Not bad as some US addresses are still being delivered.
I need some help with research for a story in issue two. Does any one have a reliable source for the origin of the term Jet as in Cobra Jet? Chevy used Jet all over the place, then all of the sudden Ford starts using it.
Stereophonic Cougar Sites! 
This article suggests “Dearborn’s version of Tasca Ford’s KR-8 Mustang became the Cobra Jet, undoubtedly a knock-off of Chevrolet’s ever-present “Turbo Jet” references.”
I agree…and I wasn’t hinting around for one. I’m glad others who really wanted one were able to get one.
I’ve been busy working out ideas for issue two but I thought it was time to say hello and add a bit to the discussion, especially how I concieved both the front cover and the back cover.
As many of you know I flew up from California to Washington to photograph Jim Pinkerton’s Cougar One. As soon as I knew Jim’s car was red, back in March, I already had the idea to replicate the Motor Trend February 1967 Car of the Year cover. But when I shot the car I was so intent to get all the needed shots, I forgot about the idea until I was on the plane, flying home. Thankfully I got both the needed shots. (Grille and instrument panel but I only shot with the headlight doors down but that was OK as Jim, Bill and I wanted to include the rare Cougar badge.)
As far as the back cover was concerned, before we started shooting, Jim showed me a small portion of his archives including much of the launch marketing materials and when I saw the shot at the GM building, I knew immediately that’s what I wanted for the back cover. I spoke first with Jim then called Bill and we all agreed it was a strong idea. Jim scanned the image in high-res and that was the first finished page for the layout.
Getting back to the cover, after I got back to California and edited the images, I pulled the grille and IP shots and sent them to my go-to graphics guy in Detroit, Brian Veit along with a scan I had of the original Motor Trend cover. A few hours later Brian sent back the Photoshopped composite image along with a slightly revised version of the logo. Next I laid over the grey and white cover lines, trying to give a similar look to the original Motor Trend cover. Bill, who is in Arizona, and I went back and forth, tweaking the size and position of the font until we both were happy with the result. As I recall, we E-mailed it to Jim and he liked the look as well.
I needed to lock down the cover as I knew that when I laid out Bill’s editor’s letter, I wanted to show the covers side-by-side. After that, the magazine started to fall into place. It was a bit easier in that I shot and wrote several of the stories myself. But the last story I laid out was the 10 pages of Cougar One and this was a collaboration between Bill and me. That one was a struggle and I will admit Bill and I butted heads a bit as the initial layout was terrible… it simply didn’t work with Bill’s concept for the story.
At that point, really tired and not feeling very creative, I took my Golden Retriever, Savannah, out for a run trying to kick start my creative juices. It worked as I got back in front of my computer, it all started to fall into place. It took about two hours from start to finish but around 10 PM I E-mailed the near-final layout to Bill and the following morning we made a few small adjustments, mostly to the sidebar, then it was locked down.
Next I assembled all the pages together and with the help of Bill’s wonderful and understanding wife Debbie, the three of us proof read the entire issue. In the midst of the process I had a computer meltdown which required a workaround (removing the hard drive from my primary laptop and using it as a USB external drive on my backup laptop). But we got it down and finally uploaded the main file to the printer.
Some of you have asked about the weight and the matte finish of the pages and I think Bill has answered that question. You also may be wondering why the inside cover pages are blank and I’ll answer that question. While Legendary Cougar Magazine might look like a magazine, it’s really a book and most books don’t have print on the inside covers. The way LCM is assembled is that the front and back covers are one file and the rest of the pages, called an interior file, is a separate package and after everything is printed, the cover (on heavier stock) is assembled with the completed interior pages and in the final step of the production process, are glued together.
I hope that this little essay gives you all some insight on how the first issue fell together. Now I’ll tell you that what Bill and I really need, now that the first issue is in your hands. We need story ideas and great photos of potential feature cars (each issue will have a feature on each of the first three Cougar generations). I hope my story on how to photograph your Cougar, along with the first three vehicle features will inspire you. Feel free to contact me here whenever you want to share your ideas.
Best wishes,
Richard Truesdell
Co-editor, Legendary Cougar Magazine
Bill and Richard, I just wanted to send you a quick note after receiving my hard copy in the mail the other day.
The print version is way better than the online version, I’m so glad I upgraded.
I am trying to be very careful with it as I don’t want to put any marks on it.
Great job and I look forward to future issues.
Scott, I knew people would be very pleased with the print version. Many magazines have really dropped the quality of the product to cut corners. You probably noticed that this is a full 8 1/2 by 11" A lot of magazines are now much smaller, again to save some money.
My magazine got into my hands Saturday (several days after the woman brought it in with the mail 
) I kept seeing that you all had yours and was starting to go into semi-panic mode waiting for it! Like everyone else, I have to say it is a beautiful publication! I do most of my reading outside on the deck so the heavy paper and matte finish are defintely a plus. The wind doesn’t effect the heavier paper, and the sun doesn’t glare off the pages. I love it!
I too am appreciating the paper quality and texture more and more. I have to admit, I was a bit “taken aback” as it is so different than the glossy stuff we’re used to and I’m pretty ignorant about this stuff…But as mentioned, the size and quality of the binding, in addition to the incredibly easy-to-read surface all makes for a really nice package!
A heads up for anyone who was too shy to subscribe right off the bat: Print issues are available for individual purchase through WCCC. This will be the case for all upcoming issues as well.
Issue #1 can be purchased by itself here.
It looks great Bill & Rich! I have yet to fully read it cover to cover but the content looks awesome, as does the photography. Mmmm Cougar porn.
PAGES 26/27!!! THAT’S ONE SEXY COUGAR!
My issue arrived today… Great magazine. Glad to have it… Hope it does well… Get it to the news stands…
There is another story in another magazine regarding Cougar #1…
which magazine and which issue re “another story on Cougar 1” ?