Best classics mag?

[southgate]

Gents,

Thinking about advertising for bodyshop/restoration work in a classics magazine. Have you got any advice on which magazine or forum may be best?

Adam

[a8hex]

It would very much depend on what you specialise in.
I enjoy reading Octane, but couldn't hope to afford most of what's in it.
I read Classic and Sports car.
I occasionally read Practical Classics, if I were looking for someone to do body work, I'd probably buy that to look at the adverts.

[restoman]

'Classics' and 'Practical Classics' are read more by the 'hands-on' brigade - ie, those who are most likely to do the work themselves.

'Classic Car', 'Octane' and 'Classic & Sportscar' are aimed at the more 'affluent' enthusiast and those are the people more likely to write out a cheque for repairs rather than tackle the repairs themselves....

[plasticpig]

I would think Practical Classics and Classic Car would be your best bet. It depends what the skills of the bodyshop are though.

There are purists who insist that that seams and imperfections on panels etc are lead loaded rather than filler being used because that is how it would have been done originally.

Do you have the skills to fabricate repair sections and potentially whole panels? Is you shop able to repair and weld aluminium?

[Will1602]

I believe Octane to be the best classic car mag i have ever laid my hands on.

I think Retro Cars has come back on the market, i thought that was a good mag very different from Octane though.

[Firkin D]

The only mag I ever buy is Practical Classics.

[southgate]

plasticpig said:

I would think Practical Classics and Classic Car would be your best bet. It depends what the skills of the bodyshop are though.

There are purists who insist that that seams and imperfections on panels etc are lead loaded rather than filler being used because that is how it would have been done originally.

Do you have the skills to fabricate repair sections and potentially whole panels? Is you shop able to repair and weld aluminium?

We use modern techiques and materials. We dont focus entirely on classics, but from previous work done on classics, we've had very pleased customers.
Our panel techs are very skilled and always keep filler work to a minimum.

The type of customer we would be targeting would be the user of a regularly driven vehicle needing light damage or rust removal and resprays.

[Will1602]

My car has light amounts of rust and damage and it needs repairing. Do you have a website?

[215cu]

Firkin D said:

The only mag I ever buy is Practical Classics.

I find Octane and their ilk a bit boring and there's definitely some classics snobbery going on which is very very tedious. Mind you, I think Octane did a great interview with Spen King about the Rover T4 a couple of months ago. It killed five minutes in WH Smith.

For bodywork and repair, Practical Classics all the way.

[52classic]

Thing is though.... DIY restorers are no good to Adam!

Classic Cars or C&SC would be a better bet.

Some of the proffessional restorers ads are an art form in themselves. Bart Holland springs to mind.

[southgate]

Will1602 said:

My car has light amounts of rust and damage and it needs repairing. Do you have a website?

Yes, www.leedsmotors.co.uk
We are BMW GB approved too!

I was hoping that even the hands on brigade would leave bodywork to the professionals. I have never seen a DIY paint job that has turned out well.

[tr3a]

52classic said:

Bart Holland springs to mind.

I never understood his ad. It just makes me believe he's a pretentious wr.

[52classic]

You're probably right..... A car restorer wearing a bow tie that says "There is no limit to what we can achieve together!" Sounds like you should brace yourself to spend a fortune. Has anyone seen their work?

[Will1602]

Thank you, I have saved you to my favorites. You may get a call when i can muster up enough money.

I am definitely a more hands on classic car owner (despite this i still love octane) but body work and painting properly* I think would turn my reasonably credible car into laughing stock.

• painting bodywork, i will paint things that wont really be seen only because they wont really be seen. My paint technique is for practically not for aesthetics.

[lowdrag]

From a different angle I recently talked to a friend who had bent the bonnet of her E type. Her insurers had their own panel of approved bodyshops. Perhaps it might be an idea to contact the likes of Footman James and other insurers to see if they can give you advice on the subject? This of course would only be accident damage but as a JDC member I'vee seen quite a few badly bent cars in the last few years!

As regards restoration, it really depends which market you are aiming at. If Capri/Cortina then not Octane, but if Aston/Jaguar etc then Octane and Classic & Sports Car. Horses for courses and all that.