Unfortunately, it looks like another magazine dedicated to our corner of the automotive hobby is biting the dust. In this case, it is Spitfire & GT6 Magazine which is/was a US based quarterly magazine of high quality devoted to the Triumph Spitfire, GT6, Herald, Vitesse and “small Triumph” crowd.
In an open forum posting to the Triumph Experience message boards today, editor Shawn Frank said the following:
I wish I had better news about Spitfire & GT6 Magazine but I regret to inform you that the magazine will no longer be in publication. I had sent Issue #49 to print September 2015 and have still not seen it in print.
The Publisher (Magazinepublisher.com) has decided not to continue with the magazine and in fact has not communicated any future plans or lack thereof with me, the print house, advertisers, or any subscribers. They own the name and rights to the name. They did offer it to me for sale at an amount I can not afford. Sadly that leaves me without my Editor job and enthusiasts without this little magazine. I wish there was more I could do but my hands are tied.
I am very sorry for any inconvenience this causes. Howard (former Editor) and I will be colaborating on a farewell issue (#50) that will be released as a digital copy online. We are also working on a complete series (issue #1-#50) release as a digital format. I will let you all know when issue #50 and the complete series will be available.
I am very sorry at the way this has been handled (or not handled for that matter) by the publishing company. I have been working through the same run around.
Hopefully Howard and I will have a good farewell issue that will be a free issue to show our appreciation for our subscribers, followers, and enthusiasts.
Again, I am sorry that the publisher has left us all hanging. I wish I could do more. Thank you so much from Howard and myself.
Thanks so much!
Shawn Frank
I would like to personally say, as a reader, I hate to say such a great resource go. What is worse is the way that Shawn and his subscribers have been treated. With nearly 50 issues under the belt, the magazine had built quite a strong fan base, and it is sad to see the magazine stop publishing.
As more announcements are made, they will be relayed here.
Michael Carnell is the editor and founder of the Just British Online Motoring Magazine. As a lifelong British car enthusiast, he has owned or driven British cars of all ages from Austins and MGs to Jaguars and Triumphs. He currently owns a 1966 Vanden Plas Princess 1100 and a 1977 MGB. But there is always room for more - no matter what his wife says.
That is sad I remember a Sprite/Midget Publication years back which I enjoyed when racing my Midget .
We have a beautiful Morgan magazine out of the U.K. Mog magazine love it , just changed hands hope it survives .
Unfortunately seems more and more common as our cars get older.
I can contest to Shawn’s attempts to answer my questions when all correspondence with the publisher were ignored. It does leave a void on the Triumph magazines specifically for the Spitfire/GT6. I can only hope Shawn and the prior Editor Howard can choose a name not controlled by the publisher and get a magazine to cover this void. I know I will subscribe. Thanks Shawn, I’ve enjoyed the product you have put together!
Agreed heartily! They have done well and will be missed. I too hope they can find a way to revive the magazine under another name.
An unfortunate end — I’ll look forward to issue number 50, but Spitfire & GT6 magazine will be missed.
Agreed. The issue 50 will be a valued farewell – just wish it weren’t so.
I too will greatly miss spitfire>6 magizine,it has been of great inspiration to me seeing just how MANY of these cars are still on the road and a great source of information an tips as I have proceeded with my project car (68 gt6 mk1) frame off.I hope to see the mag. Resurrected some day in some form.
Sent them $15 on sept 26th as they were still advertising online that they were still publishing the magazine. Certainly hope they have the decency to refund my money or send me back issues if possible!!
I am sure Shawn will, he is a good guy. There were some difficulties with him updating the website, which is why it is still like that I am sure. If you email us, we can give you his email address.