The Joy Of Specs
Yes, you did just read The Joy of Specs correctly and no, this is not a portal celebrating eccentric eyewear.
Even more joyous than that, it’s my freelance venture focusing on delivering bespoke UK market-centric car specification packages for those working in various content-producing aspects of the automotive industry.
Allow me to enlighten you further with the perfect accompaniment to your mid-morning cuppa — even better than a dunked chocolate Hob-Nob, with fewer crumbs, too.
So, what is The Joy Of Specs?
Over recent years I have been fortunate in collaborating with an ever-more diverse range of clients who require bespoke car information packages.
While my initial projects were exclusively with car OEM press offices, recent alliances have included current and classics journalists, motoring-related book authors and those involved with the production of car-related television programmes.
Due to this recent expansion, I have decided to harness this growing momentum and take the venture full-time.
Which services can The Joy Of Specs deliver?
Packages are tailored to the needs of each client, whether that’s by me providing information which adds value to their existing activities or producing finished products myself. The only limit on what these bespoke packages could consist of are the boundaries of our collective imaginations.
You can find more details about the more frequently requested services I can provide on the Services page, but they inlcude:
- Providing contextualised, historic and UK-specific pricing and specifications information for press offices and journalists
- Preparing detailed model timelines for press offices, again focusing specifically on the UK market rather than generic European dates
- Producing display media for use on UK launch events based upon previous-generation models’ sales brochures
- Supplying press test vehicle specification sheets
Confidentiality is integral to all my services, regardless of whether a signature on an NDA has been requested.
Where is all of the information sourced from?
If you’re wondering ‘surely he doesn’t have all this in his house?’, then wonder no more, because I do.
Yes, I’m a geek with an ADHD-infused mind, but all of this information isn’t [all] locked away inside my skull.
More sensibly – and that’s ‘sensibly’ without irony – I have a personal archive consisting of more than 50,000 sales brochures, price lists, books, motor show catalogues and magazines, the titles of which include:
- Autocar – every post-WW2 issue
- CAR – every issue, including its early years as Small Car and Mini Owner
- CarWeek – every issue
- Classic.Retro.Modern – every issue
- evo – every issue
- Magneto – every issue
- Modern Classics – every issue
- Motor – 90%-ish of every post-WW2 issue (I know, I’ve let myself down…)
- Rare & Unique Vehicles – every issue
- The Road Rat – every issue
Being able to demonstrate the provenance of the information sourced offers further client reassurance.
There’s a book coming, too…
As if I wasn’t enough, I’m also currently working on a book – the Autocar Road Test Record.
Due for publication before summer 2025, as its title implies, it’s a detailed summary of key data-points and extrapolated statistics from the magazine’s first century of road tests, covering 1920-2020.
And if you’re thinking ‘hang on, Autocar cites its road tests as starting in 1928’ then consider it an insight into exactly how thorough my research is. No spoilers, though – you’ll have to wait for publication for the explanation.
Returning to motoring journalism
Working to the mantra that variety is the spice of life, a typical week for me is chilli-infused as I write and edit for a variety of titles producing new car reviews, long-termer updates, features, advice pieces, news stories, listicles and whatever else I’m commissioned to create.
Among the variety of outlets you can read my work are:
Get in touch with The Joy Of Specs
Naturally, I’d love to hear from you where specific projects are coming up which you can envisage aspects of the services I provide will amplify and enhance your finished products.
The Joy Of Specs 