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1977-2007 Timeline 4Wheel & Off-Road Magazine - Our First 3 Decades


 Magazine 30Th Anniversary Complete Book Of Four Wheel Drive

Pre-History
Before there was a 4-Wheel & Off-Road, Petersen Publishing put out two editions of a similarly themed one-shot called The Complete Book of Four-Wheel Drive in 1974 and 1976. Its road tests, vehicle buildups, and hands-on tech laid the foundation for the magazine to come. In fact, several of the road tests that appeared in the first 4-Wheel & Off-Road were lifted, then underwent some rewriting, directly from the second edition of this magazine.




Timeline 1977-'85

 Magazine 30Th Anniversary 1977 Magazine Covers

1977
Petersen produces four "bi-monthly" issues of 4WOR; calls 1978 "The Year of the 4x4"; first look at all-new Ford Bronco in Issue No. 3; Mike Anson listed as Senior Editor in No. 3.





 Magazine 30Th Anniversary March 1978 Issue

March 1978
First monthly issue; Editor Anson's column about land use, fuel economy regulations, "separating cars and trucks in the overall mpg figure." Annual subscription price is $9.

April 1978
Price as tested of new Bronco, $9,782, includes C6 trans, A/C, AM/FM, cruise, big fuel tank, 10R-15LT BFGs, Western alloy wheels; Toyota Land Cruiser tested in same issue lists for $6,548.

June 1978
First coverage of Tierra del Sol event.

July 1978
First appearance of Nuts & Bolts tech column.


 Chevy Luv Drivers Side View
December 1978
Chevy LUV built by Isuzu is first factory 4x4 mini-truck. Editors rate it "exceptional."
 Toyota 4X4 Pickup Drivers Side View
April 1979
First "4x4 of the Year" award, treated as April Fool's joke, is awarded to Baskin Robbins ice cream store; first factory Toyota 4x4 pickup tested, called "Land Cruiser tough."
 Ford F250 Drivers Side View
May 1979
First appearance of Bigfoot monster truck, standing "8 feet 6 inches tall." The F-250 is built with a blown 460, Rockwell military axles, Detroit Lockers, 22.5-14 steel wheels and 18-22.5 Firestone Super All-Traction tires (though they look like 44-inch Ground Hawgs to us).

 Suzuki Mini 4X4 Front View Race

October 1979
Cover blurb re new-for-1980 trucks: "Part Time Is Back"; first coverage of Mickey Thompson indoor off-road race at Los Angeles Coliseum; test of $5,995 Canadian Suzuki mini 4x4, called "The fuel-efficient off-road vehicle of the 80s."

November 1979
Cover blurb: "Hydrogen: Future fuel?"

December 1979
Mike Anson moves to publisher; Craig Caldwell named as Editor

 Baja Truck Drivers Side View

March 1980
Caldwell's story on the Baja 1000 is called "In Rosarito, No One Can Hear You Scream": "I had gone 22.1 miles before getting sick, short of my goal by a mere 608.6 miles. But at least I had something new to think about-why car-sick racers should wear full-face helmets."



 Magazine 30Th Anniversary June 1980 Issue

June 1980
"Jeep Thrills" is one of several long-lasting cover themes launched during Caldwell's tenure.

February 1981
BFGoodrich Radial Mud-Terrain T/A first tested: It "bites like a pit-bull in minimal traction situations."








 Jeep Scrambler Front View

March 1981
First Jeep Scrambler tested: "The Jeep version of a mini pickup."







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