Custom Kitcar Magazine is no more.

[Baz]

I have been waiting for Issue 13 of the Custom Kitcar Magazine which was due in August, 2011 according to the publication in Issue 12 April to July 2011. Unfortunately it won't be arriving. I contacted the Editor this morning in S.A. and was informed that owing to the collapse of the economy, the publication of that brilliant magazine has folded and Issue 12 was the last Issue produced.

Baz

[sambo]

That's a shame, I bought that last edition and really enjoyed it. I wonder whether it will continue as a web-only offering?

[macloft]

Issue 13
Theres ya problem
It was a good mag and i did look forward to them coming out.
Bruce

[PeterAllen]

I had two articles published in Custom Kitcar and I am disappointed to see it (apparently) fold, however, I think it really was just a case of when. Kit cars are a very very small market and in this era of instantaneous communications the print media in general is struggling. Further, distribution is a real cartel in print media with up to 95% of the magazine shelf price going to distributers, something all would-be publishers should factor into their business plan.

All the indicators point to the economy being in good shape (in Oz), despite the naysayers' comments, and I believe it is rather disingenuous of Robert to blame the economy if his magazine didn't turn a profit. That stated, I'm sad to see it go.

[BMK]

Yes that is not good news. With so many kit car enthusiasts out there I was surprised to see the publication stop. Well done to everyone whom contributed amd purchased.

[willow1308]

So...how about a new publication dedicated to all Cobra lover/owners...

"Cobra Life"...sounds like a great name for this new publication...

[Merv and Sharon]

Which mags in the US are the most popular with Cobra owners and builders? Are there any dedicated ones?

[OZCOBRA]

Originally Posted by PeterAllen

I had two articles published in Custom Kitcar and I am disappointed to see it (apparently) fold, however, I think it really was just a case of when. Kit cars are a very very small market and in this era of instantaneous communications the print media in general is struggling. Further, distribution is a real cartel in print media with up to 95% of the magazine shelf price going to distributers, something all would-be publishers should factor into their business plan.

All the indicators point to the economy being in good shape (in Oz), despite the naysayers' comments, and I believe it is rather disingenuous of Robert to blame the economy if his magazine didn't turn a profit. That stated, I'm sad to see it go.

I actually print all the major publications and across the board distribution and subscriptions have decreased on average between 15% and 30% so it is not a big surprise that the mag has disappeared.
...this should also point out to anybody aspiring to do something like this you must have the time and systems in place to service your readership as it is important you can communicate /relay /fix and value add to grow your Product.
It's a real shame that it has gone to the wall as it was viewed by many on here and was becoming a real resource and alternate forum for the Kit community.

[suthol]

I too thought it was a good and well written mag if possibly a bit too Adelaide centric but having said that you can only use what your contributors offer you.

I met Rob at the Clubbie Nationals at Jindabyne near enough two years ago and he was talking about changing to an online mag back then, maybe left it a bit too late or struggled to write enough copy with too few content contributors.

[Krait]

Originally Posted by Merv and Sharon

Which mags in the US are the most popular with Cobra owners and builders? Are there any dedicated ones?

Merv,

I believe that Kit Car Builder is the only mag in the US dedicated to kit cars.

I've been a subscriber for a few years, not a bad read but the US market is quite different to ours.

Cheers

[Merv and Sharon]

Seems quite cheap Geoff. Also their other pub on parts: National Kit Car Club seems interesting. Might send in a subscription too.

[sideshow]

U look at half the japp car mags and it's all crap advertising
I'm always getting rung up to advertise in them but due to bad
Experience with one of their employees I will never go near them
There is also a shortage of really good cars these days
That's u most the cars in there look very ricecy hehe
I have a best friend who works for big printing places and he
Says a lot of companties get printing done in china and send back
Here to sell so to save costs
The demand for a lot of things has dropped
I probably buy one or two mags a year
And I did advertise in two issues of the kit car mag
So since then they hav been sending me free copies till now and
I don't know y hehehe

[Tenrocca]

Originally Posted by sideshow

So since then they hav been sending me free copies....

Looks like you had to advertise to get a free copy - As a contributor of an article I didn't even get a thanks till he wanted the next installment in the series.

[sideshow]

yes strange y i kept getting free issues
i know we were suppose to get 3 issues of advertising
but something happened and only got 2 so maybe they wanted to keep us happy

we got asked to do an article on fly by wire and late model electronic
but it was hard trying to decide what to write without going to technical
but nothing came from it

another friend of mine moved his own small printing company to his home
as to save 30 grand a year rent
he is still doing it tough as everyone now just does it themselves using pdfs
or publisher programs and then email the stuff to thousands of customers on their email database and he is feelling it these days

u need to atleast sell some stuff or advetise online or ebay
thats what im going to be doing once i sort out my new place of residence

[Rob. Smith]

Kit Car Builder did a couple of separate magazines dedicated to cobras and that lasted for about 3 - 4 issues. If it didn't sell in the USA I doubt it would get a look in in OZ.

[Mando]

With so many people on this tread sprouting how good the publication was it's hard to believe this mag went under. I bought the first 2 or 3 issues expecting it to improve, then stopped. A lot of space was devoted to Clubman's which I absolutely loathe. Overall I thought the mag was average at best.

Regards.

[Rob. Smith]

Mando...Clubmans are a pommy designed enthusiast / sports car. It is well known that the poms make ugly cars...the Aston Martin was a mistake ! The Cobra is a redesigned pommy sports car. I think the clubman needs larger rear wheels and guards that don't look like toilet roll centres. ha ha ha

[Mando]

Rob, I like that!

Regards.