Anyone know the history of this Eliminator on Bring a Trailer? Very nice.
This 1969 Mercury Cougar hardtop was built in May of 1969 optioned with the Eliminator package and powered by a 428ci Cobra Jet V8. Finished in Bright Blue Metallic over blue vinyl upholstery, the car was also equipped from the factory with a C-6 automatic transmission, Traction-Lok differential, Ram Air induction, power steering, high-back bucket seats, air conditioning, and hood pins. It was restored in the 2000s by Signature Auto Classics of Columbus, Ohio, and was acquired by the selling dealer in May 2019. Maintenance performed since included recharging the A/C, replacing the transmission pan gasket, and repairing the speedometer. This R-Code Cougar Eliminator is now offered with a Deluxe Marti Report, a magazine feature on the car, and a clean North Carolina title.
March 2016 - Consigned with Bay City Motor Company by the George Conrad Collection. $125k
Listings state that it “is concours restored - all apart and down to bare metal - 4 years ago by Rick Parker of BossCars in Gahanna, OH”.
*So some discrepancy in the restoration age.
Chin spoiler with the car, stored in the trunk.
May 2016 - Price reduced to $110k
July 2016 - Price reduced to $105k
Sept 2016 - listing pulled / no sale?
Unfortunately BaT is still not mainstream. 3 hours ago I had a very affluent customer in Europe ask me where I could find THIS exact car. He had never heard of BaT and could not get set up quick enough to bid. BaT has worked VERY well for WCCC because whenever we list we send an email blast to 25k of our most recent customers, post here, Facebook groups, Youtube and a few other sites which sets the view counter to going nuts which in turn gives the perception it is a hot item.
What I found interesting is back in February they listed a very similar car ~ Blue on Blue, Q-code, 4-speed, not nearly as nice (IMO), but still bid to $78k (no sale!).
You could delete them for a credit. You are kinda right, disc brakes and power steering where automatically added to S, W, Q and R codes unless deleted by the person or company placing the order.
I sure see a lot of variation on how the stripes are applied on a 69 ELIMINATOR. This one seemed off by quite a bit. Once a buyer identify’s a dozen or more things that are not quite right in pictures I think folks tend to question unseen areas for quality / authenticity.
At that price - if it really sold - you could afford to fix a lot of the obvious problems. I am thinking the buyer either needed money or else a shill bidder won.
My guess is it really sold and yes they got a great deal. BaT runs your card for 10% so who wants to loose $5k or more to have their buddy run it up? Easier to just put a reserve on it.
I have to disagree with you for 1969 and 1970. I do not see anything in the various documentation that I have that shows PS or PB as standard or a mandatory option on any 1969 or 1970 Cougar. I also do not have any invoices referencing a PS or PB delete like you would see with a heater delete.
On a 1969 with a 428, Competition Handling was included with the package as were 70 series tires, but I don’t see any references to PS or PB. Can you tell me where to look?
Thanks,
Dave I currently have most of my literature collection locked up. This is a page from the 1968 dealer salesman’s “Pocket Facts” with a print date of 8-67 so it predates the release of the 428CJ. Take a look at the list of standard and optional features. X in a column means same as the first column.
The 1969 and 70 versions I think would be similar but you could be right - I don’t have the literature in front of me. Apparently only W codes had mandatory power steering in '68.
My former, Dearborn 1969 XR7 R code SCJ, was born with disc brakes and manual steering. Disc brakes also called out on the Marti. Mine was a ‘Retail’ ordered car. No credit $$ for lack of power steering on the window sticker.
