into a motor caravan. For those sorts of articles I can buy other mags.To me PC was about taking older cars and running them, rebuilding them yourself (not chequebook restorations; again other "posher" mags deal with those) etc.My only gripe with the older versions of the magazine was too much emphasis on MGs and other marques were generally ignored.Anything over 15/20 years old should be in PC and that does include vehicles from the 1920s and 30s like the Brian chap used to run. I know they have recently took on an Austin 7 but I am half expecting a Pinto or something to be stuck in there Just my thoughts.

[Mr Lobster]

I felt that the 'future classics' article was almost apologising for even having them in there and was written almost as though they shouldn't be featured. I'd rather see '80's cars in there than endless Minors, Sherpa Coupes and such which hold virtually no interest for me. A proper future classics article would have had MkII Golf GTi, Peugeot 106 Rallye, Renault Twingo, Honda CRX, BMW E30 / E36, MkII Vauxhall Cavalier, etc etc etc but that would have had the cloth cap brigade foaming at the mouth.

[warren t claim]

PC has had a couple of decent E30 bedpan buyers guides over the last few years.

[Pete-M]

An utterly impractical 5.0 V12 1990's BMW 8 series is something I should buy RIGHT NOW, according to the March issue anyway - confusing?

I have to admit, I read C&SC for this kind of thing, once this type of 'buying advice' has made it to PC that tends to mean that every half decent, cheapish 850i will now be bought by cheapskates who'll break them and then cry about how much they cost to fix... Which depreciates the hell out of them for a while, so next is probably the best time to buy one

[VWPowered]

Anyone else got their free copy of Classic Car Buyer yet ?A whole section on bargains under a grand (well four pages)

now fer some strange reason i applied for one free thinking they wont send one, but now on my fourth mag, someoe loves me :Dtis a great mag and should they fail to send more i'll then subscribe

[VWPowered]

 

Talking of mags Mr Pog, does this bring back any memories? lol

i'll times that by about 5 had the misses 21 nevada filled to the brim draggin its arse

[r.welfare]

I haven't bought PC for about six months now, and I only bought it sporadically for the year before that. Shame really, but I was finding it really wasn't providing enough reading time for the money spent.I'll stick with Car Mechanics, which I have a subscription to, and my cache of old copies of Autocar, CAR and Road & Track from the late 70s and early 80s that stand up to re-reading over and over. If I'm on a flight or something then I will go for C&SC, for the reasons already mentioned, plus I really like their Staff Car bits too.