My search is over (for now). My son found us a 1969 standard on our local Craigslist. It was reported to be a 16k original mile car with documentation, which was not particularly complete. There were documents from the early years and from 1998 on. It turns out to be a one owner car. I’ve got the sale paperwork from the original purchase, a build sheet plus a portion of the window sticker and the original title. Its got a 351W 2bbl, automatic, power steering, power brakes, console, head rests, am radio, remote mirror and the ever popular deluxe wheelcovers. It was bought new in Chicago at Kronon Lincoln Mercury on Irving Park Road on 12/19/68.
It drives like a low mile car, but it is no where near as nice as the burgandy 1968 standard on ebay, but it is a reasonbably good fit for our project plan. The sides have been painted and the RH fender was replaced after a incident with a cab. There are a few small dents, both bumpers are bent as are both valences. The grill and taillight bezels are pitted and the hood and trunk trim is pretty banged up. The interior is pretty dang nice and the top is near perfect.
Our plan is to outfit it with a handling suspension and some 17" vintage wheelworks rims, probably the Torque Thrust like ones, build a strong 408 out of the 351W 2bbl and slip a 5 speed overdrive stick transmission in it. We’ll probably add the Eliminator hood scoop and maybe the front spoiler. After the mechanical is done we’ll probably paint it. Then autocross it, drag race it and drive all over.
Short term I’m going to try to replace the valences, and bumpers and some of the other trim parts. FWIW…
I think we will probably keep the top and there is a better than avaerage chance it will remain this color unless I decide to change it to match my first car which was Dark Ivy Green.
Congrats on your purchase Ed. Like everyone else I think it’s a great starting point for your build. You plans for the build sound great. Enjoy!!
Steven
Nice car, congrats. Somewhat unusual to see disc brakes, power steering, console, etc on a base-interior standard coupe. Can you tell whether the rocker moldings were removed during the re-paint, or were never there? I understand that they were technically an option on base models, but I can’t recall ever seeing a '69 Cougar that didn’t have them installed originally.
Good thing. I don’t need any more $$$ sinkholes if I want any chance to do the mechanical parts of the project. I made the mistake of just now starting to look around for the grill pieces and the prices about stopped my heart for stuff that will still need replating and detailing to be presentable . I wish I’d known how expensive the grill pieces were before I bought this car. I’m waiting to discuss this with my son tonight and come to a decision on what to do with the car before I bother to transfer the title and get plates. I must admit I’m (not) enjoying my buyers remorse and right now I’m leaning towards making it someone else problem soon.
Anyone have some pit free grill parts that won’t break the bank? I suppose I could grind the pits down, fill them and paint the whole grill satin black. I’m afraid it might look kind of cheesy painted all black, but right now that looks like the only alternative I have without finding some better grills.
Cougars are expensive to restore & make all pretty. The trim will get ya.
It sounds like your car is in similar cosmetic shape to my '67. Mine is a super solid high milage car with a cheapo paintjob & a little bit of (correctable) substandard collision repair work in it’s past. Classic 20 footer, and people go ape$hit over it, but I see all the flaws. I bought it with similar goals as you (over time). I started on the mechanicals & a cosmetic restoration is the absolute last thing on the list. It’s presentable, reliable & works properly, and that is a great basis from which to do further upgrades.
Personally, if I made it too pretty I would not want to use it the way we do now, much less the way we plan to in the future.
Just call it “patina” & be done with it. It’s very liberating.
