As Modern Classics Magazine's lead writer since 2017, James Howe has redefined automotive heritage journalism through his:
Recent career highlights include curating the British Motor Museum's 2024 "Lost Prototypes" exhibition and serving as technical consultant for BBC Four's "The Geometry of Speed" documentary series.
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James Howe has cultivated a distinguished career as one of Britain's foremost automotive journalists through his work at Modern Classics Magazine. Over the past decade, he's developed a signature approach that combines technical expertise with cultural analysis, establishing himself as the definitive voice on postwar European automotive history.
"Classic cars are time capsules of engineering ambition and social aspiration – each curve and carburetor tells a story we're determined to preserve."
Howe's coverage of Alpine's diamond jubilee at the 82nd Goodwood Members' Meeting demonstrated his unique ability to blend event reporting with historical context. The 2,500-word piece interwove interviews with original engineers, archival footage analysis, and firsthand accounts from the parade's participants. His technical breakdown of the A110 Berlinette's weight distribution philosophy attracted particular attention from preservation specialists.
The article's impact extended beyond automotive circles when Historic England cited it in their successful nomination of the Goodwood Circuit as a Grade II listed site. Howe's documentation of the celebration's spatial choreography provided crucial evidence of motorsport heritage preservation practices.
In this 2024 Modern Classics Magazine feature, Howe challenged prevailing assumptions about fuel injection superiority through a 12-month study of 87 restoration projects. His team developed a novel efficiency metric comparing original spec engines with modernized counterparts, revealing unexpected advantages in maintaining period-correct induction systems.
The article sparked industry-wide debate, leading to revised judging criteria at six European concours events. Manufacturers including SU Carburetors reported a 40% increase in heritage parts orders following publication.
Howe's investigative series (2021-2023) recovered the stories of 14 abandoned British automotive prototypes through a combination of FOIA requests and oral history preservation. The crowdfunded project resulted in the discovery of three previously unknown design studies in private collections, including a 1967 Mini Cooper rally variant with active aerodynamics.
Howe prioritizes stories examining the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and modern engineering. A successful pitch might explore 3D printing applications in rare part reproduction, provided it includes interviews with both CAD engineers and veteran machinists. His recent analysis of laser scanning in chassis alignment demonstrates this balance between innovation and heritage.
Pitches should connect automotive developments to broader societal shifts. Howe's award-winning piece on the Citroën DS's influence on French postmodern architecture exemplifies this approach. Proposals might examine how Italian coachbuilding schools shaped Milanese fashion trends or analyze automotive color trends through the lens of postwar material science.
Howe favors stories grounded in archival discoveries or firsthand technical documentation. A recent pitch success involved cross-referencing factory worker shift logs with surviving production records to reconstruct quality control practices at the original Jaguar E-Type plant. Proposals should specify access to previously unexamined materials like engineering notebooks or dealership training films.
While deeply knowledgeable about racing history, Howe typically declines pitches focused on modern Formula 1 or WEC developments. His work maintains a strict pre-1990 focus, with particular emphasis on the 1955-1985 "Golden Age" of European production sports cars.
Successful pitches often incorporate unique visual elements like technical cutaways or period advertisement analysis. Howe's popular "Blueprint to Asphalt" series demonstrates how engineering drawings can be paired with contemporary photography to reveal design intentions versus real-world execution.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Automotive, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
