OVERVIEW:
Road Test was published from 1965 to 1981 in Los Angeles California. The magazine was essentially a buyers guide and
published objective road test results on U.S. and foreign automobiles. This covered the range from up-scale sports
cars to small economy cars. Each magazine had the following text in the opening pages, "Devoted to automobiles, other vehicles and automotive products, ROAD TEST is designed to present the
complete facts about cars, trucks, accessories, equipment and automotive products without fear or favor." The intent was to be objective and become a trusted
and authoritative source. Early issues indicated the magazine was not funded with advertising. However, it is uncertain if this continued through the
entire publishing cycle.
It started as a bi-monthly magazine and then switched to monthly in 1968. This continued until 1978 when there was a break in publishing. It restarted on an erratic bi-monthly schedule.
OWNERSHIP:
The first publisher was Bill Quinn, and first editor was OCee Ritch. It appears Mr Quinn closed down
Motor Sports Illustrated in November 1964, then used the same
staff to create Road Test in December, 1964.
In October, 1974, Quinn Publications sold the title to George Dougherty. Mr Quinn stayed on as Vice President for a few issues during a transition period, then Mr. Dougherty became the publisher and owner. In short order he hired Steve Thompson as the editor.
But this started a revolving door of publishers and editors. Frank Kirmos became the publisher in 1979 and brought back William Quinn as the co-publisher. Walt Woron, the first editor of Motor Trend, joined the team as the editor. In early 1981, Jim Hall was the publisher, but by late 1981 Jay Sampson became the publisher. This is an indication of a struggling publication, and the title ended in November, 1981.
The table of contents, if available, can be seen by clicking on the icon.
CONTENT COMPLETENESS:
A total of 164 issues was printed from December, 1964 through November, 1981. Cover images are complete for this title except for: 6/81.
![Road Test Dec December 1964](Road%20Test/1964-12.jpg)
![Road Test Mar March 1965](Road%20Test/1965-03.jpg)
![Road Test May 1965](Road%20Test/1965-05.jpg)
![Road Test July 1965](Road%20Test/1965-07.jpg)
![Road Test Sept September 1965](Road%20Test/1965-09.jpg)
![Road Test Nov November 1965](Road%20Test/1965-11.jpg)
![Road Test Jan January 1966](Road%20Test/1966-01.jpg)
![Road Test Mar March 1966](Road%20Test/1966-03.jpg)
![](0001%2099W%20graphic%20images/littlei.jpg)
![Road Test May 1966](Road%20Test/1966-05.jpg)
![Road Test July 1966](Road%20Test/1966-07.jpg)
![](0001%2099W%20graphic%20images/littlei.jpg)
![Road Test Sept September 1966](Road%20Test/1966-09.jpg)
![](0001%2099W%20graphic%20images/littlei.jpg)
![Road Test Dec December 1966](Road%20Test/1966-12.jpg)
![Road Test Feb February 1967](Road%20Test/1967-02.jpg)
![](0001%2099W%20graphic%20images/littlei.jpg)
![Road Test Apr April 1967](Road%20Test/1967-04.jpg)
![](0001%2099W%20graphic%20images/littlei.jpg)
![Road Test June 1967](Road%20Test/1967-06.jpg)
![Road Test Aug August 1967](Road%20Test/1967-08.jpg)
![Road Test Oct October 1967](Road%20Test/1967-10.jpg)
![Road Test Nov November 1967](Road%20Test/1967-11.jpg)
![](0001%2099W%20graphic%20images/littlei.jpg)
![Road Test Dec December 1967](Road%20Test/1967-12.jpg)
![](0001%2099W%20graphic%20images/littlei.jpg)
![Road Test Jan January 1968](Road%20Test/1968-01.jpg)
![Road Test Feb February 1968](Road%20Test/1968-02.jpg)
![](0001%2099W%20graphic%20images/littlei.jpg)
![Road Test Mar March 1968](Road%20Test/1968-03.jpg)
![](0001%2099W%20graphic%20images/littlei.jpg)
![Road Test Apr April 1968](Road%20Test/1968-04.jpg)
![Road Test May 1968](Road%20Test/1968-05.jpg)
![Road Test June 1968](Road%20Test/1968-06.jpg)
![Road Test July 1968](Road%20Test/1968-07.jpg)
![Road Test Sept September 1968](Road%20Test/1968-09.jpg)
![Road Test Oct October 1968](Road%20Test/1968-10.jpg)
![Road Test Nov November 1968](Road%20Test/1968-11.jpg)
![Road Test Dec December 1968](Road%20Test/1968-12.jpg)
![Road Test Jan January 1969](Road%20Test/1969-01.jpg)
![Road Test Feb February 1969](Road%20Test/1969-02.jpg)
![Road Test Mar March 1969](Road%20Test/1969-03.jpg)
![Road Test Apr April 1969](Road%20Test/1969-04.jpg)
![Road Test May 1969](Road%20Test/1969-05.jpg)
![Road Test June 1969](Road%20Test/1969-06.jpg)
![Road Test July 1969](Road%20Test/1969-07.jpg)
![Road Test Aug August 1969](Road%20Test/1969-08.jpg)
![Road Test Sept September 1969](Road%20Test/1969-09.jpg)
![Road Test Oct October 1969](Road%20Test/1969-10.jpg)
![Road Test Nov November 1969](Road%20Test/1969-11.jpg)
![Road Test Dec December 1969](Road%20Test/1969-12.jpg)
![Road Test Jan January 1970](Road%20Test/1970-01.jpg)
![Road Test Feb February 1970](Road%20Test/1970-02.jpg)
![Road Test Mar March 1970](Road%20Test/1970-03.jpg)
![Road Test Apr April 1970](Road%20Test/1970-04.jpg)
![Road Test May 1970](Road%20Test/1970-05.jpg)
![Road Test June 1970](Road%20Test/1970-06.jpg)
![](0001%2099W%20graphic%20images/littlei.jpg)
![Road Test July 1970](Road%20Test/1970-07.jpg)
![Road Test Aug August 1970](Road%20Test/1970-08.jpg)
![Road Test Sept September 1970](Road%20Test/1970-09.jpg)
![Road Test Oct October 1970](Road%20Test/1970-10.jpg)
![Road Test Nov November 1970](Road%20Test/1970-11.jpg)
![Road Test Dec December 1970](Road%20Test/1970-12.jpg)
![Road Test Jan January 1971](Road%20Test/1971-01.jpg)
![](0001%2099W%20graphic%20images/littlei.jpg)
![Road Test Feb February 1971](Road%20Test/1971-02.jpg)
![Road Test Mar March 1971](Road%20Test/1971-03.jpg)
![Road Test Apr April 1971](Road%20Test/1971-04.jpg)
![Road Test May 1971](Road%20Test/1971-05.jpg)
![Road Test June 1971](Road%20Test/1971-06.jpg)
![Road Test July 1971](Road%20Test/1971-07.jpg)
![Road Test Aug August 1971](Road%20Test/1971-08.jpg)
![Road Test Sept September 1971](Road%20Test/1971-09.jpg)
![Road Test Oct October 1971](Road%20Test/1971-10.jpg)
![](0001%2099W%20graphic%20images/littlei.jpg)
![Road Test Nov November 1971](Road%20Test/1971-11.jpg)
![Road Test Dec December 1971](Road%20Test/1971-12.jpg)
![Road Test Jan January 1972](Road%20Test/1972-01.jpg)
![Road Test Feb February 1972](Road%20Test/1972-02.jpg)
![Road Test Mar March 1972](Road%20Test/1972-03.jpg)
![Road Test Apr April 1972](Road%20Test/1972-04.jpg)
![Road Test May 1972](Road%20Test/1972-05.jpg)
![Road Test June 1972](Road%20Test/1972-06.jpg)
![Road Test July 1972](Road%20Test/1972-07.jpg)
![Road Test Aug August 1972](Road%20Test/1972-08.jpg)
![Road Test Sept September 1972](Road%20Test/1972-09.jpg)
![Road Test Oct October 1972](Road%20Test/1972-10.jpg)
![Road Test Nov November 1972](Road%20Test/1972-11.jpg)
![Road Test Dec December 1972](Road%20Test/1972-12.jpg)
![](0001%2099W%20graphic%20images/scroll%20right.jpg)