Hemmings Motor News

Hemmings Motor News

Hemmings Motor News is an American automotive periodical and classifieds publisher focused on classic, collector, and performance automobiles. Founded in 1954, it grew from a small classified circular into a multifaceted media and events organization with print magazines, online listings, auction partnerships, and specialty publications. The company has become a focal point for collectors, restorers, and enthusiasts of historic automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and parts.

History

Hemmings Motor News began in 1954 when Ernest Hemmings launched a classified newsletter aimed at owners of veteran and antique automobiles, paralleling early efforts by Jay Leno collectors, Carroll Shelby enthusiasts, and private sellers associated with Gooding & Company auctions. Through the 1960s and 1970s the publication expanded amid interest in preservation promoted by figures such as Enzo Ferrari, Henry Ford II, and restoration movements documented by Automobile Club de l'Ouest events. In the 1980s and 1990s Hemmings broadened coverage in response to nostalgia trends championed by collectors connected to Barrett-Jackson, RM Sotheby's, and vintage racing at Goodwood Festival of Speed. The digital transition in the early 21st century paralleled changes at outlets like Motor Trend, Road & Track, and Car and Driver, prompting Hemmings to develop online classifieds and specialty sites alongside its print heritage.

Publications and Products

Hemmings publishes a flagship classified magazine alongside specialty periodicals and books, mirroring product lines offered by publishers such as Octane (magazine), Classic & Sports Car, and Hemmings Motor News competitor entities. Its core offerings include monthly classified listings for collector cars, trucks, motorcycles, and parts, in a format comparable to historical mail-order catalogs used by Sears, Roebuck and Co. and catalogers in the antique trade like Christie’s. The company also produces restoration guides, price guides, and marque-specific features referencing marques including Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Jaguar Cars. Special issues focus on themes found in auctions by Bonhams and museum exhibitions at institutions such as the Henry Ford Museum and the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Events and Community Engagement

Hemmings organizes and sponsors events that bring together collectors, restorers, and dealers in formats akin to gatherings hosted by Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Amelia Island Concours, and Goodwood Revival. Its car shows, swap meets, and concours-style gatherings attract participants who also engage with organizations like National Automobile Dealers Association, Antique Automobile Club of America, and regional chapters of SCCA and AACA. The publisher partners with auction houses including Barrett-Jackson and RM Sotheby's for promotional collaborations and media sponsorships, and its events often feature demonstrations inspired by historic races such as the Mille Miglia and Le Mans 24 Hours.

Business Operations and Ownership

Originally a family-run enterprise, the company maintained independent ownership for decades before evolving its corporate structure to include modern publishing and classified operations similar to transitions seen at Gannett and Conde Nast. Its headquarters in Bennington, Vermont coordinates editorial, circulation, and classifieds operations, while distribution and advertising relationships align with national dealers represented by NADA and specialty parts suppliers paralleling firms like Summit Racing Equipment and JEGS Performance. Hemmings’ business model relies on subscription revenue, classified fees, advertising from restoration shops and parts manufacturers such as Edelbrock, Holley, and Hertz rental partnerships for event logistics, as well as licensing and book sales comparable to automotive imprints like Haynes Publishing.

Impact and Reception

Hemmings has been influential in preserving automotive heritage, shaping collecting trends similarly to influential institutions and personalities including Jay Leno, Bruce McCaw, Peter Mullin, Sotheby's automobile specialists, and museum curators at the National Motor Museum. Its classifieds have facilitated sales and restorations that contributed to market valuations tracked by price guides like those from Kelley Blue Book and auction results at Gooding & Company and RM Sotheby's. Critics and industry observers compare Hemmings’ editorial tone and community role with established media such as Road & Track, Automobile Quarterly, and Classic Motorsports, noting its niche authority among restorers and private sellers. The publication is often cited in collector circles, reunion events run by organizations like Vintage Sports-Car Club and Historic Vehicle Association, and scholarship on automotive preservation.

Category:American magazines Category:Automobile magazines