Who is automotive writer Cliff Gromer
Executive summary
Cliff Gromer is a veteran American automotive journalist and editor best known for his long association with Mopar-focused publishing—serving as writer, editor and publisher of Mopar Action—and for earlier work with mainstream titles such as Popular Mechanics [1] [2]. His bylines and editorial stewardship emphasize musclecars, drag racing and Mopar history, and his practical “how-to” guidance for aspiring auto writers underscores a career spent inside the car-magazine ecosystem [3] [4].
1. A career traced through bylines and mastheads
Gromer’s name appears extensively on Mopar Action pieces dated through the 2010s and into 2020, where he authored feature stories about classic Mopars, Chrysler racing history, and show and event coverage—work that positions him as a central figure at that niche publication [5] [6] [4]. Multiple sources identify him as publisher of Mopar Action and describe a career path that included Popular Mechanics and High Performance Mopar before he joined Mopar Action around 1990, establishing him as both an editorial and business presence in the specialty-magazine world [2] [1].
2. A voice oriented toward musclecars, Mopar culture and practical mentorship
The content Gromer writes and edits skews heavily toward classic Mopar marques, restorer profiles, drag-race reportage and factory racing history, with practical columns aimed at hobbyists and aspiring auto journalists—evidenced by his “So You Wanna Be An Auto Journalist” guide and numerous feature stories on cars and events [3] [5] [4]. That angle frames him as a tradecraft teacher as much as a reporter: he writes in a hands-on, enthusiast register that privileges mechanical detail and community lore, appealing to an audience of restorers, racers and collectors [3].
3. Mainstream credentials and editorial reach
Gromer’s resume includes work for larger outlets: he is listed as an author at Popular Mechanics and appears in Muck Rack profiles tied to Popular Mechanics and Motor Trend pieces, which lends mainstream magazine credibility to his specialty focus [1] [7]. He has also edited or contributed to books and compilations associated with Popular Mechanics, signaling a career that has moved between consumer-magazine platforms and enthusiast publishing [8].
4. Reputation, longevity and community standing
Forum posts and niche blogs characterize Gromer as a longtime New York automotive writer and as someone emblematic of the “golden age” of car magazines, with peers and readers often noting his tenure and nostalgia for the era when magazines drove car culture [9] [10]. When Harris Publications shuttered titles, Gromer—identified as Mopar Action’s publisher—commented on efforts to keep the title alive, which highlights both his leadership role and his stake in preserving the magazine’s continuity for the Mopar community [2].
5. Limits of public reporting and potential biases
Available sources document Gromer’s career and editorial focus but do not provide personal biographical details such as birthplace, education, or early life; those gaps mean reporting can describe his professional footprint but not his full biography [5] [1]. As publisher and long-time insider, Gromer’s editorial choices naturally reflect a pro‑Mopar and enthusiast perspective, which can amplify brand loyalty and community narratives—an implicit agenda common to niche publishers that must be weighed when reading features and endorsements [2] [3].
6. Bottom line: who he is to readers and the industry
Cliff Gromer is best understood as an influential, career automotive writer-editor-publisher whose work centers on Mopar history, musclecars and drag-racing culture, with credentials that include Popular Mechanics bylines and stewardship of Mopar Action; his output is geared toward enthusiasts and the restoration/racing community, and while well-documented in trade and enthusiast outlets, publicly available sources focus on his professional output rather than on a fuller personal biography [1] [5] [2].