What’s a kid to do? I was born too late to experience the heyday of the cars we love, so I had to rely on magazines to get my education. When Collectible Automobile magazine arrived on newsstands in 1984, I was ripe to learn more about many cars I had read about in books. Since then, I’ve amassed a complete collection, but damage has ruined my collection’s mojo.
Within the first two years of the publication, I was able to learn plenty about the Studebaker Avanti, Edsel, Chrysler 300 Letter Series, Pontiac GTO, Lincoln Zephyr, Buick Riviera, Tucker, 1950s Cadillac Eldorados, and 1950s Plymouth Furys. Additionally, I also learned about cars that were not on my radar, such as 1955-56 Packards, Kaiser, Facel Vega, and Graham “Sharknose,” among others.
Because I have a complete collection, I am somewhat protective of it, so you can imagine my dismay when I discovered several issues were damaged. This was around 10 years ago after multiple moves around the U.S. What I did in turn was take a picture of the damaged issues and keep it in my phone for prospecting. I never bothered to find them on eBay because the cost per issue can get pricey (and even more so from the publisher). I figured the supply was good, so I could fill the holes when compelled.
That moment came last month while I was in Michigan for the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race. To kill some time in Detroit, I dragged my wife and son to John K. King Used & Rare Books. It’s a HUGE used bookstore with more than one million books on four floors in downtown Detroit. It’s famous as a dumping ground for automotive designers and engineers, though it could be said those glory days may be over.
The bookstore’s automotive magazine selection is quite small — magazines are afterthoughts compared to the bulk of automotive titles on the shelf. Nonetheless, I found several issues of Collectible Automobile, including one of the ones I was missing. It featured what I’d consider slight water damage, but the $3.50 price was right, and it allowed me to check off one issue from my list.
Afterwards, I took my family through Woodward Avenue, past the Fisher Building and the old General Motors headquarters, not to mention the old Model T factory. (I have to admit some of these parts have improved in 10 years, so go Detroit!) Passing 8 Mile Road, I explained to my wife that we were exiting Detroit and entering the suburbs. After a tangent into Royal Oak, we rejoined Woodward and stopped by the famed Vinsetta Garage, which is now a restaurant — I recommend the Tikka Fries!
Nearby is Pasteiner’s, which I think used to be known as Auto Zone. The store is a fine place to find automotive books and magazines, but you’ll also find models and other tchotchkes. During my visit, I discovered an almost complete collection of Collectible Automobile. With list in hand, I managed to replace the rest of my damaged issues (plus a duplicate by accident). Interestingly, the issue I had purchased at the bookstore earlier in the day was MIA at Pasteiner’s, so it truly felt like the planets were aligned for me.
Additionally, over the past two years, I’ve missed two issues while renewing my subscription — stupid me, I sent my check too late and the publisher wasn’t as forgiving as in the past. One of those issues I found at Pasteiner’s, while the remaining issue will keep me on the hunt. Lesson learned.
