The iconic automotive publication Autocar has announced a significant partnership with the British Motor Museum, designating the museum’s collection as the new home for the Autocar Archive. This archive, encompassing over a century of automotive history, comprises magazines, photographs, drawings, motoring literature, and film, and represents one of the world’s most comprehensive collections.
A Legacy of Automotive History
For decades, Autocar has documented the evolution of the motor car and the British motor industry. The magazine recently celebrated its 130th anniversary, a testament to its enduring presence and influence. While a digital version of the Autocar Archive has been accessible since 2023 thanks to a collaboration with Exact Editions, the physical copies, including future bound volumes, required a new, permanent home.
Why the British Motor Museum?
The British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire, was the clear choice for preserving this valuable resource. Its existing collection is already internationally recognized and offers a fitting environment for the Autocar Archive, allowing it to be displayed alongside the vehicles and related objects it has documented. This proximity to the cars Autocar has chronicled over the years adds another layer of significance to the partnership.
Completing the Collection
The digitization process revealed some gaps within the archive, highlighting opportunities for enthusiasts and collectors to contribute. Autocar and the British Motor Museum are actively seeking items to fill these missing pieces, aiming to create a complete and readily accessible historical record. Researchers visiting the museum will soon be able to search the digital archive using a dedicated terminal, further enhancing the resource’s utility. Readers interested in contributing can find a list of missing issues here.
A Partnership for the Future
“We’re delighted to be partnering with the British Motor Museum for this very special project,” said Autocar editor Mark Tisshaw. “The Autocar Archive tells the history of the motor car in real time back to 1895 and the digitisation of the archive was a huge moment for the brand in making this accessible to all.”
Stephen Laing, head of collections at the British Motor Museum, added: “Our internationally recognised collections of cars, objects and archive material tell the myriad of stories behind the development of the car; the people who designed, built and sold them; and the growth of the motor industry since its inception.”
To celebrate the partnership, Autocar editor-in-chief Steve Cropley and editor-at-large Matt Prior recorded a special immersive episode of their “My Week in Cars” podcast from the museum. This episode is available now on all major podcast platforms and at the bottom of the article.
This collaboration signifies a commitment to preserving automotive history and making it accessible to researchers, enthusiasts, and the general public. By combining Autocar’s historical record with the British Motor Museum’s impressive collection, the partnership will provide unparalleled insights into the evolution of the motor car and the British automotive industry.
