Just spotted on Craigslist.
The Hertz car in ROUGH shape.
Very Rough indeed, but was a sweet ride when new. A rare cat, hopefully someone might save it
Some of you may recall that these were listed back in 2012 for $3k. The Hertz Eliminator is 0F91M537544.
I received an email from the current owner asking about finding it a home, so I posted it on Facebook. It generated some interest, but it looks like none of the FB folks stepped up to buy it.
I also talked with the Owner and Previous Owner a few weeks ago. Seems the previous owner (seller in 2012) is named Don, and he had owned the car since about 1981. At one point he had to sell the original drivetrain out of the Eliminator in order to make ends meet. When the Cougars didn’t sell back in 2012 Don called up the local scrap yard and said “come and get them”. Luckily the scrap yard knows a fellah who saves wayward muscle cars, and so they ended up with the current owner, Dan. Dan is basically looking for someone to carry the torch for the Eliminator, and use the other Cougar as a sheet metal donor.
I know we all hope that it won’t end up getting rebodied, but I think the sad truth is that is probably the only option for saving what is left of the Hertz car. Which kind of begs the question of “how much metal makes it a rebody?” If the shock towers and firewall and front frame rails can be saved, as well as the roof… is it a rebody, or just a lot of replaced sheet metal?
The ECI’s taking a pass on this pair…
Chicken
Hey, didn’t I see you on the last Hoarders episode? The guy with a bazillion Cougars who was perpetually “getting around to” them?
He’s only got five of 'em.
someone sounds jealous…
C’mon Bob it’ll be just like old times. “Diary of an East Coast Idiot” Volume Two.
(For me at least), it would have to be complete and valuable (restored) for anything like the ECI saga to happen a second time…
Just got this email from the seller…
Hey Mike, Cougars are finding a new home in Michigan. A 3 generation project… father son and grandfather!
thanks again for your help.
Dan
I asked him for contact info of the new owners, or if he could forward to them a link to the Classic Cougar Community forum in hopes that they will post and share thier experience bringing the Eliminator back to life!
…ok, I assume they are restoring the Eliminator, but I guess they might scrap it and restore the other Cougar (D’oh!).
Bob, it is time for you to get the welder out…
I am the new owner of the Eliminator. We plan on restoring the eliminator , not the normal cougar. The normal cougar will be a donor for some parts. This isn’t our first restotation and won’t be the last. I know how much work the eliminator is going to be and some may think in the long run , it might not be worth it. I think it will. Its the Rent-A-Racer history that got me. Plus an Eliminator is 1 of 3 of my dream car list. Dan (Last owner) is going to try to get me don’s #. I will wait till he is out of the hospital. Then try to see if he remembers who he sold the motor/tranny to and start the search as we are restoring the eliminator. I don’t care if I have to go door to door, put up a bunch of ads. I am going to do my best to track the eng/trans down. (Crosses fingers it wasn’t scrapped). I normally don’t do to many forum posts ( usually a lurker) but I will update as I go along here and there. Just remember this car is very rough so is going to be awhile. So if no new posts on car for awhile. That will be why. I have 2 ish weeks left on our last project. (Bronco) , then we will start work on the eliminator. Thank You for the great knowledge on this forum. Blayne
0F91M537544_dlxrpt(6).pdf (287 KB)
Had to get the Marti Report! If I shouldn’t put the marti report here please just delete it. I just seen a post say that every Marti Report helps. Blayne
Congrats and good luck on the project Blayne. I’m glad to see that car get saved.
Awesome! Glad to hear it will be saved! Thank you very much for sharing the Marti Report. We had the VIN on this one from when it was listed by Don in WI, but it is great to add the Marti to the database.
I’m sure you’ve read up on the '70 Hertz Sunroof Eliminators, but to reiterate a bit…
Hertz ordered 100 Eliminators with a sunroof in 1970. The sunroof was not available to the public as an option on the Eliminator. I think this was due to the work required to install the sunroof without covering the roof with a vinyl top (vinyl top was also not an option on the Eliminator). So there was probably a conflict cost-wise with the vinyl top restriction.
All 100 Hertz Eliminators were equipped identically to what you see on your Marti Report, with the exception of California Evaporative Emissions required on CA cars. The only significant variations were paint color and interior color.
From previously submitted production statistics (available from Marti Autoworks as a Production Statistic Report) we know that there were 19 Hertz Eliminators painted Competition Gold. 12 of those had the White Standard Interior like yours.
The Eliminator Registry records 28 1970 Hertz sunroof Eliminators, with 5 of those having the same color combination as yours.
Once you get the title in your name, you might also consider ordering the original factory invoice for your Eliminator, which is available from Marti Autoworks. Great documentation to add to the cars provonance!
Good luck with the search for the drivetrain - hopefully it will turn up. That in itself would be a great story to follow.
Post pictures and progress when you can - I know we will all be interested to see it and follow along.
In the meantime, here is a link to another '70 Hertz Eliminator restoration project thread here on the forum: http://www.mercurycougar.net/forums/showthread.php?100018-70-Hertz-Eliminator-Resto
Caleb, see my sig, it says it all…
Haha. I’m just trolling, don’t mind me