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The annual for car enthusiasts

If there is an explanation for the fact that Automobile Year has successfully passed its fiftieth anniversary, it is that it continues to fill a need and to satisfy its readers.  No other annual offers such a complete overview of the car in all its roles - a major component in the world's economy, a thing of beauty and excitement and a form of sporting endeavour.  But, covering all these aspects is the job of this publication, and half a century of experience has honed the format almost to perfection.

The best car manufacturers don’t make cars, they make money, and our expert reviews of the activities in the main geographical manufacturing areas tells which manufacturers are getting it right and which are not.

But even the least-profitable companies can produce great cars, and it is our aim to cover all the most interesting new introductions – be they million-selling family saloons or one-off concepts – in depth and with illustrations that will convey their appeal. As concept cars play an ever-important part in the automotive world, Automobile Year reflects their growth in pictures and informed criticism by experts. More experts come into play in our generously-illustrated review of the past year in motor sport. Unique, in that it covers all aspects of competition, including Formula 1, Le Mans and sports and GT racing, World Rally, Touring Cars and the major US championships, the review is accompanied by detailed results. In the wider world of the automobile, we cover the history and philosophy of Peugeot, the roots of post-war Japanese car design, and the life and times of two very different personalities, Italian racing driver Tazio Nuvolari and American journalist Floyd Clymer. On the sporting side, there is a description of what it takes to bring the thrills of world championship rallying to the TV screen. If there is one feature that demonstrates the quality and style applied to all 272 pages of this publication, it is the portfolio of the work of Parisian photographer Jacques Cochin. Comparing and contrasting the beauty of cars and haute couture in subtly-linked pairs of images, Cochin’s work exemplifies the philosophy of Automobile Year – superb pictures, superb cars, superb production quality.