Free access to all Hot Rod Magazine issues 1948-2021 online!

[ea0863]

I got this link at this year's SEMA - Motor Trend booth. It truly is free and you don't have to provide any personal information. I LOVE all the photos and articles from the golden age of hot rodding!

https://www.motortrend.com/hotrod-archive/

Update 1/10/23: I'm not sure if others are having technical difficulties, but just recently my initial link to the HRM magazines starting acting up. I have been accessing it by going to the main Motor Trend page and clicking on "Magazines".

Edited January 12, 2023 by ea0863

[Oldcarfan27]

Cool. Takes a little time to navigate, but what a treasure trove of history!

I wonder if other magazines will do the same thing?

[Calb56]

Very cool, for the ads alone, looking at the 1950s magazines... but wow, it's small on my phone. He said with his old eyes.

Edited November 10, 2022 by Calb56

[iamsuperdan]

Is there an easy way to search for a specific car in a specific issue?

Way back in the 80s, there was one that really jumped out at me. I saved like one page of an issue with this picture. 

 

 

Would love to find that article again. I even picked up a kit to build a replica.

[ea0863]

6 minutes ago, iamsuperdan said:

Is there an easy way to search for a specific car in a specific issue?

Way back in the 80s, there was one that really jumped out at me. I saved like one page of an issue with this picture. 

 

 

Would love to find that article again. I even picked up a kit to build a replica.

Not that I'm able to tell, but I'll keep an eye out for you as I'm going through the entire collection.

[iamsuperdan]

16 minutes ago, ea0863 said:

Not that I'm able to tell, but I'll keep an eye out for you as I'm going through the entire collection.

Thanks!

 

It would have been mid-80s. I wish I could remember what the covered looked like! I do remember that the pages of the artricle were hot pink.

 

Ahhh...the 80s.

 

 

 

[Jon Haigwood]

Thanks, great link. I am building a version of the Beach Boys Little Deuce Coupe Album Cover car ‘Silver Sapphire’ and needed more details and photos. Found them there on the July 61 issue.

[iamsuperdan]

6 hours ago, Calb56 said:

Very cool, for the ads alone, looking at the 1950s magazines... but wow, it's small on my phone. He said with his old eyes.

 

As an aside, I like looking at these old ads, then Google Mapping the address and seeing what's there now. 

 

I'm guessing EL Rio Bravo will not assist you with a supercharger.

 

[Calb56]

1 minute ago, iamsuperdan said:

 

As an aside, I like looking at these old ads, then Google Mapping the address and seeing what's there now. 

 

I'm guessing EL Rio Bravo will not assist you with a supercharger.

 

Maybe their Verde salsa is good at least or maybe they have an Avocado Salsa?

[ea0863]

3 hours ago, Jon Haigwood said:

Thanks, great link. I am building a version of the Beach Boys Little Deuce Coupe Album Cover car ‘Silver Sapphire’ and needed more details and photos. Found them there on the July 61 issue.

Isn't the site awesome? I'm totally into the 50's issues as I'm learning about the salt flats racers.

[Richard Bartrop]

There's a gold mine of reference material in there.  Check out the September 1951 issue, and there's a one page item on a guy who built model hot rods.

[ea0863]

35 minutes ago, Richard Bartrop said:

There's a gold mine of reference material in there.  Check out the September 1951 issue, and there's a one page item on a guy who built model hot rods.

I think this is a link our entire readership would enjoy, but I'm not sure how to get the word out so everyone sees it...

[Ace-Garageguy]

Great resource. Thanks for posting the link.

[JJ Deuce]

Thanks for posting.  February 1987 issue has the first annual Model Car Contest winners. March '88 and '89 also.

 

also the Caddy Hack which was one of my favorites at the time ?

Edited November 11, 2022 by JJ Deuce

[Jon Haigwood]

skip this 

Edited November 13, 2022 by Jon Haigwood

[Calb56]

Maybe they'll post Car Craft too???

[ea0863]

1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Great resource. Thanks for posting the link.

The only problem Bill; the more I read these old articles, the more ideas I get for new builds!  

[ea0863]

46 minutes ago, JJ Deuce said:

Thanks for posting.  February 1987 issue has the first annual Model Car Contest winners. March '88 and '89 also.

 

also the Caddy Hack which was one of my favorites at the time ?

So cool! I'm still in the 50's right now, and there are articles here and there regarding model builds...

[papajohn97]

OMG! What an amazing resource! I may be up late tonight (and a few future nights) reading the issues from the 50’s - 60’s. These old HR issues are like the HAMB website on steroids! Thankyouthankyou!!!! 

Edited November 11, 2022 by papajohn97
Spelling

[TarheelRick]

Amazing resource.  I did notice up in the right corner of the screen was something about a 7-day free trial.  Sure hope this freebie is not a lead-in to some form of pay-to-see.

[ea0863]

41 minutes ago, papajohn97 said:

OMG! What an amazing resource! I may be up late tonight (and a few future nights) reading the issues from the 50’s - 60’s. These old HR issues are like the HAMB website on steroids! Thankyouthankyou!!!! 

My pleasure John. So far I'm on a binge myself - - - 16 hours over the last two days!  

[ea0863]

52 minutes ago, TarheelRick said:

Amazing resource.  I did notice up in the right corner of the screen was something about a 7-day free trial.  Sure hope this freebie is not a lead-in to some form of pay-to-see.

I'm with you Ricky. 

Edited November 11, 2022 by ea0863

[Richard Bartrop]

7 hours ago, ea0863 said:

I think this is a link our entire readership would enjoy, but I'm not sure how to get the word out so everyone sees it...

Try this one.  https://www.motortrendondemand.com/magazines/hot-rod/issue/571130

[Oldcarfan27]

14 hours ago, iamsuperdan said:

I do remember that the pages of the artricle were hot pink.

That would've probably been after '86, when they changed the design of the magazine. At least that narrows it down.

[ea0863]

Under the heading of "Photos that inspire me to build" is this beauty from April 1948 of HRM:

If anyone else runs across a great photo/article/advertisement, I hope you'll post it here. Just make sure to note the issue of HRM so the rest of us can check it out too!