OVERVIEW:
World Car Guide was a re-titling of Foreign Car Guide. Where the predecessor title focused on Volkswagens, this new title provided road tests and reviews of multiple foreign car brands for U.S. consumers. It also contained general information for the automotive reader.

When Foreign Car Guide was re-titled, the publisher, Rajo Publications, was simultaneously purchased by Marvin Barab. The business address was initially in Sparta, Illinois, but in less than a year the magazine was published from Mill Valley, California. Mr. Barab assigned editorial duties to Don MacDonald, and there was correspondent staff in Europe, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom and South America.

Numbering continued from the predecessor title. The magazine went to a newspaper style format in March, 1971. James E. Shouse then purchased the title from Mr. Barab in late 1971, and Mr. Shouse returned to the magazine style format with the June, 1972 issue. Only three more issues were printed before the title ended.

To us, it appears the title should have lasted a lot longer, as it was "riding the wave" of a growing interest in import cars. In 1960, import cars were 10% of new U.S. car sales. This grew steadily to 30% by 2000, and today it is almost 50%. Too bad the title ended just before the gas crises of 1973 when more U.S. consumers took fuel efficient imported cars seriously.

The table of contents, if available, can be seen by clicking on the icon.

PUBLICATION DATA:
The publisher provided average monthly net paid circulation to N.W. Ayer for the years 1971 through 1974, even though publication ended in 1972. This was likely a lag in reporting. Average monthly printed issues grew steadily from 5,000 in 1971 to 6,100 in 1974.

CONTENT COMPLETENESS:
A total of 39 issues was printed from May, 1969 through October, 1972. All cover images are complete.

May 1969
May 1969 #135
June 1969
June 1969 #136
July 1969
July 1969 #137
Aug August 1969
Aug 1969 #138
Sept September 1969
Sept 1969 #139
Oct October 1969
Oct 1969 #140
Nov November 1969
Nov 1969 #141
Dec December 1969
Dec 1969 #142
Jan January 1970
Jan 1970 #143
Feb February 1970
Feb 1970 #144
Mar March 1970
Mar 1970 #145
Apr April 1970
Apr 1970 #146
May 1970
May 1970 #147
June 1970
June 1970 #148
July 1970
July 1970 #149
Aug August 1970
Aug 1970 #150
Sept September 1970
Sept 1970 #151
Oct October 1970
Oct 1970 #152
Nov November 1970
Nov 1970 #153
Dec December 1970
Dec 1970 #154
Jan January 1971
Jan 1971 #155
Feb February 1971
Feb 1971 #156
Mar March 1971
Mar 1971 #157
Start of newspaper style
Apr April 1971
Apr 1971 #158
May 1971
May 1971 #159
June 1971
June 1971 #160
July 1971
July 1971 #161
Aug August 1971
Aug 1971 #162
Sept September 1971
Sept 1971 #163
Oct October 1971
Oct 1971 #164
Nov November 1971
Nov 1971 #165
Dec December 1971
Dec 1971 #166
Jan January 1972
Jan 1972 #167
Feb February Mar March 1972
Feb/Mar 1972 #168
Apr April May 1972
Apr/May 1972 #169
June Jul July 1972
June/July 1972 #170
Back to magazine style
Aug August 1972
Aug 1972 #171
Sept September 1972
Sept 1972 #172
Oct October 1972
Oct 1972 #173
Last known issue