Great stuff!
Thanks for taking the time to post the updates.
- Phillip
I’ve been to Canada, Kentucky. It’s the definition of “the boonies”. Amazing that the car was rescued and restored in the 1980’s only to be left outside to rot again.
Yes, this cat has used up a few of its nine lives. 
karguy, sounds like you need to get in contact with Danny Stanley and see if he at least has the VIN stamped CJ heads from your '68 CJ.
Pirate them right back to where they belong!
Link to Ford of Canada Perf Clinic photo with Bruce Fitzgibbons.
He passed away in February of this year. When he got the car the original engine was already gone and a 429CJ was in its place. If anyone may have them it would Fitzgibbons.
Do you think Fitzbibbons is the original owner? I was unclear reading your post. The car was purchased from Spitzer Ford dealership in OH, so I am curious about the out of the gate history of this car.
That is exactly what I am trying to find out. It was very difficult for someone in Canada to get some of the same super hot muscle cars we took for granted here in the states. Supposedly only three 428CJ 1968 Cougars were sent to all Canadian dealers. It would have been easier for someone from Canada to order one through a state side dealer like Spitzer Ford whose racing participation may have made special orders like the disc brake delete on this car easier. Fitzgibbons would also participate at the NHRA Nationals at the Indianapolis Motor Sports Park each year where this photo of the Nemesis Cougar was taken and Spitzer Ford was literally on the way to and from this track for him. Until 1970, all of Firsgibbon’s drag Cougars were 4psd cars so again, it points to the possibility since there were so few Cougar CJ 4spd cars made.
Bottom line is that I don’t know but I want to know. There are so few of these cars around even back then, and so few of them with active racing careers that it increases the chances are that it is this car. The first hand account of Danny Stanley’s car being a drag car, painted black with ET mags like the one photo of the Nemesis shows just makes me want to follow up to find out one way or the other.
Great story here!
Two things:
- can you make out the name on top of the passenger door?
- the car in these old racing photos appears to be without a vinyl top.
The point about the vinyl top is very interesting. It also appears that the car in the photos “Nemesis” has GT badging where as this car wasn’t order with the GT package?
Some of the photos make it appear as if it has a vinyl top and others look like there is not one. The photos of the Nemesis appear to show the car in black. When I bought the car it has “428-GT” license plates. I have not looked to see if holes for GT emblems were filled or not. The hood on my car does not appear to be original or the core support so it may have had front end replacements some time in it’s past.
The questions I would have for anyone familiar with the original Nemesis would be where was it bought, what color was it originally, 4spd? Vinyl top? What color was it when it raced, etc.
UPDATE: I just confirmed that the 1968 Cougar pictured here WAS black when it was raced from an old post by someone that was there. Still no word on if that was the original color of the car or not. When Danny Stanley bought my car, it was painted black and was already a drag car.
The name is Bruce Fitzgibbons.
That’s key evidence…the good kind.
This is the info I got from Bob Rozniak, one of Bruce Fitsgibbon’s racing team mates.
"Bruce bought the car from Sandy Elliot Mercury in Chatham Ontario, Canada and raced it in 69. It was race prepared by Barrie Poole. Bruce always ran it with an automatic, although it may have been a four speed from the factory but I can’t confirm that. I’ve never heard any word about the car’s whereabouts. It was sometimes confused with the 68 Cougar that John Elliot raced but was a different car. It was an automatic as well. Both 428’s. The car was originally black from what I recall. "
So, it looks like Nemesis is NOT this car. The search for history continues.
[/quote]
Supposedly only three 428CJ 1968 Cougars were sent to all Canadian dealers.
[/quote]
We know that one of those cars was the black with red interior standard GT with automatic transmission that went to the dealership that Barrie Poole worked for. Home of the Border Bandits race team. This car was restored by Bill Quay and family. It now has a different owner.
Randy Goodling
CCOA #95
That was the car that the Quays restored.
Randy Goodling
CCOA #95
That is the one bought at Sandy Elliot Mercury that also raced in the same area. I wonder if Nemesis was one of the three as well.
So what would this car be worth, automatic, NOM engine, GT, race history, nice resto?
Value is always a subjective based on what a buyer is willing to pay and seller will part with a car for.
Race history could be a factor if the proof and documentation were solid. Many cars that truly were raced did sacrifice their born with drivetrain due to abuse or have them put on a shelf for a more built up options. There have been a few occasions when numbers matching drivetrain have found their way back into their born with cars, a rare find that would be the proverbial “needle in a haystack”
The other factor would be level of restoration. Driver quality, show quality, trailer queen, concourse nut bolt and screw restoration 100% back to the factory specifications and possible a little better.
With so few 1968 428 Cobra Jet equipped car know to exist I would guess a range for a restored car could be $55k - $125k, more or less, too many factors.
I would think the question would be who would restore, cost to restore and time estimate, sale price to then factor in profit, or profit to sell as is. Greatest profit margin would probably be to sell prior to restoration, but could be a risk verses reward if you catch the right buyers once restored.
I personally am a fan of the thread Royce has about his 428 Cobra Jet car giving detailed photos and updates on the progress.
Documentation, Avoids a lot of questions and second guessing what was done. Most people buying always wonder percentages of original sheet metal and what was done throughout the restoration process.
With this car you are in a perfect position as many people I would think are wishing it was theirs. You have a very good audience following the thread and progress.
There are lots of very approachable people in our community to relate to, that have a lot of knowledge of the specific details as to what was special and unique to a car equipped from the factory with a 428 Cobra Jet drivetrain.
Sneak peak, the next issue of ATSOTC will feature the 1968 428 Cobra Jet cougar. The current issue features the GT-E
www.CougarClub.org
I was specifically referring to the black car in the photo. That car had documented race history, a known complete history and a top quality all NOS parts restoration, great colors.
My car I know is a big question mark.
Very much looking forward to the next issue!