Practical Motorist: The Bible For the Hands-On Driver

First published in 1934 by George Newnes, British car magazine Practical Motorist became an essential guide for generations of car owners who preferred the “do-it-yourself” approach to vehicle maintenance.

At a time when motoring was transitioning from a luxury hobby to a daily necessity, the magazine provided invaluable technical advice, ranging from simple engine tuning to complex bodywork repairs. Its pages were filled with detailed diagrams, step-by-step tutorials, and ingenious “hints and tips” that empowered the average driver to save money and understand the inner workings of their machine.

More than just a technical manual, Practical Motorist captured the spirit of post-war motoring culture, fostering a community of enthusiasts who took pride in the grease under their fingernails and the reliability of their well-maintained vehicles.

Below is a collection of photos showing Practical Motorist covers from the 1950s.

Practical Motorist magazine cover, July 1954

Practical Motorist magazine cover, May 1954

Practical Motorist magazine cover, November 1954

Practical Motorist magazine cover, December 1955

Practical Motorist magazine cover, February 1955

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Donn Fendler, 12-Year-Old Boy Scout Lost on Maine Mountain for 9 Days Survives in 1939

In July 1939, 12-year-old Donn Fendler of Rye, New York, became the subject of a massive national search after vanishing on Maine’s Mount Katahdin. His nine-day survival ordeal is one of the most famous stories in Maine’s history.

Donn Fendler, 12, of Rye, N.Y., is shown with the sack which he used as a sleeping bag while he wandered for eight days in the wilds of Maine. A Boy Scout, Donn used to good advantage, the wood-lore taught in the organization. Donn disappeared near the shrouded summit on Mount Katahdin.

On July 17, 1939, Donn was hiking to the 5,267-foot summit of Mount Katahdin with his father, two brothers, and two family friends. Eager to reach the top, Donn surged ahead of his father and brothers. When a sudden, thick mist enveloped the peak, he became disoriented. Ignoring advice to stay put, he attempted to find his way back to his family but instead wandered into the dense, trackless wilderness. 

For nine days, Donn wandered approximately 80 to 100 miles through the Maine woods. He survived by recalling his father’s advice and Boy Scout training, he followed small streams downhill, knowing they would eventually lead to a river and civilization. He subsisted on wild strawberries and checkerberries.

Donn lost his shoes, trousers, and shirt while attempting to cross a stream, eventually wandering barefoot. He slept in a large burlap sack he found to stay warm during freezing nights. He encountered black bears, deer, and relentless swarms of insects and leeches. 

On July 25, 1939, Donn spotted a telephone line and followed it to a remote hunting camp near Stacyville, Maine. He was dehydrated, covered in bug bites, and had lost 16 pounds, but was otherwise remarkably unharmed.

His survival was front-page news across the U.S.. President Franklin D. Roosevelt awarded him the Army & Navy Legion of Valor’s medal for outstanding youth hero of 1939. Donn co-authored the book Lost on a Mountain in Maine (1939), which became a staple of Maine school curriculums for generations. He served as a Green Beret in the U.S. Army during WWII and the Vietnam War, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He died in 2016 at the age of 90.

In 2024, his story was adapted into a feature film titled Lost on a Mountain in Maine, produced by Sylvester Stallone.

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Adorable Childhood Photos of Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis From the 1970s

The childhood of Noel and Liam Gallagher was a stark contrast of working-class struggle, severe domestic abuse, and a deep-rooted Irish-Catholic identity in Manchester. Growing up in the suburb of Burnage, their early years laid the groundwork for both their musical genius and their legendary volatile relationship.

The brothers grew up in a household dominated by their father, Tommy Gallagher, who was an alcoholic and frequently violent. Both Noel and the eldest brother, Paul, were regularly beaten by their father. Interestingly, Liam (the “baby” of the family) was largely spared from the physical abuse, which created an early psychological divide between the brothers. The trauma was so severe that both Noel and Paul developed stammers. They eventually required four years of speech therapy to overcome them.

In 1982, when Liam was 10 and Noel was 15, Peggy took the children and left Tommy while he was out, moving them to a new home in Burnage to escape the violence. In both their old and new homes, Noel and Liam were forced to share a bedroom, while the eldest brother, Paul, had his own. This forced proximity contributed to their lifelong habit of arguing.

The five-year age gap and the differing treatment from their father shaped their personalities. Often described as a “daydreamer” and a “weirdo” by Liam, Noel spent much of his time alone in his room. He was the "scapegoat" for his father’s anger and learned to withdraw into his own world—which is where he began teaching himself guitar. Liam was the “golden child” of the family. He was high-energy, obsessed with football (Manchester City), and didn’t actually show any interest in music until he was nearly 18. He was a self-described “little sh*t” who spent his time getting into mischief and “wagging” (skipping) school.

Both parents were Irish immigrants (from Mayo and Meath). The brothers spent many summers in rural Ireland with their mother’s family, which they credit for their storytelling ability and “give-a-damn” attitude. They attended St. Bernard’s RC Primary and later Barlow Roman Catholic High. Neither was academically inclined; Noel was eventually expelled for allegedly throwing a flour bomb at a teacher, and Liam left with no qualifications.

Despite their later fame, their mother Peggy famously refused to move into a mansion. When the brothers became millionaires, she reportedly only asked them for a new garden gate.

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Australian Artist Norman Lindsay Posing With His Wife and Muse Rose Soady, Sydney, ca. 1909

Around 1909, Australian artist Norman Lindsay is pictured with his wife and muse, Rose Soady, in a photograph taken by his brother, Lionel Lindsay, inside Norman’s Bond Street studio in Sydney. The image offers a rare glimpse into the private world of one of Australia’s most influential early 20th-century artists.

Norman Lindsay (1879–1969) and Rose Lindsay (née Soady, 1885–1978) were a defining couple of Australia’s bohemian art scene, whose 67-year partnership was as professionally productive as it was personally unconventional.

Rose Soady was introduced to Norman in 1902 by artist Julian Ashton. She quickly became his principal model and muse, appearing in many of his most famous, often controversial, sensual paintings. After a long affair during Norman’s first marriage, they married in 1920. Rose chronicled their life in her 1967 memoir, Model Wife: My Life with Norman Lindsay.

Beyond modeling, Rose was a highly skilled printmaker who hand-printed most of Norman’s famous etchings. She also acted as his business manager and archivist, fiercely protecting his work and financial interests.

In 1912, the couple moved to a property in Springwood, Blue Mountains, which became a hub for artists and writers like Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson. After Rose’s death in 1978, the Springwood property was acquired by the National Trust of Australia and now operates as the Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum.

María Félix: The Unrivaled Queen of Mexican Cinema

María Félix (1914–2002) was the ultimate icon of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, celebrated not only for her breathtaking beauty but also for her fierce independence and formidable personality. Known affectionately as “La Doña,” she became a symbol of the strong, rebellious woman who refused to be subdued by the traditional patriarchal norms of her time.

Throughout her illustrious career, Félix starred in 47 films across Mexico, Spain, France, and Italy, delivering unforgettable performances in masterpieces like Doña Bárbara and Enamorada. She famously turned down Hollywood, preferring to remain a sovereign star in her own language and culture.

Beyond the silver screen, her extravagant lifestyle and her passion for high-end Cartier jewelry, most notably her custom crocodile necklaces, cemented her status as a global fashion icon and a timeless legend of Latin American art.

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30 Photos of a Young Victoria Principal in the 1970s

Vicki Ree Principal (born January 3, 1950), later known as Victoria Principal, is an American actress, producer, entrepreneur, and author, best known for her role as Pamela Barnes Ewing on the American primetime television soap opera Dallas.

Principal moved to Los Angeles in 1970 and quickly landed high-profile roles that showcased her versatility. She gained major recognition in 1972 as Marie Elena in The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer.

To promote her role in the 1973 comedy The Naked Ape, she appeared in the September 1973 issue of Playboy. For her role in the 1974 disaster film Earthquake, she famously cut her waist-length hair into an Afro and dyed it black to better fit the character of Rosa Amici.

Disillusioned with her career after several films underperformed, Principal left acting to become a Hollywood talent agent for roughly two years. During this time, she even considered going to law school and intended to use minor acting roles only to fund her tuition.

She returned to the screen in 1977 with a guest role on the pilot of Fantasy Island. In 1978, she landed her most famous role as Pamela Barnes Ewing on the CBS primetime soap opera Dallas. The show became a global phenomenon, defining her career for the next decade.

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1954 Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 7: A Masterpiece of Aerodynamic Art

The 1954 Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 7 is widely regarded as the most spectacular of the three Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica concept cars designed by Franco Scaglione for the Bertone coachworks.

Introduced at the Turin Motor Show, the B.A.T. 7 pushed the boundaries of automotive design with its radical, bird-like silhouette and dramatic curved tail fins. Beyond its futuristic aesthetics, the car was a triumph of engineering; its extremely low drag coefficient allowed it to reach high speeds even with a modest engine.

With its deep blue finish and flowing lines that mimic the movement of air, the B.A.T. 7 remains an enduring icon of mid-century Italian design, blending the elegance of fine art with the scientific precision of aerodynamics.

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