Biography Bob Stevens
Membership Number: 15360Biography
We were deeply saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected passing of our friend, Bob Stevens, on New Year’s Day. Bob was widely known, and widely loved, in the old-car hobby from his 32 years at the helm of Cars & Parts magazine, among many titles, and beyond that, his lifetime of knowledgeable automotive enthusiasm.
We’ve been contacted by some of Bob’s friends, who wanted to spread the news because they knew how many people enjoyed Bob’s work, and how many knew him in automotive circles. We at Hemmings Motor News would like to extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
Bob leaves behind his wife Dahlia, daughters Sandra and Julie, and five grandchildren.
We spoke extensively with Bob back in 2012, as we put together his Personality Profile for the June issue of Hemmings Classic Car. He told us how his famous affection for Chevrolet Corvettes started with the Roman Red 1960 model – with a 230hp V-8, Powerglide automatic, power soft top, red interior and matching hardtop – that his father bought new, and which he bought from his dad in 1969 and owned until 1973. Corvettes weren’t his only passion, though, as his garage has included everything from a 1934 Chevrolet to pre- and post-war Fords, Mercurys, Metropolitans, Edsels, Studebakers, AMCs and more. And he also enjoyed motorcycles, trucks and boats.
From his years editing the automotive titles at Sidney, Ohio’s Amos Press through his 2010 retirement, Bob traveled extensively to cover car events around the country. Like the familiar faces of the traveling Hemmings Motor News car show representatives, you could often find a Cars & Parts tent among the vendors at Carlisle, Hershey, or other similar events; more often than not, Bob was there, happy to greet readers and share car stories. You may have met him at the Pomona, California, swap meet, at the Ypsilanti, Michigan, Orphan Car Show, covering a classic-car auction or enjoying a road trip across the country in a car or on a bike; no matter where you saw Bob, he was always friendly and engaging.
The fact that Bob was honored with the AACA‘s prestigious George R. Norton, Jr. Membership Award for his lifetime of service to our favorite hobby, and that he received more than 30 other professional awards for his writing and photography, proved that his peers also recognized his enthusiastic contributions to the old-car world.
His excitement for his work and this hobby was evident in everything Bob said and did. He summed it up best himself, when pondering his retirement; “It was a heck of a career, I had a great time, and I’d do it all over again.” Bob lived the life that many car guys dream of, and he was grateful for the opportunities that he enjoyed: “Combining one’s career with his favorite pastime is the ultimate.”
- See more at: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2014/01/03/remembering-cars-partss-bob-stevens-1945-2014/#commentsJoin Year: 1989
Deceased Date: 01-01-2014
Achieved Flight Judging Car Award(s):
1967 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Third Flight) at FRANKENMUTH MI (Regional) in 1994
1967 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Third Flight) at FRANKENMUTH MI (Regional) in 1994
1967 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Third Flight) at CINCINNATI OH (Chapter) in 1996
1967 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Third Flight) at INDIANAPOLIS IN (Chapter) in 1996
1967 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Third Flight) at CYPRESS GARDENS FL (Regional) in 1998
1967 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Top Flight) at Kings Island OH (Chapter) in 2004