Our Ever-Changing Car World — and You

I recently noticed that my iPhone and my iMac desktop computer had formed, completely on their own, a partnership.

When I took a photo with my iPhone, it was automatically dropped into my iMac photo files. When I took a photo with my Canon DSLR and downloaded it onto my iMac, it soon showed up on my iPhone.

I was startled — until I realized that, once again, the world had changed a little bit. I now like this trading back and forth, but I have to delete a lot of images off both devices.

I take a LOT of photos.

I’ve recently noticed another change. When I was at SEMA a couple of weeks ago, I was startled at the number of shops that are now specializing on full or partial restorations of Youngtimer cars from the late 1970s through the early 1990s.

Many of these are Toyota FJ40 Land Cruisers. I’m old enough to remember helping a friend install a 327-ci Chevy small-block engine into an old FJ40 in the early 1980s, and he went on to thrash that truck through thousands of miles of old logging roads and desert trails. As far as I know, that truck was never washed or waxed, and the dents were considered a permanent part of the deal.

No one restored old trucks or 4x4s until recently.

In fact, the popularity of restored FJ40s has now traveled to the world of fashion. Southern Tide, a company that makes terrific shirts that defy humidity — and look and feel great — has a shiny red FJ40 on the cover of their new holiday catalog. Two gorgeous models are perched on the rig, and it’s a great mixture of style and a stylish truck.

In other words, the fashion business and the car business have been talking to each other without telling me.

What this does tell me — whether I’m wandering around SEMA or pondering what shirts to buy — that the car world is getting bigger by the second. Cars — and trucks — are cooler than ever for a wide range of people.

And that is a great thing.

Our commitment to you

Because the car world is getting bigger, Linkage is also growing. We’re expanding to six issues a year in 2023, and we’ll send out magazines in January, March, May, July, September and November.

If you’re already subscribed, you’ll get the additional issues at no cost. If you’re not a subscriber, now is the time to make the move, as you have until December 31 to pay the old rate (for four issues a year) and get six issues in 2023. Two extra issues for free wallops inflation, doesn’t it?

Change is usually good, but there are some things we will never change at Linkage.

First off, when you call us, a real human who works in Portland, Oregon will answer the phone. If that person is on the line with someone else, please leave a message, and we’ll call you right back.

Linkage is about cars, passion and people, and we simply don’t believe in having a computer route your call around. You’re one of us, and that means we care about you — and we want to talk to you.

Second, we’re committed to bringing you a top-notch magazine and website. We talk every day about getting better at everything we do. We have a lot of fun, and we want you to have a lot of fun with us.

So, call — or drop us an email — if you have a suggestion or just thoughts about the magazine. We’re looking forward to talking to you.

Have a great Thanksgiving! — Chester Allen, Executive Editor