“When the first issue of Torque was published 29 years ago, it did not even hit newsstands.
The magazine, then called Torque Class, was distributed at the 1990 Singapore International Motor Show, which took place at the World Trade Centre (where HarbourFront is today).
The automotive title’s founder, Paul Wee, didn’t even have a booth. Instead, he “squatted” with an engine lubricants merchant. But the inaugural 80-page Torque Class was a hit, thanks to its great content.
Its popularity at the event was further boosted by the “distributors”: blond, blue-eyed teenage girls from the Singapore American School. They were taught to shout in Hokkien, “Buay jit poon, sung jit poon!” (Buy one copy, get one free!)
The title’s strength grew as the years passed. It helped that Torque had contributors…