Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[lowdrag]

Over the years my cars have been used in films, the subject of a documentary and so on, plus of course being solicited by magazines for articles. The point of this thread is - do you take magazines and do you believe the content?

Some years ago I came across a transporter with two very valuable cars inside, parked at Mulsanne bend. The prototype D-type and XJ13 were the two cars, which were taken out, placed prettily and photographed for an article. By chance I was in the E-type which helped seal relations a bit. After, the driver of the lorry asked me to show him the way into the circuit since the cars were going on the track, so I did. But, it transpired, they had no insurance nor right to actually start nor drive the cars. I was enlisted to drive the Toyota Previa with the D-type on a tow rope behind, the snapper in the boot taking photos. It is still my proud boast that I did two laps of the circuit and a D-type couldn't overtake me! The magazine (it's cover was green, went to red and back to green again) article - and I quote - talks of "pulls from 2000 and really goes from 4000" and "understeer, it's easy to dial out, and a joy to correct". Etc, Etc. In other words, a complete pack of lies. Apart from the photos, with the tow rope airbrushed out, shutter speed set at 1/15th of a second to create blur etc. they might just as well stayed at home.

This month the same thing. My XKSS tested and once again I was put in the driving seat of the Suzuki so the photos could be taken, except the journalist was actually driving mine. He talks of the noise, the sensations, how stable the car was at 140 mph, the handling and so on. It never happened of course - it is just poetic licence. I've learned from the article that my car has twin tanks (I'm still looking for the other one), that it is 100 kgs lighter than it was yesterday and various other idiocies.

I could relate other instances but would only belabour the point. The journalist was quite open in that this is a normal occurrence. So I don't take any magazines personally and haven't for years, basically because of my own experiences. The only accurate article was in Evo when they compared my E-type to the new XK. Do you have similar experiences to relate? And do you believe what you read?

[Rick]

Interesting, and not altogether a surprise. Do you think maybe they create the doctored photos as you say, and then (in the text) mix in the thoughts of the author with roadtests actually performed by the same magazine, in years gone by, to come up with a relatively authentic overall view on the car(s) being featured?

Apart from brief mentions of cars in years gone by, the only thing I've had featured properly in a magazine was big Dodge. That didn't involve any road tests, Michael Ware came over for a few hours and had a good look over it, took many notes, and took most of the photos. That article appeared in The Automobile a few years ago.

RJ
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[lowdrag]

On the contrary Rick, the journalists were quite cynical about it all, the last one admitting that they often made a load up to make it interesting reading. For example the speed they drove at, because people want to hear that, but realistically the road we used, part of the circuit but a public road normally, between Mulsanne and Arnage, is limited to 50 mph and while the car will easily do 140, I'm not sure we'd have enough time to brake before Indianapolis!

[alastairq]

I was 'put-off' buying certain 'classic' car mags when reading blatantly misleading comments...one in particular stands out for me, concerning an article on Ford Model Y's, what to look for when buying, etc...the author roundly stated that the rear suspension consists of 2 leaf springs, one either side.

I did search the article to see if the author had discovered the engine was a sidevalve, or not?

The classic mag press on the whole provide some interesting articles....but the more mainstream classic car press, I take everything printed with a big bag of salt.....
As for printed opinions regarding the classic car world??????
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[Rick]

I find the most amusing sections in the mainstream press, are where they review highly-priced examples of often quite mundane cars, then nod sagely in front of their keyboards when coming up with justifications for the figures being asked. It's as if they're trying to butter-up their big-spending advertisers sometimes (as if).

RJ
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