Motor Trend is one of America’s most recognized automotive magazines. It first hit newsstands in September 1949, published out of Los Angeles by the Petersen Publishing Company. That same debut year, the magazine launched its Car of the Year award, which became one of the most talked-about honors in the auto industry. The tagline, “The Magazine for a Motoring World,” summed up exactly what the publication was going for — a wide-reaching resource for anyone passionate about cars.
Petersen Publishing held the reins until 1998, when British publisher EMAP acquired the magazine along with other Petersen titles. EMAP later sold those properties to Primedia in 2001. Since 2019, Motor Trend has been published by the Motor Trend Group. Today, the magazine draws over one million readers every month, keeping its place as a top name in American automotive media.
The 1980s were a turning point for the American auto industry. Fuel economy concerns from the late 1970s were still shaping car design, while automakers began pushing new technology, turbocharged engines, and front-wheel drive platforms. Motor Trend covered it all. The magazine’s covers from this decade reflected the cars readers were most excited about — and sometimes debating — each month. Here is a look at a selection of Motor Trend covers from the early part of that decade.
By 1981, the magazine was keeping pace with rapid shifts in the market. American automakers were responding to foreign competition, especially from Japan, and the covers of Motor Trend during this period often featured head-to-head comparisons and new model reveals that readers eagerly anticipated.
Moving into 1982 and 1983, the magazine’s covers grew bolder in their design, mirroring the sharper, more aerodynamic styling that automakers were adopting across their lineups. The covers below represent a span of issues that captured some of the most talked-about cars of those years.
By 1984, Motor Trend was firmly established as the go-to source for car buyers and enthusiasts alike. Each issue offered road tests, buyer’s guides, and in-depth features on the newest models. The covers from early and mid-1984 continued to showcase the variety of vehicles that defined the era — from sporty coupes to practical family sedans.
