27 Postwar Automobile Magazines and Publicity Research has revealed that the Packard Monte Carlos did not appear in any professional, trade or enthusiast automobile magazines. The answer as to “why” might surprise you. Car magazines for automotive enthusiasts mostly began after World War II. Road & Track started in May 1947 and Speed Age started in June 1947. Motor Trend began in 1948 and Hot Rod followed in 1949. Prior to WWII, car magazines were more professional types of “journals” for people in the automobile industry. Interestingly, stories about cars that appealed to the public were published in magazines such as Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated and other types of enthusiast magazines which discussed cars but included a greater variety of topics that were not car-related. Many of the car stories that occur before 1950 come from these magazines. Automobile Trade magazines for professionals in the industry did cover topics relevant for automobile manufacturers and “behind the scenes” activity. But again, research has shown that the Packard Monte Carlos didn’t appear in these journals and magazines either—perhaps because it was an “in-house” project by Henney that served only as a demonstration to Packard of the skill and artistry of their new designer—Richard Arbib.
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