The Society of Automotive Historians

Preserving Automotive History since 1969
Photo: Michael Furman

Welcome

1905 Clement Bayard

To The SAH​

Welcome to the SAH

The Society of Automotive Historians (SAH) is a community of people interested in preserving automotive history. We have over 650 members in 25 countries around the world, including amateur and professional historians, scholars, collectors, restorers,  journalists, museum and library professionals, teachers, educators, and just plain enthusiasts. 

What all these people have in common is an interest in automotive research. The kind of research that leads to a deeper understanding of the impact and development of motor cars, motorcycles, and trucks going all the way back to Cugnot’s steam-powered three-wheeler of 1769. 

One mission of the Society is to promote the preservation of papers, documents, records, images and ephemera related to the history of motorized transport on wheels. A second mission is to promote the writing and dissemination of automotive history based on such sources.

Above all, the Society seeks to build the kind of community  encourages the exchange of new ideas, knowledge and data. 

Society Activities

The Society publishes two journals relating to automotive history.

The Society gives out annual awards to promote the writing of automotive history.

The Society hosts meetings and events where members can share their passion.

The Society has multiple levels of membership with great member benefits.

Promoting Automotive History

Publications

The Society publishes two premier journals full of automotive research. One is the SAH Journal, which comes out every two months with articles, book reviews and news.The other is the annual Automotive History Review with extended articles on automotive history. Members get both these great journals.

Cover of the Automobile History Review Issue 63
Cover of the Society Journal Issue 291
Acknowledging Great Work

Awards

The Society gives out annual awards to authors and organizations who produced the best books, essays, articles and publications in automotive history in the previous year. We have a special award for students and give two additional awards to individuals and organization for their service to the automotive history community.

Promoting Community

Meetings and Events

The Society holds multiple meetings and events during the year. We co-sponsor the Michael Argetsinger Symposium held at Watkins Glenn. We have regional and special interest chapters that organize meetings of their own, and we hold an annual get-together in Hershey, Pennsylvania, every year. 

Rear of a 1936 Cord Westchester seen from above
Great Benefits

Membership

Members receive copies of the six issues of SAHJ Journal and one issue of the Automotive History Review, which are delivered to their mailbox every year. Members get access to the archive of back issue for both journals, which contains a veritable treasure trove of articles and information on automotive history. Members also receive the SAH newsletter, keeping them up to date on Society news, meetings and events.