My dad offered to buy me a Vespa as a first set of wheels on my 18th birthday. That’s after he found out I was looking at my kid brother’s buddy’s ’68 cougar XR7. A free Vespa? With about 80 mpg, sitting squarely, and with a clutch, OR, a $1,000.00 second hand muscle car, with 12”wide tires, air shocks, and johnny Walkers. Hummm, guess what… at minimum wage, $1.85 cdn an hour (the cdn really meant something back then), Go Cougar.
http://www.classiccougarcommunity.com/forum/gallery/image.php?album_id=12&image_id=25 (dang link don’t work :sigh:)
The car had a few flaws, of course. A little transmission leak, a little power steering leak, The little plastic air tubing for the Hi-Jackers kept melting near the muffler, thus grinding the fenders with the tires, manual light covers (had a coat hanger bent to keep the eyelids up when needed), a 302 that sounded great, and the WOW factor was just awesome.
60 Psi, was a real smooth ride, and 70-75 psi had that cat so jacked it would spin at nothing. Wow again. Had the cougar for a year when I went in the Canadian Armed Forces officer training program In Chilliwack BC and in Combat Arms School in Gagetown, NB. During that time, my kid brother went and tore out the 302, and the c4, swapped it for a 351c and a c6. He put some headers in there removed the power steering (no room) and shortened the drive shaft by 12”. Also added was a triple core rad.That’s the story I got, and I still don’t know any better. I do remember him asking me if he could put a real small steering in there, and I said OK. He spent ½ day putting in that goofy little steering, and he went for a test drive. He turned the wheel at the first stop (You usually tried to turn the dang thing when rolling. At a stop, turning that puppy was a feat), and gave it plenty of gas. As usual, when whipped, the front end lifted, the car went straight, and when the front got some weight on it again, his thumbs got caught in the spokes when the wheels realigned forward… He spent the afternoon putting my trusty old steering back in.
http://www.classiccougarcommunity.com/forum/gallery/image.php?album_id=12&image_id=27 (neither does this one (bigger sigh)
I got caught on radar, going 147mph in a 45mph zone. I just could not believe my buddy’s dad, the cop, could use such foul language… Got away with it though, and consider myself lucky I didn’t kill myself. Wouldn’t do it again, but will remember that fondly for the rest of my life.
As you can see, it was blue, with aqua interior. I lost that cat when something drastic happened to it. I was driving home after a hockey game, and at about 35mph, heard a big bang, the front end dipped to the ground, and both side windows dropped in the doors. Like I said, a big bang. Had it towed, and the mechanic said both motor, transmission bought the farm. I couldn’t afford to fix that, so scrapped the cougar. (got a used Pontiac Parisienne for $75.00, but that’s another story.
I have dreamed of that cougar on occasion all through the years, but never saw one like it, until, in 2010, I saw my (not the real one) cougar on the Internet. The color was a tad off, aqua instead of madras blue, but for those that know that cat a little bit, it tends to change colors depending on the light. The inside was pretty much the same, if not in better condition. I contacted the seller, and he was in Saanich, B.C. That, folks, is just about as far away in Canada as I can go.
The bottom line was: no haggling. The gentleman assured me someone was going to see it, and he had a feeling the potential customer was a flipper. He kept offering a little less without seeing the car. I was told if the fellow, who had an appointment that weekend, did not complete the deal on the spot, the cougar would be mine, or at least held over for me. He seemed genuinely happy the cougar would go to someone who would really appreciate it, and take good care of it.
Soooo, on may first, 2010, I took a plane, with my better half, who had never seen western Canada, and went to Saanich, B.C. The fellow picked us up on the next day, may 2nd 2010, my 55th birthday. On getting to his house, I must admit, my eyes got pretty damp when I saw that cougar parked in the driveway and was assaulted with all kinds of memories.
http://www.classiccougarcommunity.com/forum/gallery/image.php?album_id=10&image_id=19
http://www.classiccougarcommunity.com/forum/gallery/image.php?album_id=10&image_id=22
He gave me the keys and told me to go for a ride. Lost in the middle of nowhere, in a suburb, with no gps… I just went around the block and came back. I already had a certified cheque, and decided to proceed. The tires were older winter tires with the wire hubcaps. The spare also had the hubcap, but the spare had the red mercury man instead of aqua like the others. The Grand Am 235’s mounted on Cragar SS were on the side, and I also had all the spare new wheel mouldings the original carb, a whole big box of goodies, and, I even found the original cast iron intake in the trunk down along the fender 2 months after getting the car.
All the extra stuff was put in his van, and we went to get the registration taken care of, then off to a branch of the stores I work for. The manager and assistant manager took the wheels and the big box of goodies, and shipped all that home on our Purolator account. We then stopped at the corner gas station, and he asked to fill it up. While doing so, he mentioned it ran best on hi-octane. After promising that cat would NEVER see rain or snow again, we took off towards the ferry to the mainland. As soon as we hit the mainland, it started to get dark and started snowing. I started to get real cold in the chest area, and there was a draft of real cold air coming straight at me from under the dash. We weren’t dressed for winter, and I had assured the Mrs. That B.C. temperatures were great. I started wondering if I had made a stupid move, or, if there was just something letting all that cold air in that was just displaced.
We made it to Chilliwack, and, I had a frozen chest while she had her shoes and socks off, with her feet on the dash. Well, the heater works fine… That night, I shot an email to the seller and asked if he had noticed anything off with air getting in under the dash. He answered, asking if I had closed the vent. THE VENT!
Funny how we can forget the little things through the years. Things started to get very comfortable from there on. The second day, we traveled over the Rockies, all the way to Banff. That was one of the worst snow storms I had seen in years! Trucks were forced to set up chains, or park there, by the RCMP (mounties). Hahaha old snow tires… Got lucky there. The wife had never seen these places, and, still hasn’t, unfortunately.
At one stop, in the prairies. I asked my wife if she would like to try. I convinced her to try it, and, folks, I will NEVER forget that smile!!! all alone on the trans-Canada highway, I asked her to slow down to 25mph, she did, and… I asked her to floor the dang thing till both feet were against the carburetor… Remember those “Priceless” ads? indeed. million watt smile, with blood rushing up your legs.
Still snowing and, as soon as we hit the prairies, the wind got into it. We made it to Indian Head, through that storm. On the next day, going around Winnipeg, The cougar started to cough and run rough. I stopped at a light, and it just died, and wouldn’t start up again. That’s all right! We had a CAA card, the better kind, gold, platinum or some such idiocy. WE called on the cell, and were told we had to try another number, the one we had was for Quebec (sigh). We called, and waited, and waited , and waited… saw 3 tow trucks pass by, pretending not to see us. CAA, never again. My wife got on the GPS, and said she found a Ford dealership 1 or 2 miles from us.
I tried and managed to get it going, but it would only stay running at 2000 rpm or better, and running rough. What the heck… slammed it in gear and told her to hang on… no stopping, and we finally got there. People in the dealership came out with a bunch of ooohs and aaahs. I got to the service center, and was already planning to get a plane ticket home and have the cougar hauled the rest of the way. I was VERY disappointed to say the least. They were getting near to closing, but the service manager asked me to bring it out back. I just told him to do a house call, she sleeps where she sits. They sent an older fellow whose eyes lit up when he saw it, asked a few questions and opened the hood, did a few grunting kind of noises, opened the distributor cap, fiddled around with a little screwdriver, and asked me to try it. It just roared, back in top shape. With a serious smile, he asked if he could take it inside to properly finish. When ready to take off, went to the counter, in a fog of relief, and asked how much damage. I was answered that for this car, there was no charge because it was considered a privilege to see one like this. Yay!
Took off from there, and made it to Dryden Ontario. The next day, we had about 1200 Km to go. And made it home, but… late morning, the car started the same problem, and I stopped at the next gas station along the highway, and asked if there was a decent mechanic nearby. The town of Geraldton was 2 Kms away, and the second garage, MacIver’s, belonged to a car enthusiast. One fellow there said he would lead me there in his pickup, and I just told him to stop for nothing because mine wouldn’t start up again. Got the same from a real car guy, big grin and all. He actually showed me how to reset the points gap, and showed me how it was wobbly. Packed it with grease and said I should get home ok, and if not, tore off a piece of his matchbook, and said that gap should be fine. Got another “no charge and it was a privilege”
This pic was taken a few hours before Geraldton.
http://www.classiccougarcommunity.com/forum/gallery/image.php?album_id=11&image_id=34
The car now belongs to an old fart who only drives it on nice sunny Sundays.
this one is real recent
http://www.classiccougarcommunity.com/forum/gallery/image.php?album_id=28&image_id=218
I would like to thank the jokers (GREAT folk, by the way) who hoisted me on my own pétard. please DO post some pics of your cat, and DO push the requests for Cat disclosure. Local Hero is one of a very few who well deserve the ROTM, and sets a very high standard. ( The dam***** bugger even went and wrote a story worthy of getting BOTH categories. tough act to follow…
now… As I finish this, ALL the pics are shown as stupid little X’s. I sure hope they will work. If not, I am trying to bring all those from our very own gallery. Please do feel free to view the whole thing right where it all is, in my signature.
sounds like you hade an awsome trip 
