Pinto Car Club of America

Scott asked me to post this poll to gauge interest in publishing a magazine dedicated to the history, preservation and restoration of the Ford Pinto and Mercury Bobcat. Minimum run on a real magazine is going to be 200 units, and at this point in time shelf space in a book store is not a guarantee by any means. Subscriptions will be what drives the boat. I will look at advertisers, though at this point I have not contacted any. If you have suggestions or thoughts on the idea, please PM me or post them in this thread. Another factor in this decision will be material contributed for publication, such as how-to's, car and owner profiles and things of that sort. If you ever wanted a shot at showing your stuff to the Pinto world, this is it. Thanks for your time.

FlyerPinto

sounds like i good idea to me.

Hello:

My vote is yes, I would support it.   ;D

Thanks,

77pintocw

Excellect Idea...  Matt has the full support of FordPinto.com.

FlyerPinto:

  Interestingly, and no joke - this idea went through my mind this week. There is a certain need for a publication of this type. My personal opinion is that the Pinto "field is ripe" for harvesting, and this would be a substantial benchmark towards establishing recognition of these vehicles. As a former subscriber to Gameroom magazine (also, a low circulation pub), as a pinball hobbyist I was always interested in hearing stories of fellow enthusiasts and their efforts towards restoration.

  Being heavily involved in both pinball for the last 10 years, and model railroading many years before that, I drove a personal effort towards suppoting both hobbies in printed matter and personal "appearances".  I am a published author of 10 articles concerning model trains between the years 1995 and 1998, in Model Railroader, and Mainline Modeler magazines. These articles contained substantial information including history, photographs, AutoCAD drawings, and detailed text of my efforts.

In addition, I began putting together a book on the subject of pinball (which has been my hobby for the past ten years), though I never got it off the ground. That was a real labor of love which, well, I found little time for, though I have lots of text written. I have also given a number of public seminars at pinball shows, talking about cabinet and playfield restoration, replete with examples of my work.

  Since I now have a car and am in the process of learning a great deal about these automobiles (including, taking one apart and restoring it  ;)), I guess what I am trying to say is:

1) I am ALL for this effort
2) I would happily be a contributing author
3) I will support the effort any way I can

I hope this works out, and if there is anything I can do, please let me know. Feel free to contact me direct at any time, thanks!

Chris

I'm all for it but what would be the run(bi-monthly, monthly, ect) and the cost to us?

pbean09

Regarding the run and the cost, I don't have firm numbers to work with other than to say I need a run of 200 copies, which, in terms of printing cost alone, will be just over $5 per copy. That does not include any layout work, fees or postage, or any other surprise costs I am unaware of at this point in time. My hope was to do semi-monthly for a total of 6 issues per year as a starting point. If there are outside contributors, such as Chris from the prior post, who can add content, as in text, photos etc, then it may be possible to do more issues. If I'm flying solo for all content, then it will be six issues to start for the first year. I currently subscribe to Auto Restorer, a semi-monthly magazine that charges $7.50 per copy for 32 pages. I would like to be below that cost. It will depend on what, if any advertising is sold, and the number of issues printed. Big price breaks come in at 1000 copies and up. Right now I'm not even thinking of a number that large.

Chris,

I would welcome any help, suggestions and contributions from long before day one. Lets try to get in touch in the next week or so and see what we can come up with.

Growing up with Dan Esslinger I can add heavily to the early Pinto engine modifications, Pinto dune buggys, Turbo Pintos etc. It would be great to have some chapters on this type of stuff.

There is a place for all Pintos and modifications. When the time comes, if you will put some stuff together on different topics such as you mentioned, I will gladly include them. My wit and wisdom only go so far, after that, I need help!

Thanks, I will write some copy and send it to you.

FlyerPinto:

  I am sending you an email through the system, it will have my phone contact and email info as well. Let's get together on this, thanks for considering it.

Chris

im currently putting a parts catalog together i would love to pass it on to u for this run. this is in a long list of projects and had a big set back with the loss of my old computer but i do remember most of it and can start it back up. there is a thread on it.

this is WAY cool! but in order to speed it up u may post this on yahoo pinto in order to get the 200+
i would be glad to do so if requested

ps dose any one have a nos parts list to build a pinto this would speed up my work i may need to put this in another thread but if i could get a list of every part on a pinto i could tell u where to get it then follow with the after market stuff
i think that a pinto magazine would be a grate to publish it in because as the year go by it can be updated
there is also the stuff that some of or member sell they could sell through the mag and have much better sales and better return on there hard work   

Chris,

I'll be in touch, hopefully yet this week. Lets see what we can do.

Pintonut,

Great idea about the catalog and Yahoo pinto, hadn't thought of that. Keep plugging and we can get it done.

This is a little spooky because I too was thinking that there needs to be a Pinto magazine.  As for cost, we have to understand that this is a small niche market so expect to pay a little more. 

Let me know if I can help in any way, I have a lot of pictures of my project and maybe it might help.  Also I am a writer by profession [ really : )]. My car is projects "Project Shurtagul". 

One final thought is that this mag needs to inclusive of all Pintos regardless of what you have done or are doing to them not just restoration.

best of luck and I will be a subscriber cause my Pinto is not going anwhere but with me.

jim

hellfirejim,

See, all these great minds are thinking alike...and we all own the same cars...it is spooky! I agree with you, all Pintos are fair game for this, and any expertise anyone can bring to the table is more than welcome. Projects would be wonderful, especially if you can explain so someone else, who may have little if any experience, can understand the process. Photos are a bonus, of course, but aren't entirely necessary, depending on what you're talking about. Anyone with writing experience is a welcome addition to the fold as well. As more info comes about I will be posting it, so keep an eye out. I'll probably be e-mailing a lot of folks in the next week or two to see what we can put together, and I'll add your name to the list. Thanks!

I have some experience with writing articles for the Gateway Hotwheelers club newsletter. I am by no means a professional, I would be glad to contribute to a Pinto specific magazine. Muscle Mustangs and Fords recently combined with Modified Mustangs to make one magazine. This took away the vintage feel of the former magazine and diluted the content. You may be in a good position to capture some of that audience turned off by all of the late model content that is now in the new magazine.

Tercin

The information that can be shared is almost endless. What's great about a Pinto Magazine is you don't have to wait for the "big boys" (major car mags) to even consider your car. If you have something, you'll probably get in!! Here's but a few possibilities:

Features of cars (and this could be rotated):
> Original
> Restored original
> Restored modified
> Race cars
> Derby cars
> Custom

@Random photos of cars anywhere (fields, junkyards, city streets)

@Technical articles (how-to's) on just about anything - like - how many options were there for A/C setups, what equipment was used, how was it adapted into the car interior (I say this because I have found THREE in my short involvement)

@A "Historical Corner" where facts about the cars can be shared (VINS, colors, options, production numbers, etc.)

@Vintage photos (where people can share photos of when they or their families had these cars back in the day)

@Unique tidbits (example - movies with Pintos, oddities found in cars, etc.)

@Special articles (like, for example, someone actually makes an effort to contact Caroll (sp) Shelby/his agent and gets an interview to talk about his Pinto)...or....finding other people in the industry who had a unique role and would like to share their experience and memories (engineers, auto dealers, etc.)

@Classified ads (for a fee, helps pay for publication)

@Advertisements (for a fee, helps pay for publication)

@Calendar with Pinto shows

@Listings of past publications with Pinto related articles

...that's just a few. I am sure I have missed many.

Chris

All good ideas, keep thinking it through. I'm working on my end, and hope to be contacting Ford shortly for some other information. Not only will this be good for our club, I think it will be fun as well. I'm headed to the Ohio Get Together this weekend and will be taking my 35mm with me to get photos. Don't have a digital...I'm sensing a pattern here...

Man, no criticism here - I love the convenience of a digital camera but I REALLY miss my 35MM (it has a lot of light leakage on the shutter). Back in the day, I used it a LOT...good luck!!

Chris

my work in tracking down parts will help with the getting companies to pay for adds.


http://www.google.com/products?q=2.3+ford&oe=UTF-8&brand=ac+delco&lnk=brsugg

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/4cylinders.html

http://racerwalsh.zoovy.com/

just a few for the 2.3

I had a thought for a section maybe called Pinto's on the Run.  this would be picturs of Pinto's taken by subscribers.  Doesn't need to be a lot of detail just a good clean picture and where it was taken.

jim 

Sounds like a great idea to me. I'm off to the Ohio Mini-Meet here in an hour or so. As such I won't be checking much online, but I'll be getting back to folks soon.  The Purple Pinto is about to ride again!

FlyerPinto:

  Been a week now - how was your trip? Hope it all went well. I'd like to get the ball rolling again, please contact me sometime, thanks!

Chris

Any idea on what the ads would cost?
The normal classifieds and the company/support ads...


Jim

yah im working on a parts list from the supplier i know.   but may need to devote a hole day to it shortly

An interesting thought, but how about getting with some of the other 'misfits' of the FOMOCO world?  Mustang IIs, Mavericks/Comets, Granadas/Monarchs, etc?  Maybe even Edsels??  There is always strength in numbers, the more, the stronger...

And don't forget the lowly 1980-1982 Thunderbirds.  A friend of mine owns two and they are IMPOSSIBLE to find parts for!!!
Dwayne :smile:

FlyerPinto (and everyone else who cares):

  I have actually started penning my first article for the Pinto Magazine. It's going to regard reproducing plastic parts from urethane (specifically, for my purpose and others interested, the dealer-installed A/C dash bezel - mine is badly warped and cracked).

I really want to get this effort going (Pinto Magazine), otherwise I would ask the admins if they think a "how-to" section would be appropriate (that is, an area to deposit instructional articles on various topics). If you look at the "www.maverick.to" web site, they have a depository for technical articles, which I think we could all benefit from.

That said, I'M IN. Anyone? can we start this effort? I am no publisher, but I am a writer....

Chris

I'm getting my goodies together as fast as I can; I've just been a little busy lately. Let's all talk one way or another this week and see what we can do to get started.

Hey FlyerPinto:

  If you want to provide a phone number via private message, do so, I would be happy to phone you.

Chris

We need a magizine. What is an Offical FORD PINTO CLUB SITE without an OFICAL CLUB MAG>

Quote from: pbean09 on August 19, 2008, 11:08:15 AM
We need a magizine. What is an Offical FORD PINTO CLUB SITE without an OFICAL CLUB MAG>

yah i hafta agree with that

We're working on it guys!

Quote from: FlyerPinto on August 20, 2008, 05:44:41 AM
We're working on it guys!

Well you ain't working fast enough! lol just playing don't shoot!

wow, i cant belive i didnt see this thread before!!!  this is a great idea.  i like the comment earlier about bringing in other oddball fords.  it would probably help push well over 200 copies.  id have to dig them out, but i have a few pics of junk yard pintos i could scan and send you.

bob

was wondering if there would possibly be a derby section to the magazine? if so i'd love to help out..

A magazine is a great idea! I would subscribe even if its $7.50 per copy.  I collect toy cars too and I'm sure there are others of you. 1/24 scale models, 1/64 (hot wheels). Hot Rod magazine ran a modeling column for a while. I have the Fresh Cherries R/C Pinto and the 1/64s in blue, yellow and red, and a Mustang II in green, and the 1/24 Die cast pinto in brown/white. I don't mind content including other misfits, although not sure about Edsels, but maybe EXPs from the early 80s and 70s Capris

It's nice to know that someone else here collects toy cars too!  My den is home to a $10,000+  collection of diecast cars, about half of which are Franklin Mint and Danbury Mint 1:24's.  There are lots of other things in the collection including a series of 1:43 handbuilt resin Rolls Royces I bought from China, numerous other 1:43's (some of which comprised my father's collection that passed to me when he died four years ago), a bunch of 1:25 scale pickup trucks, a dozen 1:64 Lincolns ranging from the '40's-70's, another half-dozen 1:64 Rolls Royces ranging from the '50's-80's.  In the Fresh Cherries series, I have an orange Ford Pinto, a baby blue/white AMC Pacer, a royal blue Chevy Vega, and a green Ford Maverick.  Then, there's the wall of old Ford promo cars, mostly from the 1960's.  The list goes on and on.  Am currently building a 1:64 scale Sunoco station diorama which will contain a number of cars as well: a 1960 Ford Country Squire wagon, a '68 Thunderbird, '69 Mercury Cougar, '76 Continental Mark IV, '69 Chevy Blazer, '77 Dodge Pickup, and a '59 Cadillac "junker" with a For Sale sign.  May add a few more as space permits, and if I find anything particularly interesting.  I'm 51 years old but so far have not outgrown my toys!  Let's see... I'm way off topic here!  If we get this magazine project off the ground, I'll definitely subscribe!  Whew ::)  now we're back on track!
Dwayne :smile:

[color=orange]Are you guys the ones buying up all of the toy Pintos at Wal Mart?!!! 

I have no luck finding them....

Jennifer[/color]

They were on shelves last year or year before, I didn't "stockpile" meaning I don't have one of everything that was offered or duplicates of anything.  This is popular subject matter to the right people and not much of it was on the shelf when I made my purchase.  You can get this stuff from toy suppliers on the web, search "die cast models" or "scale model cars" on the web or look on ebay under "toys&hobbies" in die cast cars. Hope that helps!

I have the big Pinto that you put batteries in.  Never could find the small ones out in my area.  They always have a lot of Vegas!!!   :rolleye:  Oh well.  Not one for ebay!!

Jennifer

Sign me up !
  Henry

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A MAG ABOUT JUST PINTOS.IT'S REALLY DISAPPOINTING TO LOOK THROUGH ALL THE OTHER FORD MAGS AND RARELY SEE ANYONE DOING ANYTHING TO A PINTO EXCEPT DESTROYING IT IN A DERBY.COUNT ME IN.

Ok folks, while I'm still waiting to hear back from Ford about the magazine idea, I'm working on smaller aspects of the idea. Several of you have posted ideas in this thread and I think they are all pretty good and very viable for a new project. I think it will be harder to fill up pages initially than what I realize so I will be snagging all kinds of ideas from your suggestions. Several of you have also mentioned wanting to contribute articles and the like - another fantastic idea. I have spoken with or been in e-mail contact with several of you in regards to this idea and I apologize for disappearing for a while. Things have been very hectic here and they are just starting to settle down so I will have the time to move forward with this now. I'm trying to find all the e-mail addresses and phone numbers everyone sent me, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to send me a note reminding me of what you want to help with. I'm going to be working on this over the weekend so I'll be getting in touch with a bunch of folks then. Thanks a bunch.

  I wanted to bring this post back up to the top.

  Its obvious to me. that "Flyerpinto" has done alot of work on this Magazine.  I'm also sure he will fill all of you in on the information soon.

  For the moment, I just wanted to bring the original post back to the top

     Thanks,,,,,,,jim at jimspinto

dont forget to include us who like to preserve our pinto's w/ alternative drivetrains that arent stock... :)

Trust me, no one gets left out here.

Count me in too!

          To see a mag devoted primarily (if not exclusively) to Pintos would be a dream come true for me. I have had a love affair with Pintos- especially the 1971-1975 era models- since I could recognize a car other than something that Mom or Dad drove me in (I was born in 1972). I do think it would be a good idea to have a magazine that was primarily Pintos but also catered to Mavericks/Comets and Mustang lls as well as the Pinto's twin sister the Bobcat. You could call it Pintos and Other Ford Ponies (or whatever).

             I know this thread is about the magazine but now that we mention toys, collectibles and models that could also be a section in the mag- featuring a fan's passion that he/she can actually bring into the living room! Yes, I have a few toy Pintos myself. I am waiting for the opportunity to get another actual Pinto car again.

I will be a contributor if it all works out, I have had a lot of experience writing for magazines, and hope this really does happen.

Chris

I would still like to see our magazine come to life! :D

YES!!! ME TOO! Almost as much as I would like to see replacement floorboards for our cars lol ;D

Look for an announcement about the magazine this week...

I plan to send in a subscription payment once tax season comes around, and before the first release sets sail.

I can't wait to get my hands on the first issue! :D

I have talked with Matt and am in the process of writing an article for the first edition rollout. I won't say what it is now, but it's a topic near and dear to my own car, as I go through the restoration process. I am excited about this magazine and look forward to being a contributor.

Chris

Hello! I'm new to the Pinto world, I'm working on buying a 1979 Pinto with only 39k miles on it. I've been reading the forums posts and I really enjoy this site. I have a suggestion for the Pinto magazine.

I don't know the legality of it or what not, but how about putting some of the old Pinto brochures and ads in the magazine? Just a thought but I'm not sure if the items being copyrighted would be allowed by Ford or the advertisement developers. This way people who collect such things can contribute as well, making scanned copies or something to the magazine so we can see advertisements and brochures from that time line.

Another suggestion would be when doing an article on a featured Pinto would be something like "news from this year" related information that tells about what was going on in the U.S. or automobile world during that time. Maybe even some competitors to the Pinto sort of like a side by side comparison? I'd be interested in classic ads, not necessarily of the Pinto, from that era too. Just to bring back memories.

How about an annual edition retro style. All retro through and through? Retro printing style, ads for the Pinto, ads of that era and news from that era? Maybe working chronologically from the first year of production to the last year? Basically a retro edition each year for each year the Pinto was in production.

For the budding or professional artists an update on the Pinto if it were still being made today?

All good ideas, and some of them are in the works as we speak. I'm open to all kinds of suggestions so keep 'em coming. I will be using old Ford advertisements and other period items as well. I would love to see updates on Pintos from an artistic point of view, to say nothing of cartoons (that one was just to easy to let it go by). If you have anything working, just let me know.

Thanks!

Since it will be sourced from the PCCA, how about a page with a list of member's names and contact information (if the member in question decides to release such information), as well as a page welcoming new members to the club?

If not a page of contact information, at least a page recognizing the members so that others that may be interested in purchasing a Pinto can truly see that there are more people that they would have thought who can help them with their future project. People who have hands on experience with the most common, and uncommon problems which haunt a restoration project, or regular maintenance.

I think it would be fine if folks will do it, I certainly don't have an issue there, but I wouldn't want to speak for anyone else regarding disseminating contact information. Regarding being sourced from the PCCA, what do you mean? I haven't spoken with anyone in a while so I don't know where things stand.

Being sourced from the PCCA....It being produced by members of the PCCA, and the conception of the magazine essentially started here, with the founders and members of the PCCA. Also, I am expecting to see about 98% of the magazine content being submitted or contributed by PCCA members.

I don't know how much content will be contributed by club members, probably a fair amount to be certain. I do know the balance will have to come from other sources, which I will primarily have to provide via research etc.; it should be fun and I'm interested to see what comes to pass.

What about lifting old articles from 70s magazines ( giving it credit ) for some fun. Could do a comparison deal like " Then" and " Now "

I'm already looking into reprinting some older articles. It isn't just a matter of giving credit though, as some of the publications are still in business and using anything requires written permission before publication. Otherwise you get a letter from a lawyer, and that is never a good thing. I like the idea of comparing the 70's opinion of the Pinto/Bobcat with the view held of it now, that should prove illuminating.

Pinto Times has gone to the printer!!! With any luck the first issue will be back in my hands and ready to mail within a week to ten days. Sorry about the delay, I just wanted it to be good.

HEY MATTHEW,JUST CHECKING IN TO SEE IF I CAN STILL POSSIBLY GET AN ISSUE,OR DO YOU NEED A FULL SUBSCRIPTION?WE STILL NEED TO GET TOGETHER TO COMPARE CARS & NOTES...........TOMMYS.

Tommy,

Though I prefer subscriptions (You can't imagine how much money went into this...) you can get just the one issue to start. Kind of like buying it off the newsstand I guess! If you can send me your phone number at work I'll give you a call tomorrow and we can work out a time to get together. I'm probably going to be home all weekend so maybe we could do it then. Just PM me if you want and we'll get it done.

Matthew

So how do I subscribe? They would go great with my 31 years of Mustang Times!!!!

Just send $32 to

Pinto Times
PO Box 646
Troy, OH 45373

and the first issue is on the way!

All I gotta say is .....WOW...... :hypno:

Sat down to read tonite, slick publication, quality authoring, well put together, congrats to Matt on a FINE effort. This is something that the Pinto Community has needed for years! If there was such a thing as a nomination towards "effort to recognize and upllift the Pinto and its history", you'd be a clear winner.

Much luck on future issues, I hope to be a contributor.

Chris

Have you got your five 1st senders of correct crossword puzzle yet? There's some zingers in there... :read: :lost: :surprised: :-\ ;D

I've received two thus far, one was perfect and one had only one mistake. It may have been harder than I realized!

And thanks for the comments everyone, I appreciate it.

I actually found the crossword to be quite enjoyable. Not only as a game, but also for how it opened my eyes to how much I really do know about the Pinto and it's history. I would say about 90% of the questions came right off the top of my head. 19 Across, 11 Across, and 8 Down really stumped me though! :)

Mailing mine out today, hopefully it gets there in time for the top three! :)

My issues are 10 across, 18 across, 1 &4 down. The rest, once I thought about it, were easy.  ;D

I guess this mag wouldn,t be in stores would it?
Or is it just through the mail?
Mabye a mag in the stores would influence more public interest.
How much for shipping and handeling to send to Canada?
And by the way! I found some old car mags, mostly car craft from 1974 to 1976.
Wow alot of pintos, so effen cool!
From Pinto Magic.

Still only $32 for Canada, at least as far as I know. I'll move forward on that assumption until the post office lets me know different, and then we can work it out. I've still got a few of the first issue left so you're in good shape.

How do I get a copy of the first issue and subscribe?

Just send $32 to:

Pinto Times
PO Box 646
Troy, OH 45373

Be certain you include your name and the full address where you want the subscription to go. I still have about a dozen copies left as of today.

Thanks!

Matthew Gunter
aka FlyerPinto

Well worth anyone investing for a subscription, IMHO. This was a FREE, unpaid advertisement for Matt. No celebrity endorsements were made, nor animals harmed in the writing of this post. Your actual mileage may vary. See dealer for details. Offer valid in contiguous 48 states and Puerto Rico while supplies last. Stunt driver on closed course, do not attempt.  :P

Chris

Matthew,

I just put my check in the mail... PLEASE save me one of those first issues if you still have one.  I enclosed a note to that effect with the check also.  So sorry I'm late getting my subscription in.  From everything I've heard and read, you are doing a really fantastic job with Pinto Times.  Looking forward to seeing for myself!

Dwayne :smile:

Dwayne,

No problem at all, I hope you like it.

Matthew

Hey man what a great magazine. i love it and am looking forward to the next one and re-subscribing next year =)

I agree 100% - have not been disappointed by either of the issues I've received.  I hope Pinto Times is around for a long time!

Dwayne :smile:

Are back issues of Pinto Magazine available?

Sure thing, all you need to do is sign up. I still have copies of both of the first two issues so you would get them in one mailing. The info for subscribing is a couple or three posts up in this thread.

Subscription on the way!

got mine on Friday excellent

I'm glad you enjoyed it. The next couple of issues should be a lot of fun.

Any word on when the third issue of Pinto Times can be expected?

Dwayne   :smile:

Should be heading to the printer within the next week or so and then right into the mail. Sorry about the delay but my tech lady was down for a couple of weeks. It should be a good one!

Hi Matt:

  Glad to see you hard at it, looking forward to what you have up your sleeve. Thanks as always for driving this effort!!

Chris

Looking forward to it, Matt... and as Chris said, the work you put into that magazine is VERY much appreciated!

Dwayne :smile:

Same goes here Matt! As forChris, he wrote a good and very interesting article in the last one! It actually kept me, well, interested! lol. Can't wait til issue #3! ;D

Thanks Blu. Your positive comment means a lot. Hope I can write some more in the future when I find time. Heck, I can't even find time to work on the car - and the weather is finally starting to shape up. Summer was HOT!!

Chris

I really gotta subscribe to it. That would be cool to have for my collection of magazines I don't wanna throw away lol

Quote from: r4pinto on September 11, 2010, 06:48:45 PM
I really gotta subscribe to it. That would be cool to have for my collection of magazines I don't wanna throw away lol

I guarantee you won't be sorry!  It's a wonderful magazine.  The photo on the back of the second issue is worth the entire one-year subscription fee, if you ask me!

Dwayne :smile:

Quote from: popbumper on September 11, 2010, 12:01:43 PM
Thanks Blu. Your positive comment means a lot. Hope I can write some more in the future when I find time. Heck, I can't even find time to work on the car - and the weather is finally starting to shape up. Summer was HOT!!

Chris

You're quiter welcome. You earned it!  ;D

This next one will be out soon, I'm waiting for my layout gal to finish and then we go to the printers. We've actually overshot a year for four issues, but I'm not worried about that if no one else is worried. We'll just keep putting them out. This next one, it will be good!

Quality of production beats speed of production ANY day!  Keep up the good work!

Dwayne :smile:

i agree with dwayne. ill take quality of the speed in which it comes out.

Are publications still being made? Subscriptions? Can we purchase the missed issues? Thank you.

Tink,


I have one issue left of the original four I committed to when this enterprise started. The issue is in process right now. I do have second and third issue copies remaining, though at the moment the initial issue is gone. If I take any more subscriptions right now I would send out the previous issues and finish the subscription with the fourth upcoming issue.

Quote from: FlyerPinto on January 31, 2011, 09:32:11 PM
Tink,


I have one issue left of the original four I committed to when this enterprise started. The issue is in process right now. I do have second and third issue copies remaining, though at the moment the initial issue is gone. If I take any more subscriptions right now I would send out the previous issues and finish the subscription with the fourth upcoming issue.

     Maybe I'm reading something in that isn't there, but are you suggesting that the four issues will make up the entirety of the Pinto Times run? 

     Dwayne :smile:

Dwayne,

At the moment it is up in the air. I talked with Scott some time ago (Last fall) about circumstances but haven't since. We discovered my wife had a brain tumor. She had brain surgery and is still working through some complications, so my outside interests have been cut back quite a bit. Right now though, I have approximately 38 subscribers, if I remember correctly. It might be a few more, but ballparking it I'm several below 50. To break even it looks like I need to increase that number about five fold. Scott has some ideas that should be pretty helpful, and I'll likely do some version of a subscription drive. But right now I've been unable to swing outside advertisers with so little a subscription base so I've been paying it all out of my pocket. With the medical bills we're facing (The hospital bill alone was $126,000, and more are on the way) I can't keep doing this if I can't at least break even. We'll just have to wait and see if there is more of a response when the time comes, and make a decision then. I love doing the magazine though, and as a club I feel we benefit from having it. It just has to support itself.

Matt,

I totally understand how priorities can change - my wife suffered a debilitating stroke in 2007 from which she has not fully recovered.  I was busily promoting my newly published novel when that happened, and my promotion efforts stopped dead in their tracks.  That had a definite effect on sales and the sequel remains unpublished. 

I know the economy has been a factor but I really don't understand the low subscription numbers - the magazine is such a wonderful publication and it seems out of over 6500 members, getting a couple hundred subscribers should be a cinch! 

I truly hope Pinto Times can continue, but I certainly understand why you can't continue paying out of pocket to publish it.  As much as we love it, I don't believe any of the subscribers expect you to do that! 

At the very least, I hope you realize the gratitude of those of who have subscribed. 

Best wishes to you and your wife!

Dwayne :smile:

Dwayne I couldn't agree with you more. 38 subscribers out of 6500 members; that it so weak. What happended to the 150 members who said they would sign up when Matt started this project? All the best to you and your wife Matt. Joe in Morgan Hill, CA

matt I certainly dont expect you to out of pocket this. and I appreciate the Efforts you have made, i love the magazine but if its got to be sidelined then by all means deal with what you need to. Ill send you a re-up Asap. even if you dont make anymore atleast it gives you back some =D

Thanks all, I appreciate it. We're not done yet.

I am sad to find out the magazine isn't going, I would definitely be interested as I am "new" to the world of older cars and especially pintos and I would have appreciated the contact.

1980 Pinto Runabout- bright orange- all original- I call her Envy...

Quote from: envy on April 02, 2011, 06:11:13 PM
I am sad to find out the magazine isn't going, I would definitely be interested as I am "new" to the world of older cars and especially pintos and I would have appreciated the contact.

1980 Pinto Runabout- bright orange- all original- I call her Envy...

Hi envy! 

The last I heard, Matt (FlyerPinto) still has some copies left of the second and third issues - I think all of the first issue are gone.  Click on his username in the post above yours and send him a PM - he'll let you know what he has available and how to go about purchasing them.  It is a wonderful publication but the members here have not subscribed in numbers sufficient to guarantee its survival.  We have not given up hope, however.  The fourth issue has yet to be published.  By the way, eBay is usually a good source for the liftgate supports you asked about in the Shout Box. 

Dwayne :smile:

Dwayne,


Sorry I haven't been around much lately. Still watching over my wife after her brain surgery, and I just got out of the hospital today myself after a truly unpleasant bout with kidney stones. I'm looking to get the next issue out soon.


Matthew

Matt,

I think all the regulars here knew you had a lot on your plate at the moment.  Hope all is going well with both you and your wife.  I was simply responding to a new member who apparently thought the magazine was altogether dead, and I wanted her to know that she wasn't completely out of luck.  Take your time, take care of your wife AND yourself, and we'll look forward to the fourth issue whenever it happens... no rush!

Dwayne :smile:

I second dwayne, take your time recover and be there for your wife.

Hey Matt...newly active in the forum...take care of your wife and yourself.

I'm interested in back and the current issues of this Pinto magazine. How can I get signed up?

Best regards, Bill

I agree with douglaskemp, get with other models and make it work. A stand alone mag sounds good but might be hard to make happen.  I'll support it either way, but a mix of mavericks and mustang IIs would be cool to me as well as the old ford capri.

John

It would be simpler to create the magazine as a PDF. Cheaper, and the subscriber can print it if needed.

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 2

For sure I would.

If I have to pay the money then I'd rather have the hard copy. Printers run out of ink, and having the magazine in my hot little hands is preferable. Plus, then I can show others what a great magazine it is!  ;D

Not to mention to have something to read while on the toilet  :P Gotta put some good reading in the magazine rack lol

I'm sure there would be some market for a PDF version but nothing can compare with the glossy, high quality production that Pinto Times has been so far and I, for one, would hate to lose that.  Is there a possibility of doing an online version at a lower subscription rate to help offset the costs associated with the printed version which could still be offered to the old school subscribers like me at the original rate?  Don't know... just thinking out loud here. 

Dwayne :)

So THAT'S what I smell... lol  ::)

I have a Transformer tablet. Perfect for toilet reading. I can always print sections of what I want in hard copy to carry around, or use for toilet paper when the wife forgets to load up the roll. :P God, I miss the Sears and Roebuck catalog.

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 2