December 1958 Restorer Magazine

Bob Bidonde

Well-known member
The cover photo of the December 1958 issue of The Restorer is the spark plug that started the Model "A" Ford Club of Long Island. I need a color copy / scan of the cover photo of that issue. On the other hand, I will buy that issue if the price is reasonable.
 
Was it called The Restorer back then?

Yes

MAFCA 1956
On February 26, 1956 the first Annual Business Meeting and the election of officers for 1956 was held and Art Miller became the first president. In May of 1956, the first issue of The Restorer was published as the official club publication. The Restorer, by the third issue and by immediate popular demand, was offered to all MARC members, effecting national distribution at a subscription rate off $3 a year. By direction of the parent club classified ads were restricted to the Southern California territory designated in the Regional Charter. The 13th of November, 1956 marked the first anniversary of the Southern California Region. Membership had grown from 21 members in February to 107 in November.
 
Last edited:
The cover photo of the December 1958 issue of The Restorer is the spark plug that started the Model "A" Ford Club of Long Island. I need a color copy / scan of the cover photo of that issue. On the other hand, I will buy that issue if the price is reasonable.
Were they just black/white back then ,not color? I have some but not that issue!!
 
Covers didn't become colored until mid-1960's. It took longer for selected pages inside to be colored, a little color more added each year. It's odd to thumb through mid-1960's and earlier "Restorer" issues because they are 100% in black and white (including grayscales and some sepia-tones)
Marshall
 
Covers didn't become colored until mid-1960's. It took longer for selected pages inside to be colored, a little color more added each year. It's odd to thumb through mid-1960's and earlier "Restorer" issues because they are 100% in black and white (including grayscales and some sepia-tones)
Marshall

Yes, same with the Model "A" News. I was just looking at the March-April 1966 Model "A" News the other day. It actually has a full size drawing of a 30-31 Fordor Sedans (Including my Briggs 155D) "Roof Rail" for the centerfold!!

54699598622_5abdefa8a1_c.jpg
 
Last edited:
This is the cover of the one you're looking for. Unfortunately, this is from the Restorer archive drive.
 

Attachments

  • v03i4p01.jpg
    v03i4p01.jpg
    38.2 KB · Views: 40
Bob, I have an organized collection of MARC and MAFCA magazines dating back to the late 1950"s; they are bound in binders in my garage. This morning I will go and check to see if I have that issue and will gladly send you a photo copy. If I feel that the December issue is not worth saving I will send you either the original cover or complete issue... no charge. Please list your mailing address. Gary D.
 
Looking back through the old issues of the Restorer, I'm always amazed at how there was such interest in 30-year-old cars. Guys were restoring them and collecting them...far from any of the interest or treatment of cars the same age today ("oh! I'm in the process of restoring my 1995 Aspire!") :D:D
 

Attachments

  • 2025-08-05_08-43-28.jpg
    2025-08-05_08-43-28.jpg
    90 KB · Views: 36
The Floyd Clymer Model A books, in B&W, used to comment on how 'That Sport Coupe appears redundant, in Seal Brown and Rose Beige'

How in the hell did he figure that out, from a B&W photo, is beyond me:p
 
The Floyd Clymer Model A books, in B&W, used to comment on how 'That Sport Coupe appears redundant, in Seal Brown and Rose Beige'

How in the hell did he figure that out, from a B&W photo, is beyond me:p
He may have photographed the car or had a color picture of the car that was published in B&W. Black & White was one pass through the printing press. Color required the colors to be separated into black, red, yellow and cyan (blue). Each color then had to be printed with precision - an expensive process for smaller runs.



Colorizing is now easy online for old photos
 

Attachments

  • v03i4p01_yNzF7__please_credit[palette.fm].jpg
    v03i4p01_yNzF7__please_credit[palette.fm].jpg
    47.2 KB · Views: 22
Why was the MARC magazine called the Restorer? Now that’s MFCA’s mag and of course MARC’s is Model A News

As far as I know, the Restorer magazine was always a MAFCA publication but was offered to MARC Members in 1956 to increase national distribution. MAFCA was basically West Coast. Back then, as noted, MAFCA only had 107 members.

But I could be wrong.

MAFCA 1956
On February 26, 1956 the first Annual Business Meeting and the election of officers for 1956 was held and Art Miller became the first president. In May of 1956, the first issue of The Restorer was published as the official club publication. The Restorer, by the third issue and by immediate popular demand, was offered to all MARC members, effecting national distribution at a subscription rate off $3 a year. By direction of the parent club classified ads were restricted to the Southern California territory designated in the Regional Charter. The 13th of November, 1956 marked the first anniversary of the Southern California Region. Membership had grown from 21 members in February to 107 in November.
 
Last edited:
I think MAFCA was originally a regional MARC club in SoCal and The Restorer was their club newsletter. There was a lot of overlap between the two orgs right at the beginning.
 
In 58 the Seattle evergreen club was formed. A few years later 1965, members in Tacoma said” Seattle is too far away” ,about 34 miles. So they started the Galloping Gerties club, named after the famous local bridge that collapsed.
 
Back
Top