I did the stripes in 1976, a few years before the producers of Starsky and Hutch stole my idea. Actually the strips were a way to hide the parking lot dings. It had been repainted only from the pin strips down before I got it and the paint was quite brittle. It didn’t take much of a hit to pop a decent size chip off it it.
My first car that I bought in 1977. 1968 J-Code. I had those original Thrush “mufflers” on it, the ones without the fiberglass packing that my Dad helped me put on. It sounded awesome. I loved the grecian gold with the black top. One of my favorites on a Cougar.
I don’t have the history some of you guys do with cougars but here is the day I picked mine up in 2017. This was after 3-4 hrs of assembling parts back on the car to have enough space to get it all home in one trip. Funny how a car finds you. I had posted here m about looking for a project, got a call while traveling for work and just so happed to be driving by the city it was located in the next day so stopped in to take a look. The car was a pile of parts but I knew I wanted it, I don’t know why but something said this is the one. We made a hand shake deal with a date to come pick it up a week later. The day before pickup I got a call with the seller change of mind, disappointed in the deal falling apart I understood. A few weeks later I got a call with a change of heart and the deal was back on. Headed down the next weekend with a buddy and a trailer to pick it up. I remember on the home wondering if it was a mistake to buy car mostly disassembled and in totes. Over 6 years later it’s still a work in process but it’s been fun putting it back together again.
My 1967 base I acquired from Winter Haven, FL in 1978 for $800. This shot is with very old (needing replacement paint) Fawn color that I had re-sprayed in the latter '80s. It was lowered with the Shelby mod up front.
I’ve finally cleaned it up with a new cowl, replacement 302 roller short block and some mild performance stuff. It’s had a C6 transmission in it for years. The headlamp covers are now electric and I’m repainting it Ruby Red. Not quite done but soon to be finished. Paint not quite done - but I’m happy so far - Ford/Lincoln Ruby Red.
Nice 68! I spent alot of time under my first 70 up on wood blocks too! Then take it out to see how fast it would go (with manual drum brakes). The fearless years!