In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, with the booming local interest in Volkswagens, several different Australian VW magazines suddenly popped up in newsagents. Some lasted only an issue or two, some a bit longer. Sadly, none are still publishing in 2001; with the declining numbers of air-cooled VWs on our roads, the market today doesn’t justify a specialist VW magazine in Australia (apart from Zeitschrift, of course). The heady rush of issues from earlier years are now collectors items.
But there was such a lot of different magazines, with a myriad of different names from different publishers, that it is very difficult to keep track of them. The trouble with most of the Australian VW magazines was that they sometimes engaged in the annoying publishing practice of not printing the date on them. This makes it quite difficult today to catalogue them for future reference in your home library. Which one came out first and when - Super VWs or Street VWs or VW Annual? And how can you tell if you’re missing any issues? This article can hopefully help by listing the issues from the various publishers - in the correct order.
So why did they change the bloody name every time the next issue came out? Why didn’t they just print "VW Australia Dec ‘97"? The reason was that by changing the name they could keep the same issues on your newsagent shelves longer. For example, when The Womens Weekly for July comes out, the left-over unsold June issues have to be bundled and sent back to the distributors to be kept for a little while, then pulped. Who wants boxes and boxes of old Womens Weeklies sitting around? This costs the publishers money. And even if they’re stored rather than pulped, they’re certainly NOT on the shelves awaiting someone to buy them.
Now consider last month’s "Shiniest VWs" magazine. Along comes the next issue - this time called "Groovy VWs No 1". Neither has a date anywhere on it. The poor newsagent doesn’t know it’s the same magazine with just a different name, so she puts Groovy VWs on the shelves NEXT TO Shiniest VWs, without removing the earlier issues.
This is great for the publishers, as they have a much greater chance to sell all their older issues because they’re on the shelves a lot longer. They don’t get taken down! It’s also good for the newsagent, because her shelves look fuller and it makes novices think there’s heaps of titles available.
The problem is that less wary VW enthusiasts can find themselves buying VW magazines that are months - even years - old. I browsed one in 1999 that had a preview of the 1996 Nationals in it! So although the practice is perfectly legal, and they do it for perfectly good financial reasons, I’ve always thought it does the average VW enthusiast, who is a lot less pedantic than me, something of a disservice.
Be that as it may, which ones came out when? How can you know if you’ve got every issue or not? After some considerable head scratching, mag shuffling, note taking and emailing other magazine collectors, we’ve come up with this list. My thanks go to Phill Lander for his assistance, the only VW enthusiast who is MORE picky than me.
Australian VW Power
Published by Syme Media Pty Ltd, Melbourne
Editors: Tim Britten, David Morley, Tony Glynn
December 1988 - June/July 1992
21 Issues.
An easy one to start with! VW Power was the first Australian VW magazine since VW themselves published ‘New Horizons’ in the early 1960s. VW Power is very easy to keep track of, as they did the right thing by printing both the date and the issue number on each one. Simply put yours in numerical order from 1 to 21, and you’ll soon see if you’re missing any. They pop up today at swapmeets all the time.
Fast Fours and Rotaries’ Hottest VW
Published by Federal Publishing, Sydney
Editor - Todd Hallenbeck, Dean Evans
1992 & 1993
2 issues only
The first attempt by another publisher to fill the gap left by the death of VW Power. Rather than a true periodical, they were rather two collections of ‘best’ VW stories previously published in Fast Fours and Rotaries magazine. They were even labelled as such - ‘Enthusiast’s Issue’. There were only two of them - the second one clearly labelled as "No. 2". They were published eight months or more apart, as the first had a report on the ‘92 Nationals, while the second had a preview sheet for the ’93 Nationals. Fast Fours and Rotaries magazine has gone way away from VWs in recent years, so another issue in future is most unlikely.
Australian VW Scene
Published by Lex Cowley, Brisbane
Editor: Lex Cowley
Autumn 1995 - Winter 1997
8 issues
Another easy one. Lex put this one together in his spare time and out of his own pocket, so there were no iron-clad publishing dates. However, he numbers each one properly so again, sort yours into numeric order to see which ones you’re missing. We heard a rumour that Lex was thinking of publishing again - he would have the Australian market to himself today. Let’s hope so.
Performance Volkswagens No. 1
Published by Australian Publishing and Printing Company, Sydney
Editor: James Garrod
Winter 1996
1 issue only
A one-off effort from a company not known for successful magazines - they also produced ‘Best Geminis’ and ‘4s and Rotary Mania’ magazines. No doubt an attempt to cash in on the VW scene, with articles on cars we’d already seen in other magazines.
Best Volkswagens No.1
Published by Australian Publishing and Printing Company, Sydney
Editor: Paul Beck
Winter 1998
1 issue only
A woeful second attempt, two years later. Two car feature articles and two tech articles that were simply reprints from the issue above, including one that said “..it’s a sobering thought in 1993…” This was published in 1998! Dreadful.
The ‘Paradise’ VW magazines
Published by Express Publications, Sydney
Editor - Geoff Paradise, James McRory
October 1993 to July 1998
The closest effort to the standard set by VW Power a few years earlier, but plagued by inconsistencies. The first in this series was published as a ‘special edition’ by Hot 4s and Wild Rotaries magazine, no doubt in direct competition with the two issues put out by Fast 4s and Rotaries mentioned earlier. That parent connection was never mentioned again, and instead the following illogical and confusing series began:
1. Red Hot Volkswagens No.1 - Oct ‘93.
Julie Lindsay’s green ’70 Beetle on the cover. Has a report on the 1993 VW Spectacular at Nambucca Heads, as well as Dak To The Future Part 1 (this was a useful clue for sorting them). Geoff Paradise’s editorial was also of an introductory nature, saying the issue was a ‘prototype’ and there may be others. There were.
2. Best Volkswagens No.1 - Jan ‘94.
Michael Kristen’s red ’74 Beetle on the cover. The giveaway here was again Mr Paradise’s editorial, referring to the above first issue and saying this new one was a fill-in while waiting for the new ‘Volkswagen Australia’ magazine to appear. Also contains a report and photos of the ‘93 Nationals from the previous Easter.
3. Volkswagen Australia No.1 - Apr ‘94.
Barry Caddle’s red ’74 Superbug on the cover. Intended as the ‘first’ in a new series of magazines, complete with German headings inside, inspired by Zeitschrift. Also helpful in placing this issue in order was the report on the NRMA Rocks meet in January ’94, and also Dak To The Future Part 2.
4. Volkswagen Australia No.2 - Jul ‘94.
Jeff McKeown’s blue ’63 Cal-look Beetle on the cover. The title makes this one easy to place, for once. We’ll overlook Geoff Paradise claiming that VW made 21 million cars in 60 years - that’s only the Beetle total of course. This issue has coverage of the ‘94 Nationals (Easter), and also Dak To The Future Part 3.
5. Volkswagen Australia No.3 - Oct ‘94.
Rob Jurgensen’s yellow ’71 Beetle on the cover. Again a logical title, which was to unfortunately conclude the longest run of correctly named magazines. No event reports this time, but the issue did have Dak To The Future Part 4 within, which made it easy to confirm its place in the order.
6. Volkswagen Australia Annual - Jan ‘95.
Simon Barnfield’s red ’66 Beetle on the cover. This one’s called an ‘annual’ even though it’s actually just VWA No.4. Easily placed in sequence by Dak To The Future Part 5 and the centre spread ad for the upcoming VW Nationals ’95. Also a repeat of the Stan Pobjoy article from Best Volkswagens No 2.
7. Volkswagen Australia No.5 - Apr ’95.
Keith Hausler’s blue ’56 Beetle on the cover. After flirting with an ‘annual’ previously, they return to the right sequence. Geoff Paradise’s editorial continues the story he began last issue. The experiment with German headings ends and normal English returns. No event or tech reports, just cars this issue.
8. Street Volkswagens No.1 - Jul ‘95
Karen Armitage’s purple and white ’64 Beetle on the cover. A name change. The editor claims newsagents didn’t know ‘Volkswagen Australia’ was a car magazine (!), so every future issue would have a different name. Coverage of the ‘95 Nationals a few months earlier places this one in order.
9. Best Volkswagens No.2 - Oct ‘95.
Terry Borg’s blue-green ’73 Superbug on the cover. The next installment in the series, Dak To The Future Part 6, and a report on Valla Park VW Spectacular on the August long weekend makes this one easy to place in sequence. Some good articles by Jeff Unwin raises the standard quite a bit.
10. VW Action No.1 - Jan ‘96.
Emma Jerrens’ black and white ’64 Beetle on the cover. Quite a number of clues help to place this one in order. There’s the centrespread preview form for the coming ‘96 Nationals, an article on Flat Four’s Shootout the previous November, and also Dak To The Future Part 7.
11. Street VWs No.1 - Apr ‘96.
Kevin Reely’s yellow ’56 Beetle on the cover. This issue should not to be confused with Street Volkswagens No.1, three issues ago! Dear oh dear, Geoff. The cover model has nice bosoms though. This issue has the January NRMA Motorfest report, and also Dak To The Future Part 8.
12. Volkswagen Australia Annual - Jul ‘96.
Dean Goode’s blue ’71 Superbug on the cover. Geoff himself loses track of things this time, as this issue has another (different) article called Dak To The Future Part 8! He also gives this issue the same name as issue six above. Even though it’s called an ‘annual’, all the stories are original, not repeats, which is great.
13. Super VW No.1 - Oct ‘96.
George Zabeck’s dark green ’57 Beetle on the cover. A rather critical article on the ‘96 Nationals, six months after the event, which doesn’t help date this issue very accurately. More useful is a colourful mail-order ad for all the previous 12 back issues, complete with pictures of each cover. They’re not listed in the right order!
14. Best Volkswagens No.3 - Jan ‘97.
Geoff Paradise’s own orange ’78 Cabrio on the cover. An easy one to place. A mention of the Sydney Motor Show the previous October in the Editorial, as well a report on the Vintage VeeDub Supplies’ BBQ. Richard Holzl supplied Dak To The Future Part 9, and there’s a 1997 Nationals programme in the centre.
15. VW Action No.2 - Apr ‘97.
James Cottee’s red ’74 Superbug on the cover. The magazine is now up to 106 pages, 16 more than before. Geoff also mentions in his editorial that, as he writes, the ‘97 Nationals are only two weeks away, so that dates this issue nicely. This issue was to be his last, as he left Express Publications shortly after.
16. VW Annual - Jul ‘97.
Sergio De Caires’ green-blue ’72 chop-top Superbug on the cover. James McRory takes over as Editor after Geoff’s departure, and pens a suitable greeting. A report on the ‘97 Nationals, just gone. A few minor editorial mistakes but generally a good effort for James’ first issue.
17. VW Power - Oct ’97
John Pinnington’s red ’64 Beetle on the cover. The size goes up again, to 114 pages. James’ editorial mentions that this is his second effort, and it is indeed much improved with more Kombi and Golf stuff. The News section is all information from Zeitschrift and the Club VeeDub website - thanks James!
18. VW Action No.3 - Jan ’98
Adam DeBoynton’s yellow ’71 Superbug on the cover. James mentions that again his magazine is sponsoring the VW Nationals, which were moving to Fairfield in 1998. A four-page Nationals program in the middle. Also a report on the ’97 VW Spectacular at Nambucca Heads, five months earlier.
19. Street VW No.2 - Apr ’98
Jeremy Dawson’s red ’70 Beetle on the cover. A report on Flat Four Club’s VW Shootout the previous November, held at Panthers for the first time. Last issue’s promised article on ‘Beach Baja’ doesn’t eventuate, but there is an excellent article on buying a series 1 Golf instead.
20. Street VW No.4 - Jul ’98
Joe Saba’s green ’58 Beetle on the cover. James’ editorial explains that the Australian magazine market is a tough one due to high costs and competition from overseas mags. Unfortunately, so tough that this was to be the last magazine in the series. A report on the VW Nationals at Easter, and one final ad for back issues.
In addition to the twenty-part series described above, Express Publications also published four more Volkswagen magazines that don’t fit in the sequence. They were of two specific types. Firstly, these first two were both sold with one of the normal above issues as a ‘bonus double pack’, in a plastic bag:
Red Hot VWs - A 1996 collection of reprints of previous articles concerning radical VW kit cars, street buggies and Baja's, and Beetles with body kits.
Beetle Mania! - A 1997 collection of reprints of previous articles, this time concerning trick street Beetles, customs and convertibles.
Secondly there were two additional full magazines, both published in 1997 and sold individually in newsagents:
Red Hot VW Tech Tips - a collection of technical and ‘how-to’ articles, mostly reprints from normal issues but a couple written especially for this one.
Street VW Yearbook - a collection of some favourite car articles from the year, reprinted with a couple of new ones and a bonus poster in the middle.
VW & Porsche Power
Published by Paradise Publishing and Media Co, Sydney
Editor: Geoff Paradise
Late 1997
1 Issue.
Geoff Paradise’s first and only attempt to start his own VW magazine after leaving Express Publications. Mostly VW stuff with only one Porsche article. Only 66 pages in total but a dollar cheaper than the Express competition. There are articles on the Frankfurt motor show, the coming Golf 4 and ’97 Valla Park show. This magazine was heavily financed by Wynn’s automotive products, as the middle 16 pages are all full-page Wynns ads. A flop in the VW market place, and Geoff then left the VW scene to return to V8s, his main interest.
Australian Volkswagen Magazine
Published by Express Publications, Sydney
Editor: Nathan Ponchard
December 1998 to August 1999
4 Issues
After a six-month hiatus following the end of the Street VWs-Best VWs-Super VWs or whatever series, Express Publications decided to try again. This time they put together a new editorial team with real VW experience, knowledge and enthusiasm led by young Nathan Ponchard. The format was similar to the previous series, a colourful glossy 98-page issue every three months, but it had been skillfully redesigned and looked immensely better. The photos and articles were of a much higher standard and had been written by someone who clearly knew what they were writing about, which was a refreshing change. They also kept the name the same each issue, and numbered them in sequence - hooray! No.1 appeared in Dec ’98, No.2 in Feb ’99, No.3 in May ’99 and No.4 in Aug ’99.
Each magazine was better than the last, but sadly Express Publications decided to stop publication after the fourth issue. Sales had been good but apparently they could not justify the costs involved in continuing. We hope they might change their mind, as sales of new VWs are growing in Australia.
That’s the end of Australian VW magazine story so far…there are none are produced at present. We eagerly await someone else to fill the gap, but in the meantime Australian VW fans will have to be happy with Club VeeDub's magazine Zeitschrift, and this website!