Plating homemade muffins on a Christmas-themed platter as his dachshunds fight over a spikey ball by his feet, 70-year-old Cliff Chambers reflects on his lifelong career as an automotive journalist.
From humble beginnings writing about car shows at just 12 years old surrounded by stacks of motoring magazines sourced from the local junk shop, Chambers has come a long way. Today, he is a self-published author with more than 5000 copies sold and a contributor to respected online publications Unique Cars and Retro Rides.
These days, he hasn’t let go of his magazine roots – instead, he’s expanded on them. His office bookshelf and the hallway of his family home are lined with cabinets filled with collectible car memorabilia and diecast models, many of which he sells online. There’s still no sign of him slowing down. His next major project? A practical guide to buying low-cost used cars – a magazine he hopes will hit shelves alongside the oils and pliers in a big automotive superstore by early next year.
Through journalism’s backdoor
Chambers describes his introduction to the industry as “sneaking in through the back door of journalism”.
“My mother said to me when I was a kid ‘you’ll never get anywhere knowing a lot about old cars’,” he says. “So, when I got my book published, I gave her a special copy that read in the front cover – you CAN get somewhere knowing a lot about old cars.”
Despite his successes, the new great-grandad says the rise of the internet and software such as artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly changed industry practices throughout the duration of his career.
“Ten years ago, there used to be 30 motoring magazines – now it’s down to just 12,” he says. “Where you have your work published and where you get your information from, it’s all different.”
A new industry report has found that both journalists and audiences are increasingly concerned about generative AI replacing humans in newsrooms – raising fears around job losses and a decline in essential skills.
“There are now far fewer opportunities for specialised automotive journalists so they’re being forced to ditch their passion and move into other areas such as PR,” Chambers says. “AI is limited to the experience of people feeding it. It does not have my personal experience, and you can always tell when an article is written by AI – it doesn’t flow and feels very stilted.”
Take any opportunity
With the industry now seeming more competitive than ever Chambers says that hopeful newbies should not have fixed ideas on what they want to do beforehand.
“If someone offers you a job – take it. You can always get another one,” he says.
Chambers participated in his fair share of non-industry related work before getting his foot in the door. Finding employment as a panel beater, an insurance advisor, an assistant production manager at Australia Post and even managing a championship winning rally team – all the while he never stopped writing. His current daily drive is a modified Subaru Liberty – a car his grandchildren all compete to get behind the wheel of.
“It’s quite loud,” he admits with raised eyebrows. “Looking back, I don’t think there’s much more I could have done to promote my own career. In the end it was a big advertisement in The Australian seeking an automotive distributor that got me into the industry.”
These days, Chambers spends his time writing for Unique Cars and Retro Rides, while also running his own vehicle valuation business. He is actively involved in a local classic car club, driving his 1977 Triumph 2500 to weekend meets and always arriving in record time.
