Is Rod & Custom still around?

if it was online only I wouldn't even bother.

 

If rodders don't supoort the magazines with their subscription money AND their how-to and tech articles sent in for approval and payment you won't have any mags to complain about.

 

I haven't stuck my nose in a Street Rodder in 15 years or so... I guess I don't miss it a bit. This hobby is much cheaper if you don't get mesmerized by all those slick ads every time you open a magazine... besides most of those vendors don't know a traditional car from a bulldozer.

 

The problem with any magazine showing up on the local news stand starts with the people who handle distributing the magazines to the local stores in your area. Since Borders went out of business I have to drive 70 miles one way to the closest place I can find Rodder's Journal. That is the Barnes & Noble in Kennewick at the Mall. That costs me more because I end up taking the wife and end up having to feed her. It's also now the closest place I can find one of the sailboat magazines I buy every month.

The local Safeway has Low Rider by the ton and the rat rod stuff along with every WWE related rag and every gun rag you can imagine. But they have damned few of the magazines I hunt for every month.

 

I love the way every time there is a thread about magazines the haters come out and spew a bunch of crap.
"all tech in all mags today is how to install the advertisers product. I haven't seen RC in years" - Then how the hell do you know what tech is in it?

"Tech that applies to Plastic cars" - really? Unless it is how to do fiberglass work, some thing I don't recall seeing in the magazine, what difference does it make what the car was made of?

I just looked at 4 issues from this year. Tech articles "Crazy painters" - a how to on some wild 60's style paint (no advertiser involved) "Anatomy of a 9 inch" What goes in to making a 9" Ford for a Hot Rod, yeah this was done at Currie, but there was plenty of good tech info that anyone could use in building a 9". "Spring Time and a Beaming Smile" Kev Elliot modified the shit out of some Posies Spring and Vintage Repro Parts axle and Fatman Wishbones for his modified. This wasn't bolting on aftermarket stuff, but modifying it for a unique look on a modified. (Hmmm, none of them had any ads in here wither) "From Shimmin to Trimmin" How to align body panels, shim them for correct gaps, Modify the sheet metal etc. (No advertisers here). "The Ultimate Flathad' Yeah this was all done at H&H, but if you couldn't learn more about building a flathead from this, there is no hope for you. "Banjo Lessons" In depth article on early banjo rear ends, the faults and how to upgrade. Done at Hot Rod Works, and guess what - they are not an advertiser. "Remedy for Lumpy Bumpers" Follow along as they cut up, fabricate and weld a total Kustom style bumper on a 48 Caddy. "Backgammon" Kev cuts and welds new panels in the rear of the Purple Pig that had been poorly repaired previously. This would apply to ANY car. "Bump N Grind" fabricating and installing a Custom rear Bumper using junkyard sourced parts. Sorry guys but those look like good old tech articles to me. Were there others that were bolt ons of advertiser parts, sure - but those are still relevant to many of the new guys to the hobby and it was a pretty good balance between the two types of tech.
And to those that say No or Few Traditional Cars ~ First off RF cut sit off at about 65. Second lets look at the cover feature cars of those same issues - 3 chopped and channeled Model A's and a Custom 55 Chevy; The Lincoln Zephyr inspired Deuce Roadster and a Flathead; Dick Bertolucci's 33 Chevy Roadster (that was built in the same style of his one from the 40's and features a 270 GMC six) and a 51 Ford Victoria Custom; Jack Fields 60 Starliner Custom (which a bunch of dip shits wrote in to complain about saying it looked like a Low Rider - it is a very traditional 60's Custom) and a Tri Power early style sbc that even though it's a 350 looks for all the world like a 265

If none of this is worth a couple of bucks to you, I feel sorry for you. You are selling yourself short.

 

Yes I just saw Feb 2012

 

I'll be subsribed to RC till they stop printing. It beats other mags that are more focused on just the culture bs.

 

just got mine in the mail some days ago, yes, maybe it's full of ads, but I don't think that for that price you can have an ad free mag or one with just traditional rodder and kustom orientated advertising...

anyway, someone know anything about gearhead magazine?
paid my subscription just after the issue with Alex Gambino and Roger Miret on the cover, never recieved a single issue and never got an answer to my emails...
sorry for the ot...

 

I dropped my R& C, after many many years of subbing.Seems every few days I got a renew notice, and needed to save NOW. It got to where I had no idea when I really needed to resub, so I let it go. I go back to the little pages,and enjoyed the mag. Just decided to let it go.

 

There are more tech articles in R&C now, but I think if you look closely they're not all just bolting on advertisers' parts (OK, the '55 suspension update one is...). Kev Elliot's Chevy panel repairs are using advertisers' parts, and he's using an advertiser's welding equipment, but there is still stuff to learn from them (if only that Fiat tail lights aren't the coolest things around for customs ).

The worst one these days is Street Rodder with full page ads for '70s-'80s-'90s cowl induction hoods for pickups! I'll still buy it while they continue to feature pre'55 stuff, but the first issue with a "street-rodded" Mustang or Camaro will be my last.

 

Not to mention my Son Race.

 

I only sub to "Canadian Rodder" and buy others at the rack as I see something I like in a Tech Article or whatever.
R & C has some good stuff sometimes. I still buy it when I find something interesting!

Thought it funny yesterday at "Chapters"..."Street Rodder" has a mag out on how to build a STREET ROD.
The entire mag is made up of tri 5 Chevy articles!
Nothing pre 49 in sight.

 

No shit! I think the tolet paper is thicker.

 

nothing!

 

I'm a diehard R&C fan and will stick with them til they don't print anymore,
you guys can do what you want but I'll still be cruzin R&C an havin fun.
(maybe I sound a bit like Milner here)

 

R&C Still like it and just renewed mine for 2yrs!

 

Damn straight. God, that paper is AWFUL!

 

You know R & C run it's course when you've read everything in it thats worth a damn before you finish taking 1 dump, and then the papers to thin to even wipe your ass with...why bother.

 

Pretty well sums it up for most rod magazines. I've bought most of the popular titles since the little pages began. MIssed R & C and was happy when it came back.
But there is nothing that I can use or afford in those mags anymore. Most parts catalogs have enough pictures and info to know how to install their crap. And the same instructions are what R & C use in the tech stories..

 

Well put but I see that posters read the comments on here about as closely as R&C as there are still guys whining about tech articles for products they can't afford.

Rob has done a good job with the mag since he took over they just finsihed a two part tech on sectioning a chevy ZERO advertising. I guess everyone wants to pay $20.00 for a three year subscription and have no ads.

 

Amen, brother! Fantastic stuff.

Well said. All I can think of when the mag haters surface is . . . what are you going to replace it with? OK, you got the HAMB, TRJ, uh . . . what the hell are you people reading?

You know, I have a small file box full of clipped out R&C and HR tech articles and history stuff. Good shit! Has helped me. And if any of you haters have ever read a Time, or People, or Southern Living, et. al., then go wash your mouth out with soap.

It's been said many times before, but everyone gushes when it's their car in the mag. Getting in HR or R&C is still a big honor and source of pride, as it should be. I guess bashing the print mags is akin to showing the world just how traditional you are, is that it? I don't get it. The mags are trying to run a business, they need to eat too. I think RF & Co. do a good job balancing corporate interests with rod and custom stuff.

What's your favorite car show on TV, Chop, Cut, Rebuild? Doesn't matter what it is, it comes with ads. Does that make it suck? No, that makes it part of the real world. That's why there is a remote, just like nobody is making you read the ad.

Subscriber, and I'll stick with it until something better comes along.

 

I think in the last 6 issues, R&C tech has been really good. Making a grille surround on a 46 ford, making a fan shroud...I have learned a lot. And the articles on the old timers and pioneers of rods and customs is awesome!


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

X2 "culture"? really?

 

You really can't complain about free...
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http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/
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http://www.streetrodderweb.com/
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Well, I guess some people might.
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I find quite a few Traditional cars and articles here.
.

 

I still subscribe and think it is a good magazine. There have been a bunch of mags that have folded up.My favorite one was Custom Rodder (gone now) due to lack of advertising and sub sales. I personally would hate to see R&C go. I just renewed mine.

 

I think many who bash it haven't read it in years. It's ALOT better than it was.

 

Gawd I hope so they just sent me subscription information. Wanted to update my addy and such.

 

Ditto! HRP

 

I get a couple of publications from Primedia. They just come and I read them, if there is something that I don't like I just don't read it. Can't beat it for the price.

 

R&C has been pretty good I think. Advertising is part of the game.

Try to keep it in perspective. If you were at the dentist's office, would you rather pick up a copy of r&c or another damn copy of sports illustrated?

We are a small group in the big picture. I prefer to support the guys that are out there doing it!