"Barn Find" GT-E coming to ebay..

[68PUMA]

The reserve has been met. John

[DeadStang]

Hmm…$37K–I want to buy it! Wonder what it’ll end up going for?

[1967_S_Code]

@BAust

This auction is coming very close to where I paid for Gunner, BTW…It appears we might be “back” on the values of some cars. I paid 40K plus 2K shipping for Gunner back in 2005 and I don’t see any reason someone couldn’t buy this car at around that (my bet is plus/minus 5k of 40K), spend another 50K and sell it for a profit too.

Brian you might be on target with your price “bet”. This GT-E is at $37,200 right now and last year saw the red GT-E sell at Mecum for $36,000.

This current “Barn Find” GT-E is a nice car and I think it will pass $40,000 easily.
Steven

[cobrasc427]

Speaking of the smog equipment, the passenger side is incorrect, the tube and check valve are wrong, possibly for a Galaxie, or a 1967 Calif… Cougar

@xr7g428

Dan, First off I would like to compliment you on the very good job that you have done to present the car. As presented, it is exactly the kind of car I look for: mostly complete, minimal visible rust, and a good selection of options. Add to that an attractive original color combination, and I think you have a great car. Since I already own a GT-E in nearly the same color combination, I won’t be bidding this time.

Given all of that, there are a few things that you can do that will add value to the presentation. Cougars don’t have as many hidden rust spots as the E9 coupes, but there are few places that are really important to know about. The cowl immediately in front of the windshield is prone to rust. This allows water to accumulate in the footwells and that rusts out the floors. Since the rust occurs from on top, it is hard to detect from the under side of the car. The thing to do is to pour water into the cowl opening and then watch for drips or dampness inside. If the car is solid here, and it may well be because of the inside storage, this will mean that a very difficult and expensive repair is not needed. You should also provide pictures of the torque boxes, the drop downs on the inside of the rear quarters and also the trunk floor on either side of the gas tank. The real way to find some hidden rust is with an ice pick and I fully understand why you would not want to do that… On a car like this, I think every problem you resolve just adds value. The real experts basically start out thinking that everything they can’t see is probably bad, and usually they are right.

We have a bunch of eagle-eyed folks here that can spot things that might not be apparent to others, we are not nit picking the car, just assessing the condition. I hope you are aware that this is a really nice car compared to most of the ones that get drug out of the barn.

Here are few things that I am seeing that may be helpful to both buyers and sellers.

From what I can see of the bottom corners of the rear window this area appears to be solid. When these are “fixed” the seam is usually filled with bondo.

The fuel line routing is going to the wrong side of the carb for it to be an original carb. It may be an original with different float bowls but this would be a long shot. A picture of the carb and intake would be a good idea.

The inner fender aprons appear to be solid, and this is a very very common rust spot even for Cali cars.

Most of the pieces of smog plumbing that are missing are there, the pump which is more common is not. I would check with who ever put the new alternator on to see if they “forgot” to put it back on.

The expensive fan and fan clutch are there, but the harder to find original shroud is not. The shroud is available as a reproduction. Replacement water pump.

Heater core is bypassed.

There are huge holes in the inner shock towers by that doesn’t matter because it appears this car was built with out the shock tower reinforcements anyway, and that is one thing that should be added if the car is to be driven.

The never present divider behind the rear seat is still there!

The aluminum trunk edge trim molding appears to be about as good as any I have ever seen, and these, in good shape, are scarce.

The multiple splices in the transmission cooler lines indicate it has been in and out, it would be good to verify that this is the original XPL C-6.

The passenger side front fender has been replaced. Note the trim mounting holes that are not present in original GT-E fenders. The fasteners up top also indicate a change. The passenger side appears to be original.

The towing damage to both front and rear valances is sad, but both are available.

Incorrect screws holding GT-E trim on passenger side and repair at inner door sill / latch location. White paint? under orange on passenger side door. Trim in incorrect location on door.

The right hand mirror appears to be a Mustang piece, note the orientation of the mirror head shape.

Parking brake handle broken off, rear window defog unplugged, but all of the tilt away stuff appears to be in place.

Brown screw in corner of dash is still there so dash most likely has never been out.

Gotta love the Automatic Radio 8 track. About $40 worth today and probably more than that in 1970. Curb feeler: priceless.

Interior door panels, pulls and end caps look very very good.

Who ever painted this should be shot… LOL!

[Mike_B_SVT]

This one is starting to show up on the “Barn Find” pages and other forums.

http://bringatrailer.com/2014/03/18/factory-427-1968-mercury-cougar-xr-7-gt-e-project/

[xr7g428]

[quote=“cobrasc427”]Speaking of the smog equipment, the passenger side is incorrect, the tube and check valve are wrong, possibly for a Galaxie, or a 1967 Calif… Cougar

Good call. I thought something did not look right.

[Desert_Guy]

Were all of the GT-E models built in Dearborn? If not, it seems odd that this car was sold new in CA but not built in San Jose?

[BAust]

@Desert Guy

Were all of the GT-E models built in Dearborn? If not, it seems odd that this car was sold new in CA but not built in San Jose?

I’m 95% sure they were all born in Dearborn. Maybe 99% sure.

[xr7g428]

All built in Dearborn. And welcome Desert Guy!

[Desert_Guy]

Thanks to you both!

I’ve watched Don Rush’s video of Brian’s sale of Gunnar at Barrett-Jackson many times, including again yesterday. Brian, how can you resist this GT-E? It needs you!

[mo2872]

His wife threatened him with “men in white coats”…

[Al_Bundy]

Or lawyers in dark suits.

[fastfreddy]

I think he’s secretly bidding.

[Cougar1]

Well whoever buys it, unless they are just going to repair and drive is in for at least $50K in restoration costs. We won’t have too long to wait to see what it ultimately goes for.

[93RGTE]

It would be kind of fun to have a “beater” GT-E.

[93RGTE]

Sold for $45,100.00

[cobrasc427]

Six pages of speculation, and once it sells, no more comments. Strange behavior, I guess the thrill is gone!

[Al_Bundy]

Unless someone signs on and says they bought it, it gets moved to the old news category.

[BAust]

I can’t wait to see the car resurrected some day, but it is quite possible that this car will not be exposed for a lot of years while a restoration happens…it can take a while

Either that or the rumor mill will spill it (and no, it sure wasn’t me!) or we’ll get to see it driving around soon


This 45k selling price is a sign that the market is very strong, though. The rare cars are doing very very well in the marketplace. Remember, Gunner’s sale was really near a bottom in this recent (supposed) downturn in the collector car market. If anything, what has been happening is that most of the more commonly traded cars had to get adjusted a bit, but the really rare blue chip collectables have been seen as a great safe-haven for investors in an uncertain ( but possibly explosive) inflationary period of our economic history.

I’m still just dumfounded at the price on the Mecum car from last year…

[Cougar1]

Car is being sent to Australia – headsup out there leon !