In 2011 I purchased a one owner 1967 Mercury Cougar. The woman had passed a few years earlier. Since then I just stored it until I was ready. Well that time has come. The car is a 1967 Base Cougar with a 289 in Cardinal Red and with a vinyl Parchment top. The interior is red carpet and Parchment vinyl.
So far the first thing I have just gotten it running by putting in a battery fresh gas and a carburetor. It fired right up and purrs like a kitten. I have already installed a solid state sequential turn signals since they didn’t work at all.
So now I am going to start on the exterior. I am having the undercarriage wet-sand blasted then painted. At that point I will be installing duel exhaust. Then move to the interior then finally move to the engine. I am open to any suggestions.
Kevin, Looks like a very solid straight car. My car originally came with the same interior option. I’d like to know what color your dash pad and package tray are as the pictures don’t really show clearly.
berns68 I am attaching the only picture I have of the interior and dash. The dash pad looks to be black. Good news for me is that it does not have any cracks. I hope the pic helps you.
mo2872 Thanks for the comments. It helps support my intuition to salvage it.
93RGTE Yes it is the original paint. But there was work done to it, so it needs to be repaired and repainted. I am going to stay with the same colors.
You seem to have a great car to take down the “preservation/sympathetic restoration” route. I would proceed slowly, taking note (& pictures) of untouched areas & their respective finishes, so you can duplicate same where needed. I’d just do a thorough cleaning of the engine compartment/undercarriage, and get it all mechanically squared away. Cougars were undercoated heavily, so don’t be surprised if that is the predominant finish under there.
I love finding cars like this. Please keep us updated as you go. The car in its present condition should be insured for $25k in my opinion. I would wait as long as possible to paint it, lots of freedom in driving an old car with “patina”. Nice find!
Mike_B_SVT, The undercarriage looks to me pretty dirty. I am looking to clean it up. It is relatively rust free for a New England car. I am just trying to clean it up and get a nice coat of paint or undercoating. The main reason the exhaust is being replaced is because it is rusted through.
Thank you all so far for the welcome and the comments. I welcome them all.
