Magneto magazine
Discussion
I got the first three issues of Magneto. I am impressed by it. It is produced by some of the same team as Octane but its content is significantly different, maybe due to legal constraints of the sale? I don't know. There's Geoff Love and David Lilywhite. They also feature an art director, whose efforts are rather welcome, and even more obvious, and the same could be said for production editor Sarah Bradley who is probably also a sub editor, given the quality of the copy.
It's a magazine that not everyone will enjoy.
Plus points: It is printed on quality paper. It feels substantial. Graphically it is excellent; modern without being avant garde. It's written in excellent English, with a lack of pointless apostrophes and exclamation marks!!!!!
Minus points: It is quarterly.
The first issue had a brilliantly illustrated article on the Alfa 8C, 2900S, one on the Ford Bonco, this time well illustrated, a fascinating one on Classic Team Lotus - the ones you see at Silverstone Classic and such places, again brilliantly illustrated. The members of the team were covered. The big, black and rather ugly Bugatti AVIO 8C had a few pages. There was a rather uninspired feature on driving the McLaren Senna and F1 in Scotland.
There was a fascinating article on the BRM V16, boasting 600bhp from 1.5 litres; mainly pictures but still fascinating. For those whose second set of teeth are still to arrive, there's a picture of its magneto. Nice link.
The main feature was 100 years of Zagato. Lots of pictures, lots of text.
There were a number of one or two-page articles, one on the 'lost' Bentley.
The adverts are attractively laid out, with some lovely images.
You might have guessed, I'm a big fan. I'm also in my dotage, and that should be taken into consideration when considering my praise. However, there's no excuse for poor literacy in high-end magazines, and Magneto has no need for excuses. The illustrations are great as well. Someone knows their way around Photoshop.
Recommended.
It's a magazine that not everyone will enjoy.
Plus points: It is printed on quality paper. It feels substantial. Graphically it is excellent; modern without being avant garde. It's written in excellent English, with a lack of pointless apostrophes and exclamation marks!!!!!
Minus points: It is quarterly.
The first issue had a brilliantly illustrated article on the Alfa 8C, 2900S, one on the Ford Bonco, this time well illustrated, a fascinating one on Classic Team Lotus - the ones you see at Silverstone Classic and such places, again brilliantly illustrated. The members of the team were covered. The big, black and rather ugly Bugatti AVIO 8C had a few pages. There was a rather uninspired feature on driving the McLaren Senna and F1 in Scotland.
There was a fascinating article on the BRM V16, boasting 600bhp from 1.5 litres; mainly pictures but still fascinating. For those whose second set of teeth are still to arrive, there's a picture of its magneto. Nice link.
The main feature was 100 years of Zagato. Lots of pictures, lots of text.
There were a number of one or two-page articles, one on the 'lost' Bentley.
The adverts are attractively laid out, with some lovely images.
You might have guessed, I'm a big fan. I'm also in my dotage, and that should be taken into consideration when considering my praise. However, there's no excuse for poor literacy in high-end magazines, and Magneto has no need for excuses. The illustrations are great as well. Someone knows their way around Photoshop.
Recommended.
I've just remembered that I contacted David Lilywhite when, and way back when, I was considering starting my own car-focused magazine. I just phoned him and he was extremely helpful, pointing out the pitfalls, saying that they had a bit of luck with Octane that might not happen to everyone, and answered every question I asked. A very pleasant, and helpful, chap.
I decided against it.
When the sale of Octane was announced, I phoned him to ask why and he explained the difficulties of publishers in the cut-throat world of classic car magazine sales. He said that he felt they had 'let down' their readers, but that there was, practically, no alternative. I asked him if he'd go for another magazine, and he said that, at the moment, it was the last thing on their minds.
I'm glad to say he and Love changed their minds. Best of luck to them.
I decided against it.
When the sale of Octane was announced, I phoned him to ask why and he explained the difficulties of publishers in the cut-throat world of classic car magazine sales. He said that he felt they had 'let down' their readers, but that there was, practically, no alternative. I asked him if he'd go for another magazine, and he said that, at the moment, it was the last thing on their minds.
I'm glad to say he and Love changed their minds. Best of luck to them.
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