OVERVIEW:
AutoBuff was published by Dale Naef and Carnaby Communications Corporation in Minneapolis, MN and later Atlanta, GA. It was
started in late 1982 and published continuously into 1987. With the tag line, "The Magazine for the Adult Automotive Enthusiast", the publishers
attempted a unique magazine with muscle cars and street machines coupled with adult humor, bikini-clad or topless women, auto-related fiction,
music reviews, naughtly cartoons and X-rated crossword puzzles.
The publishing team included Mr. Naef, Hollis "Holly" Hedrich and Frank Fittanto. All three had previous stints at Hot Rod, Car Craft, and/or Motor Trend magazines. The publishers also started Sports Car Illustrated in November, 1985.
The title was a curious choice for a name. In modern times, "buff" has lost a meaning -- a devotee to a subject or activity. The phrase "auto buff" was a common but now is an old term describing the target market of the automobile publishing industry. But of several other current meanings, the term still means naked. So the authors chose a somewhat clever use of both meanings.
Nudity as represented in AutoBuff is tame by today's standards. Female beauty was presented in a more natural manner in this timeframe, and this title is one of several that used nudity to sell magazines.
The title started on a bi-monthly schedule, then went to monthly after seven issues. In the last year, the publisher was forced to remove nudity and adopt a classy swimwear format to keep newstand dealers happy. This was the "beginning of the end" for the publication.
The table of contents, if available, can be seen by clicking on the 
icon.
PUBLICATION DATA:
Publisher provided circulation data was submitted to The Standard Periodical Directory for one year, 1989, and reported
annual print production was 165,000.
CONTENT COMPLETENESS:
A total of 52 issues was printed from November, 1982 through Oct/Nov, 1987. All cover images are complete.
Last issue