Max Power Magazine January 1997 Nissan Skyline GT-R Renault 5 Turbo SKU 1540

Original Max Power Magazine – January 1997, an early issue from the classic 1990s period of the UK modified-car scene.

Full date: January 1997
Original UK price: £2.95
SKU: 1540

This issue has a particularly strong period line-up of modified cars and is headlined by a heavily tuned Nissan Skyline GT-R, alongside Renault 5, Peugeot, Mercedes, Lancia, Calibra and other modified-car features.

Main Cover Feature – Nissan Skyline GT-R

The front cover prominently features a modified Nissan Skyline GT-R with the headline:

“Gor Blimey! Rickin’ quick 980bhp Skyline GT-R”

The inside contents spread also shows the Skyline as the principal cover car, photographed on the road with its aggressive front-end styling and wide performance-focused stance.

For collectors of early Japanese performance-car coverage, this is one of the strongest aspects of the issue. A 980bhp Skyline GT-R was an extreme specification for the period and captures the increasingly influential Japanese tuning scene that was entering UK modified-car culture during the 1990s.

Renault 5 Features

The cover also advertises:

“Renault 5 Thrasherfest”

Inside, the contents confirm a substantial Renault feature involving Renault 5 GT Turbo Group Thrash, with multiple heavily modified examples brought together.

This makes the issue particularly appealing for Renault 5 GT Turbo / R5 enthusiasts and collectors of period French hot-hatch material.

Other Featured Cars

The photographs and contents pages show coverage including:

• Peugeot 106 Turbo
• Punto Sporting
• Renault 5 GT Turbo Group Thrash
• Two-up Mercedes action
• Vauxhall Calibra
• Lancia Delta Integrale
• Lotus Carlton replica
• Reader’s modified Vauxhall Astra
• ICE cars and in-car audio equipment
• Various modified and performance vehicles from the late-1990s UK scene

The front cover additionally promotes:

• Punchy Peugeot 106 Turbo
• Twin Mega Mercedes 190s
• Punto Sporting
• Lancia Delta Integrale
• Kerscher-kitted Calibra
• Lotus Carlton replica

Mercedes Feature

One photographed interior spread shows a large feature titled:

“The Merc Boyz”

It features extensively modified Mercedes cars, including a dramatic black example photographed from a very low front angle and another red Mercedes visible alongside it.

The spread gives a very strong period look at the less commonly seen Mercedes tuning scene and adds another interesting marque to an already varied issue.

Magazine Content

Beyond the main feature cars, the photographed contents pages show the familiar mix of early Max Power material, including:

• Modified-car road features
• Reader cars
• Cruise coverage
• Performance information
• ICE / in-car entertainment
• Speaker and audio testing
• Buying advice
• Technical features
• Car competitions
• Modified styling
• Humorous editorial material
• Lifestyle features

There is also an Astra GTi Buying Guide advertised in the issue.

Condition – PLEASE READ

This is an original magazine from January 1997 and is now approaching 30 years old.

The magazine is clearly in well-used vintage condition and has more substantial wear than many cleaner collector copies.

Visible condition points from the photographs include:

• Noticeable wear to the front cover
• Heavy wear along the bottom edge
• Significant damage to the bottom-right corner of the front cover, including creasing, folding, tearing and loss/deterioration to the corner area
• General corner wear
• Edge rubbing and small tears/nicks
• Wear and rubbing along the spine
• Some creasing and waviness to pages
• Internal lower page edges show wear and small tears in places
• General handling marks consistent with age and use
• Front cover remains attached
• Main cover artwork remains bright and readable
• Internal pages shown remain readable and colourful
• Magazine retains its overall shape despite the edge and corner damage

The bottom-right front corner damage is the main condition issue and should be clearly visible in the listing photographs.

This copy would therefore be best suited to someone wanting an original reading/reference copy, a gap-filler for a Max Power collection, or period material relating to the Skyline GT-R, Renault 5 and 1990s modified-car scene rather than someone seeking a near-mint example.

Please study all photographs carefully as they form part of the condition description.

Important – Original Extras

Any calendars, free gifts, competition items, stickers, supplements, inserts or other loose promotional items that may originally have accompanied this magazine are no longer included unless clearly shown in the listing photographs.

The sale is for the magazine itself only.

Packaging

UK orders: Sent securely in a hardback envelope.

International orders: Sent in a cardboard mail-size box for additional protection during transit.

SKU: 1540