Art & Inspiration Hot rod magazine

I started buying HOT ROD in 1972 and stopped some time in the 80's.

 

I'm still subscribed, but it's getting pretty thin.

 

I'm hanging on, mostly just for old times sake. I really miss the in depth tech features. Now-a-days it's just pictures with captions. I remember when there was real substance in the articles. I learned a lot about writing and punctuation-grammar from reading HRM in high school. They must have had some really good proofreaders back then because grammatical errors were few and far between.

 

Well, I subscribed in '57 (I was 14) and kept it up for about 20 years. Since then I occasionally buy one off the rack.

 

Still getting mine. It’s what got me hooked on this hobby. In the early 80s there was an issue that covered a bunch of T buckets and though they were the coolest thing.

 

I have a bunch from the fifties, sixties and seventies.. Actually, for tech advice, the early seventies editions are hard to beat...

I'm going to subscribe...

 

Still subscribe

 

I just renewed for a couple more years.

 

I started writing for R&C in 1962. Every Petersen title had a copy editor, usually a retired teacher or librarian. Submitted typed copy that was double spaced and kept a carbon copy. Sent copy in and got corrected copy back in a week or so. Learned early on to outline my stories so I didn’t have to retype a submission.

 

I’m with you Mark….tired of seeing paper go by the wayside…

 

My dad still subscribes and I get my his hand-me-downs.

I just buy old car magazine lots off eBay that always have content relevant to interests.

 

I started subscribing in 1964, still getting it have all my copies!










Bones

 

Rod and Custom was better, but Hot Rod is better than nothing, still subscribed.

 

agree that there is enough in Hot Rod to justify subscription

 

Still subscribed. Maybe it’s me but I wish the print was a little bit bigger.

 

Got my copy today.

 

My wife is cleaning out an area in our basement and one of the boxes I was assigned to go through had another 3 years or so of Hot Rod Magazine that I didn't remember having. Included was the first one I ever bought (1964) at age 11. I was surprised to realize as I was going through the stack that I was already a subscriber at 13.

I was thrilled that one of the issues (March '67) had an article about Kay Sissell and his 6 cylinder altered. Had a lot of info about his engine(s) which served as inspiration to build a 6 for my Nova when I was a Junior in high school. I had looked through another box of old issues just a couple years ago looking for that article, and now it's found! Looks like I now have a lot of (re)reading to catch up on!

I have one magazine subscription that will soon run out so maybe I'll re-subscribe to Hot Rod once again.

Lynn

 

I wish I could subscribe again, if my sub could start from 1948. Like a re set.

 

My grandpap would get me a subscription for Christmas when I was a kid. I still subscribe, but its getting tough. I pick up pristine ones from the 60s at swapmeets, etc., brings back memories.

 

I subscribe. There's always something interesting, even if not HAMB friendly, I just like cars! And, it's cheap.

 

I started with Hot Rod in the late 50's but have them all from the mid 50's to the latest. My wife can figure out what to do with them when I reach room temperature. Not sure why I keep them, but.....I have went back through them at different times, the last time when I started the Studebaker....didn't find much..but I did find a couple of interesting articles.

 

I usually get a three year subscription for like a buck an issue,,,,,usually 36 bucks .
There are a lot more on topic articles in it than there used to be .
I think they are grasping at anything they can,,,to sell copies.
I think the influence of the Hamb plays in there as well .
Admit it or not guys,,,,,there are a lot of people on here,,,,,and a ton of lurkers .
And there is a market for all of the talent that is displayed here,,,,,also,,,,,a market for nostalgia as well .
Many young people are into this stuff,,,,,old,,,,as well as modern muscle,,,,,the kids like everything.
If they can afford it ,,,,LoL.

Tommy

 

Still subscribe. Only one I get, used to get about 6-7 car mags. Stopped keeping them in 2000. I have a complete set, missing a few of the early years, '48 to 2000. I only keep about 2-3 years worth and I buddle them and give them away.

 

I started subscribing when I was 13 in 1975. I’ve collected just about every early issue.

 

I started buying the little books. Then I picked up a 1960 copy of Hot Rod. I was hooked on the technical information. The copy also had a story on the first jet powered land speed record car. Years later I met Al Bradshaw who was the mechanic on the car.

I quit hot rod some time in the 70's when they got real heavy into VW powered dune buggy's. A few years ago I found Street Rodder and Street Rod Builder. Both had good technical information, but both died. My wife got me a subscription to Hot Rod, but I'm not very impressed.

 

Still subscribed, have been since 1968 or so. I usually drop off a years worth at a time of the ones I don't keep at the various auto parts stores around here. They let the customers take them, so most of them get read a second time.

 

Still a subscriber after almost sixty years of reading the magazine. My mom was the local librarian. The library received a free or very low cost subscription so I got to read it free. Started at about 8 years old and missed very few issues until a hitch in the army when most of the mags probably would not have reached the many parts of the globe I covered. I have been a voracious reader since early elementary school and would burn through an issue in about an hour and I wasn't just looking at the pictures. They were discarded after three years and I snatched them up before they got to the dumpster. My bedroom walls were literally papered with centerfolds like Garlits smokin' em all the way through the quarter or Wild Willy in the Winged Express coming out of the hole way sideways but still hard on the throttle.

There were very few car mags I didn't subscribe to at one time or another but Hot Rod and Car Craft were always my favorites. I was gutted when they stopped publication of Car Craft. I always felt that CC was aimed at the dirty fingernails tech guys like me, with less emphasis on spending megabucks on trailer queens.

I was also a big fan of Super Stock and lamented their passing years ago. I have been subscribed to at least ten car mags at one time. Now I'm down to just Hot Rod and sad to say I'm very disappointed in the lack of content and superficial treatment of tech articles. There is a lot more emphasis on high dollar parts and little for the low buck guys that were always the backbone of the hobby. I haven't done a page count but the mag is noticeably thinner than ever. I was in love with Hot Rod Deluxe. Paid more for that sub than I ever have for any magazine and thought it was worth it. Had just re-upped my sub for $40 bucks for six issues when they quit and I never received an issue or refund.

Really bitter about the dirtbags that took over the business. They have gotten rid of most of the old writers and replaced them with children who know nothing of what they are writing about. Ripped off their subscribers and decontented the few magazines that were left. Typical of what an old friend calls "dot com mo--------ers."

Their subscription marketing got weird too. Free gifts to subscribe! Wow! Got a fancy wall clock from Super Chevy. When I put a battery in it was unusually noisy. The next day I noticed it had lost about an hour! I just tell my Chevy driving buddies that it's just like anything with the Chevy name on it; Runs slow and makes a lotta noise! Sorry to all you Chevy guys out there but I just couldn't resist---besides I can say it because I've got one!

Coincidentally I just started sorting out my mag collection. I've saved my favorite mags over about the last forty years and I'm doing some weeding out of some titles I don't have an urge to revisit. However, after spending an afternoon going through a bunch of totes full, I'm having a hard time getting rid of things. The good thing is that I've forgotten most of what is in these and I can read them again. Next winter I'll have all the reading I want and never have to go to the mailbox.

Gotta say I'm thankful for the HAMB. Spend a lot of time here that I used to spend reading magazines. We really do have a community of great people here. Taking care of my wife and my mother doesn't allow me to get out at all, especially since COVID. This is about all the social life I have right now. I miss a lot of the gearheads I used to work and hang out with. Spending time here helps to replace that.

 

Still subscribed, but articles are what they used to be.