We have just learned of the death of Beverly Rae Kimes.
A longtime contributor and editor of Automobile Quarterly, and author of many books, she was one of our pre-eminent historians of automobiles. Kimes died on May 12 at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. She was 68.
I have known Bev Kimes since she first surfaced as a complete newcomer to the world of cars in the offices of Automobile Quarterly. She first appears as an editorial assistant in Volume II Number 3 of Fall 1968. Not very many issues later she is managing editor — a vertical takeoff!
Her research and writing was one of the attributes that made AQ such a great magazine. Her bubbly personality made her a joy to be around.
Not long ago Bev honoured me greatly by asking me to suggest a title for her last book. I came up with ‘Pioneers, Engineers and Scoundrels’, which she liked enough to use. Buy a copy. It’s just wonderful writing, light of touch yet full of facts — typical Bev Kimes.