For the record: how Autocar made its mark
Since its launch, Autocar has documented key world events through the prism of the automotive industr y. Kris Culmer revisits 126 years of publication
4hp Daimler had the distinction of being our first long-termer
1932 RAC Rally: we took our motorsport coverage seriously
1922 AUSTIN SEVEN “Evolved expressly as a family car within the reach of modest purses both as regards first cost and particularly running expenses, the new Austin Seven is remarkable from several points of view.”
In 1914, Autocar urged motorists to lend their vehicle to the war effort
1948 and the motor show was getting back into its stride
1948 MORRIS MINOR “The new Morris Minor is likely to receive an ovation. It is an entirely new design but employs the well-tried 8hp engine and four-speed gearbox. The body is a two-door four-seater, extra-wide so it can on occasion take three in the back. Independent front suspension provides an excellent ride in a lively car of considerable refinement in running.”
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I really wish I weren’t living through a major historical event right now.’ It was meant as dark humour, but this post that appeared on my Twitter timeline in the murky depths of March 2020 made me realise that the Covid-19 pandemic would genuinely be a period forever remembered and analysed. More significantly, it meant that the daily reporting of all of us at Autocar would be looked upon as part of a historical record.