One of the greatest parts of the magazine industry is immersing yourself in the
back catalog of old issues and seeing how the world has changed with time.
Not surprisingly, our covers have reflected the decades they were born into: In
the ’50s, the covers of MotorTrend were beautifully sketched and simply done,
whereas in the ’80s we shifted to a big, splashy, and bold aesthetic, often
featuring models and props. In celebration of 70 years, we went through our
archives and selected our favorites. Christian SeabaughOUR FAVORITE
MOTORTREND
COVERS
FROM THE PAST 70 YEARS
November 1949: Untitled
There’s a fabulous sense of speed in this shot;
the car almost looks like it’s bending around
the corner. You can see the rear end starting
to slide on a loose surface, the driver leaning
into the corner, the front wheels cranked over
to hopefully make it around that slippery,
high-risk corner. Plus, the old Motor Trend logo
is undeniably rad. Duncan BradyJune 1950:
What Is the Future Trend in Sports Cars?
One of our earliest covers is among the most
effective, and it set a tone many others would
follow. Despite its relative simplicity, it instantly
captured my interest. No need for catchy
headlines or splashy colors—the image of a
car sliding across the desert floor represents
pure, unadulterated motoring thrill. It says,
“If this looks fun, you’ll like what’s inside this
magazine.” Alex Leanse80 MOTORTREND.COM SEPTEMBER 2019