DETROIT (March 12, 2002)—Leon Mandel III, publisher emeritus of AutoWeek, a sister publication of Tire Business, and vice president of Crain Communications Inc., died March 5. He was 73.
Mr. Mandel spent 40 years writing and reporting on the automotive industry. He joined Crain in 1983 as editor of AutoWeek and was named publisher in 1988. In 1989, he became a company vice president. Besides working for AutoWeek, Mr. Mandel served as editor of Competition Press (AutoWeek's predecessor), senior editor at Motor Trend and managing editor of Car and Driver.
In 2000, he received the an Automotive Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Citation. He was the author of six books, including “American Cars.” Mr. Mandel also was managing editor of AutoWeek's TV show on Speedvision.