Jim Dunne

Leo James 'Jim' Dunne
Born(1931-12-13)December 13, 1931
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedAugust 19, 2019(2019-08-19) (aged 87)
Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Michigan
OccupationAutomotive Spy Photographer;
Editor Popular Mechanics;
Contributor: Road & Track, Car and Driver, Automotive News, Autoweek, The Drive, and Motor Trend
GenreAutomotive journalism

Jim Dunne was a noted test-track engineer, journalist, editor, author and regular contributor to automotive publications, including Popular Science, Road & Track, Automotive News, Autoweek, The Drive, Motor Trend, Ward's Automotive, and Leftlane News. In addition to serving as Detroit editor of Popular Mechanics and Popular Science magazines, Dunne is widely known as one of the industry's preeminent automotive spy photographers.[1]

Using telephoto lenses and carefully selected vantage sites, Dunne would surreptitiously capture photographs of often remote and heavily disguised prototypes, test vehicles and early production cars — successfully photographing the industry's most closely guarded cars, years ahead of introduction, and selling the photographs to enthusiast magazines and online sites.[2] Manufacturers were known to at times plant decoys or set up forthcoming models, to generate media coverage.

As a noted presence in the automotive field and member of the Automotive Press Association, Dunne received Road & Travel Magazine's 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award.[3] He recounted his career in his 2011 autobiography Car Spy.[4]

Autoweek called Dunne the father of automotive spy photography,[5] a profession he was ultimately credited with creating.[2] Dunne retired, as the profession evaporated, gradually overtaken by the proliferation of smartphone cameras, shifting automotive spy work from professionals to amateur photographers everywhere.[5][6]

  1. ^ "PM's Top Auto Spy Receives Lifetime Achievement Award: Live from the Detroit Auto Show". Popular Mechanics. September 30, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Thom Taylor (August 22, 2019). "Original Auto Spy Photographer–the Zany World of Jim Dunne". Motor Biscuit.
  3. ^ "Jim Dunne to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 2007 International Car of the Year Awards". Road and Travel. November 6, 2006.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference three was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Mark Vaughn (August 20, 2019). "Jim Dunne, the father of automotive spy photography: 1931-2019". Autoweek.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference drive was invoked but never defined (see the help page).