AutoTrader Classics Channels Investment Out of Print and into Online to Better Serve Classic Car Audience and Advertisers

ATLANTA, May 17, 2011 -- AutoTrader Classics, the classic car marketplace operated by AutoTrader , is making strategic changes to its business in an effort to better address the needs of the classic car enthusiast audience and the companies and individuals advertising to that audience. AutoTrader Classics will stop publishing all of its print publications with the July issue, and AutoTrader Classics will become an online only brand with classic car content, photos, features and classified listings at AutoTrader Classics .

With more and more consumers and advertisers moving online to do business coupled with the continued decline of paid circulation and high distribution costs, this change was necessary so that business resources could be redirected to better serve our customers' needs.

"The continued movement of both consumers and advertisers to online forms of media makes this the right time to shift the focus of AutoTrader Classics to an online only brand and maximize the potential of this part of our business," said AutoTrader President and CEO, Chip Perry.  "With a strong online only brand, we believe AutoTrader Classics can continue to grow while effectively serving our customers' needs for the long-term."

Propelled by the continued migration of classic car enthusiasts to the Web, the AutoTrader Classics site has continued to grow its audience and achieve record site traffic in recent months. In fact, traffic through April 2011 reached 806,578 unique visitors, representing a 6% lift. With the print publications ceasing, the AutoTrader Classics online team will be able to fully focus on the fast-growing website, making enhancements, providing additional content, and creating an even more useful environment where classic car enthusiasts, buyers, sellers and those seeking to advertise to them can connect.