That looks like a nice Cougar and spending a little more up front might save you some cash and frustration down the road.
Here is another one that just popped up in CO. 67 original owner car with a three speed manual that needs restored and claims no rust.
Kinda weird to see snow on the ground in August.
Thanks BamaExile so far so good. I will here most every day now looking for other topics that may pretain to what Im doing do asking questions because I will not know what the hell Im doing.
I didn’t even think of the month. I just thought, car sitting under a tarp parked on grass for years, that doesn’t sound good to me. I didn’t even want to leave my cat parked on a garage floor without plastic under it for the winter for fear of moisture getting up in there. Probably a little paranoid on my part. But grass/snow and it hasn’t been driven in a few years? That just sounds kinda… not ideal.
I’m going to look at the 1967 XR7 tomorrow after work. I’m hoping it looks good in person and the owner is a bit flexible on the price. I just hate to take apart and modify a car that is already in good nick!
I hear you, Dave! I’m sure my knowledge will be tested by whatever car I find and buy. I’m sure you’ll do fine. It’s supposed to be fun…isn’t it? 
No rust? Really? Really really? Pardon the skepticism, but while I’ve only been through Colorado once (when I was 10) and it was in August; we drove through Wolf Creek Pass and came out of the tunnel into a snowstorm. (Ohhhhh, my Dad was pi$$ed! He grew up off Lake Ontario and swore he’d never again deal with snow the minute he and Mom and my sib’s pulled into southern AZ). Add to that the pictures I’ve seen from our PRCA Rodeo Stock Contractor that maintains breeding operations in Alamosa and Durango… yeah, I’m having a little trouble with the “NO RUST” statement.
Doesn’t help that my XR-7 is a DSO 51 (Denver area) car; and I’ve learned enough (from these forums) about where and how to check and find rust issues. Driver’s side quarter panel, inner and outer wheelhouses; trunk drop-offs on both sides, and I’m almost afraid to dig too deeply around the rocker on that side. I think (hope) that a '73 Mustang rocker will work if needed, and hope again that a repop is available; and nothing else on that list is reproduced. Gotta massage and stretch Mustang wheel houses and maybe they’ll work; ditto for the trunk dropoffs.
I’m not moving forward; but still not backing away. Cold-weather cars and their incipient rust issues scare the heebie=jeebies out of a guy that was born and raised and always lived in the Sonoran Desert.
Just Sayin’
My 69 standard spent most of it’s life in southern CO and is very nice with only a couple minor rust spots. CO is a big state with different climates depending on where you are at in the state. Rust free cars can be found in CO. This Cougar in Fort Collins isn’t and area where you would generally find a rust free car. The car needs to be put on a hoist with better pictures to back up the rust free claim. Would be one to check out in person. Maybe talk to Cougar Bill he could look at it for you.
Went to look at the 1967 XR7 yesterday (thanks for that, BossElim69!). A pretty nice looking car, actually. A little rust, but nothing to be overly concerned over. Drivers side floorpan needs replacing, some rust in the trunk floor, one tiny pinhole towards the rear bottom of the left quarter panel. Other than that the body was straight. The vinyl roof is in near perfect shape. Interior is nice, particularly the seats. Carpet is good. Dashpad needs replacing, but isn’t cracked. Gauges work. A couple of the switches for the maplights/courtesy lights don’t seem to work. Power steering and AC, but AC doesn’t blow cold and power steering is leaking significantly. Engine starts right up from cold and doesn’t smoke. I didn’t see any oil leakage. Oil and transmission fluid were healthy looking. Headlight doors don’t work, but lights come on. Tail lights work properly. Didn’t get to drive it yesterday because the guy said a vacuum line was needed off the carb, but he is fixing that and I am going to drive it tomorrow. The tranny doesn’t clunk or make any weird noises. Factory glass in all windows, except windshield. Drivers side quarter window doesn’t roll up or down. Paint was good. One thing I wasn’t sure about was fender liners. Are the 67s supposed to have fender liners? There weren’t any on this one, if so. Bumpers look good, but the smaller chrome parts are fairly dull. Anything else I’m forgetting? Assuming it drives ok, what should I offer?
Head light doors might just be a vacumm leak or worst case new acuators cost $450.
dash pad your looking at new repo or used around $400 to $600.
Power steering depends on what’s leaking. Worst case is a control valve $350
Driver floor pan about $500 for a body shop to perform the work.
So, you’re looking at about $1800 in repairs that you can see and will find more upon closer inspection I’m sure. I would start out at $5,500 and $6,000 would be a good deal. I think you still would be Ok at $6,500 to $7,000 as it doesn’t need a bunch of paint or interior work and the drivetrain is good.
No wheel wells in the Cougar. just a splash shield. Small one in the front and a longer one in the rear inside fender that closes it out to the door post. all open to the top of the fender. If it has power disc brakes that’s a big plus!
Another good test is to poor water into the cowl vent and check the passenger side heater box and floor for leaks. Water leaking into cowl vent can be an issue on cougars and Mustangs.
Worst case on power steering leak is actually what I have-- leak at the pump (very common problem from the design from what I’ve heard) AND leaking at the control valve as well. And actually the ultimate worst case, it could be leaking at the ram too, which luckily mine isn’t. One place I got lucky. My PS is a mess.
That being said, I’ve put hundreds of miles on it and am actually used to it, basically it’s like manual steering more or less. I just try and make a point of keeping enough fluid in the reservoir so it’s not too low. But it doesn’t take long to get low. And make a big puddle. A few, actually, with leaks in two spots and gravity pulling the drips down here and there.
Can’t wait to rebuild the whole PS system. But opted first for the more important (to me anyway) replacement of fuel tank and lines, which Bill B recommends to everyone and I will add my noob “second” to. If you have the 40+ year old tank and lines, it’s probably in the best interest of the engine to replace them before putting any miles in it. That’s just a few hundred there.
Thanks, tmh and Boss! I am going to drive it today. With some luck, it will drive well with no problems and I’ll start pulling out the cash. Hopefully, he’ll be reasonable and accept 6k! Keep your fingers crossed for me!
The key to a good Cougar project (or any kind of car for that matter) is buy a car that has little or no rust that needs to be repaired. You can replace a missing interior and a missing engine, transmission and rear end for half of what it would cost to repair the rust bucket described in your first post.
Unless of course, it’s your mission in life to increase the iron content of your blood. Then, by all means, pursue the first one! Just don’t give him 6k!
Well, I went and did it. Bought that lovely, red 1967 XR7. The owner wouldn’t go any lower than $7k, but I bought it anyway. There’s a few things that need to be done: transmission seal leak (not bad, really), steering is a little loose, brakes pull to the left, headlights don’t open, gauge lights, vacuum lines need replacing, horn doesn’t work. Mostly small stuff and not bad for a 45 year old car. No real body work needs to be done. Drivers side floorpan. Trunk floor is a little thin.
As far as what I want to do, that’s a different story! I want to stroke the engine to 331 and drop a 5 speed manual tranny in it most of all. Time is on my side, though, and I’m not going to hurry it. I’ll be looking to you guys for advice and you have all proven to be quite helpful already. I’d like to post some pictures, but it doesn’t seem that I can do that yet.
He wouldn’t go under $7k for the one linked a few posts back, the one where the price in his listing is $6k?!?
Sounds like you got a great car and a fun project. Cheers on that!
The slop in the steering is something mine has as well. Between the rag joint and the steering box, that’s a good chunk of my problem right there from what I can tell. With the engine off and the good up I can reach in there and rotate the steering shaft by hand and see that all the slop is happening at the box. It’s another common issue for these old Fords, from what I’ve read, and there is a bunch of information out there about rebuilding the box vs just tightening the adjustment screw, lubing it up, and all that.
I’m sure you’ll find plenty to keep you busy! And congrats on picking up the greatest car ever, a 1st gen Cougar!!
Tmh, the one I bought was listed for $8k: http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/3152612520.html
Sorry about the confusion on that.
I imagine there is a lot of wear in the steering. The box is OLD. I may see if I can find a rebuilt one and some new or used parts to tighten it up until I can drop in a rack and pinion system…maybe!
And you are right, it is the greatest car ever! I’m very happy!
Congrats! Looks like a good buy from where I’m sitting!
Thanks, mo2872! It was a little more than I wanted to spend, but I’ll save that thousand by not having to do body work.
Do we have a good thread on restoring the headlight covers, tail lights, and grill? Also, any good info on taking out the door and rear interior panels, so I can clean up the mechanisms and fix the rear window issue?
I truly appreciate the feedback and help you guys have provided so far. Anybody in the St. Louis area?
There have been topics on grille restoration. Try the search box and type in grille and then scroll the topics. For removing the rear interior panels WCCC’s did a video on installing opera lights in the 67-68 Cougar. In that video it shows in detail how to get out the rear interior panels.
Steven
WCCC’s Opera Light Video- showing rear interior panel removal.
Oh I almost forgot. Congrats on becoming a classic Cougar owner. You have a great looking car from what I saw in the photos. 
Thanks, 1967 S Code. I think she’s a beauty, too! Thanks for the information, too.