ASM IS DEAD: Long live…whatever it becomes!

January 13, 2010 2:05 pm Published by

I wasn’t really expecting this!

Today Status Corporation, the publisher of Auto Salon Magazine, made the announcement that Issue 85 will be its final edition to be printed. “Auto Salon Magazine has been a core division of ours” stated Status Corporation’s Director Mark Keo, “but the landscape of the publishing industry has changed dramatically over the last two years, and the GFC has had a marked impact on our advertising supporters.”

“However ASM will still continue as we make the transition into the online arena, where our website will deliver the high quality content our loyal ASM readers have become accustomed to” Keo continued.

Auto Salon Magazine was created in 2002 by the team responsible for the Auto Salon modified car show series. Over the years it went from strength to strength, redefining the way modified car culture was seen by both enthusiasts and the mainstream.

“On a personal level, this is obviously a sad moment; yet at the same time it is also exciting” said ASM’s Editor in Chief, Charles Kha. “All I can say is that we’ll be looking to deliver something special for the last ever printed edition of Auto Salon Magazine.”

Issue 82 is currently on sale, and editorial production will continue until Issue 85, which hits newsstands at the end of March 2010.

A limited run of pre-release ‘special edition’ copies will be available on the 15th March, 2010. The collector’s edition will be available to both Australian and international readers, and can be ordered via the www.autosalon.com.au website.

In an interesting move, the Auto Salon Magazine editorial team has decided to use Twitter to document the creation of Issue 85 in real-time. As the team works through the 30 days leading into 85’s final deadline, followers will be able to see the inner-workings of the magazine’s production and behind the scenes of the photo shoots. The account goes live at midnight on 14th January, and can viewed here: www.twitter.com/issue85.

Having worked at Auto Salon magazine for a while, I suggest you subscribe to the Twitter feed. Some of those late nights can get quite interesting.

Oh well, all good things must come to an end. If the final issue is anything like the almost-cardstock issue they made a couple of years ago, I definitely want a copy!

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This post was written by Alexi

14 Comments

  • ando says:

    This is really sad news, they were one of the best car related publications to come out of Aus. Also the autosalon shows were good fun!

  • Joel says:

    Nooo… its the only good car magazine left locally (QLD – Aus)
    Will be sure to get the final issues… ASM will be missed 🙁

  • lil tim says:

    What did you do at ASM if you dont mind me asking? I had 12month sub when it came out.

  • Mo says:

    I was sad when I first heard “Drift Battle” mag had to close its doors…I have all of the issues.
    Just as dissapointed that “Autosalon” mag has to do the same.
    I have the drift battle sticky on my ride to let the memory live on……will have to do the same for autosalon. Let’s hope “Performance Imports” doesn’t do the same.

  • JDM YO says:

    NO NO NO NO NO!!! This magazine was my life-blood!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! ;(

  • ookami says:

    I believe this has been a long time coming, the entire performance car industry is slowly getting smaller, mainly thanks to the Anti hooning laws. I don’t believe that the GFC has had any effect on magazines of this nature as atm the 4×4 scene in Australia is the biggest it has been in over 20 years. Young people (QLD atleast anyway) can’t own “Performance Cars” and have basically been hassled out of town where the Police don’t go. It will be sad though for those who still enjoy the performance cars …..

  • Fury-S12 says:

    whilst sad i doubt this will be the only magazine to disappear in the next year or two, the internet is where its at with sites like speedhunters and obviosly nori yaro 😛 why get the printed version with 6 month old event results

    ASM hinted on moving there “product” online and thats what they and all other magaszines should do become an Australian localalised online magazine with upto date event caps etc and use dino and alexi and all the rest to bring in some international flavour and steal the aussies fromthe likes of speedhunters and the rest of the web, hell if i had the money and contacts id do it

  • Last time I was in Australia Magazines were so expensive. I’m not surprised.

    Most are $10 and the same thing that always happens in Australia. The population is too small to support almost any business.

    Thats why all the other performance magazines are producted by the same company.

  • Nic says:

    really sad news imo, asm covered a lot of awesome cars (catering to everyones taste) and had a lot of very interesting articles over the years.

    RIP Autosalon Magazine 🙁

  • kustum says:

    mo, i’m missing #2 and #12 of DB, do you have doubles? But i have Autosalons from #22, and i only have one question. Whwere the hell is the S15?

  • Fury-S12 says:

    ^^ they pop up on ebay every now and then when people get them as extras with PI but i still need number 12 to re complete my set so if it does appear on ebay it wont be for long

  • tom says:

    OOOOH thats Bullshit. i love this mag. well i gues ill just have to read it on the net from now on but its not the same.

  • Max says:

    Noooo! AutoSalon is the only mag I like (in Australia) other than HPi.. 🙁

  • Mo says:

    @kustum: Sorry buddy no doubles…..*sigh* if only I did I’d truly help you out mate…