Every year around this time, we here at The Autopian reveal our annual member shirt. If you’re a renewing member, this is the t-shirt you’re going to get later this year or next year. If you are a member who renews pre-December 7th, don’t worry, you’ll still get last year’s shirt.
One of the biggest and most important decisions we made around membership was that if we’re asking someone for money, we’re going to make sure we’re going to earn it. And not just with our delightful posts. If you’re a Cloth-level member or above, you’re getting an ad-free experience, special access within our Discord, and special member newsletters. If you’re Vinyl or above, you’ll get a t-shirt and a sticker.
But it’s not just enough to send someone one shirt. Our goal is to send someone a new shirt every year as a thank you for renewing (and some other fun surprises, which I can’t wait to show you). We had the Black Shirt, the Red Shirt, the Orange Shirt, and now it’s time for the Yellow Shirt.
Here’s our own Jason Torchinsky, the shirt’s designer, describing it:
This year’s member shirt started because of a visual rhyme I noticed one day while obsessing over my new Citroën 2CV. Mine is the yellow/black Charleston edition (well, a fake one, but still) and has a distinct yellow and black curvy motif on the sides.
There’s an edition of the Bugatti Chiron that’s available in a similar yellow-and-black livery; in fact, that bumblebee-like color combo was one of Ettore Bugatti’s personal favorites. The two cars, in profile, look oddly related, with the yellow Art Deco-ish curved part intersecting the black at the rear, and despite their massive differences in proportion and design, they fit together visually. But they really couldn’t be any more different as cars.
They’re from the polar opposite sides of the automotive spectrum, one a no-limits engineering fantasy of speed, power, and luxury, the other a wildly minimalistic tool designed to carry eggs and replace French mules and carts. The 2CV makes 29 horsepower. The Chiron makes a mere 1450 more horses. And they’re both welcome here at the Autopian. The point of this shirt is that no matter what you drive, no matter how niche or mainstream your automotive fetishes are, you’re welcome here. You’re one of us.
A lovely sentiment to be sure.
As a sort of FAQ, and since we’ve had a lot of new members this last month, let me explain a bit about how membership works (full info and how to sign up here).
Cloth Members ($5 a month/$50 a year):
Somewhat ironically, the Cloth Level doesn’t come with any actual cloth. This is our purely digital option, though not without its perks:
- No display ads
- Special Discord access
- Member newsletters
- Member-only articles
The major perk that comes with renewing is if you were at the $7 or $70 level, because now it’s $50 and $5.
Vinyl Members ($10 a month/$100 a year):
Vinyl initially comes with:
- All of Cloth, plus
- A sticker
- A T-Shirt
The switchover date is approximately December 7th. If you just signed up, or you signed up after December 7th last year, you’ll get the shirt above, and then, if you renew, you’ll get the Yellow Shirt approximately a year after your initial purchase date. With upgrades, this sometimes gets a little squidgy, but if you just upgraded in the last few weeks, you’ll probably get the Orange Shirt.
Velour Members ($25 a month/$250 a year):
Velour initially comes with:
- All of Cloth, plus
- All of Vinyl, Plus
- A sweet member badge
This year, if you renew, it’s much the same as Vinyl, although with one extra surprise.
Rich Corinthian Leather ($1000 a year):
RCL comes with:
- All of the above, Plus
- An extra member badge
- A private tour of the Galpin Collection if you’re in LA.
- Examples of merch as we make new merch.
We have made this a little complicated, so happy to answer your questions in the comments below. Because we have to print another round of orange t-shirts, we’re going to see how many orders we get this month and start shipping those in December, with a goal of getting them delivered before the holidays.
Thank you to everyone who became a member, and thank you for your patience as we figure all this out!
I hope that’s a color change for the plate frame, cuz the red one that looked so good new faded badly within only a few months, much to my disappointment. And Thank You for a colored shirt; way too many black ones around, incl. my wardrobe!
I am sort of color blind,but I could swear that the red shirt is indeed pink? The orange one is neat though.
i’m not color blind and I think that shirt is more pink than red, too! it’s a weird hue, regardless.
I upgraded, gimme ‘dat shirt!
I forgot to update my plan now that I have so much paid off. Zapp Brannigan weeps! It’s real velour!
The quality of the shirts has really been great; I can’t wait to get this one!
I’m also still rocking my license plate frame; I haven’t been pulled over for it yet! [knocks on wood veneer trim]
“all the same to us” is too 6 7
How about “equal opportunity enjoyer”
These are some very bright colors and niche designs ya’ll got there. I enjoy representing the gang, but I feel like drawing the line at being a neon billboard while out and about.
It’s hard to fit these items into more cohesive outfits if you reside anywhere other than Soho or Santa Monica, of which I live in just about the polar opposite, unfortunately. I don’t want to yuck anyone’s yums but I’d be more likely to wear some merch more “grounded”, very much in want for a better word
The irony is not lost on me the contrast between my assumed attire preferences and preferred screen name..
So I have been a member since membership has been a thing, but the only shirt I have ever received is the black one. I didn’t realize it was an ongoing thing. I don’t mind, per se, but I feel like I have missed out on some cool shirts.
Huh–looks like I down graded my membership at some point. Never mind.
Why doesn’t Autopian have a merch site where we can help support the fun here by ordering our fav apparel?
I really want Shitbox Showdown undies. And Cold Start socks.