I posted this in the XR7g Registry, but I am thinking it will get more views here.
I am thinking about going to look at an XR7-g Hertz car and I was wondering what it might be worth.
It seems to be a good honest driver quality #3 with one respray. It has a few small bubbles under the vinyl top at the back glass. The current owner has owned it for about 30 years. He is asking $29k.
I am just wondering if it would be worth going to look at. I am not necessarily into G’s, but if it is a good value, I could see myself jumping in.
If the rust is not bad, all the G parts are there (looks mostly complete, tho no G center caps and no engine shots) and the drivetrain is original then in my opinion 29K is a very good price.
Those ding guards running down the side of the car worry me. Are they glued on (good) or has the sheetmetal been drilled to attach them (bad).
In essence, this is the Mercury Cougar equivalent of a GT500 - and I don’t know if it really makes any difference but one thing about the Hertz cars I think is cool is the “Special Performance Vehicle” callout on the door tag.
The only knock on a Hertz G (for me) is that they did not get the Shelby running cat finned aluminum valve covers.
This one looks like it has the 6.4 liter badges. Were all the Hertz Gs 390 equipped?
Propayne is a better judge than I am, but 29k for a driver with at least some rust issues seems a little high, but not by much. The seafoam car was for sale for a long time at 50k and it was very nicely restored. The market may have come up some? I think it has for the GT-Es.
Note in my signature, I’d be interested if we didn’t still need windows .
All Hertz G’s were essentially optioned the same except for color - 390 4v (and a few 2vs early on), sunroof, air, power steering, disc brakes, a.m. radio. Royce is the man tho, so if he chimes in here and corrects me then go by what he says.
All 390 G’s, whether X code or S code got the 6.5 Litre badges.
A done Hertz G is, I think and this is subject to change, worth in the 50 to 60K range?
So inspect the car VERY closely (you know there has got to be more rust issues besides what can be seen) and if you are still interested, make the guy an offer, backing off of his 29K asking price by pointing out the obvious work the Cougar needs and the cost.
If you’re not necessarily into G’s, then maybe the extra cost (over a similar non-G Cougar) that XR7-G Cougars command isn’t money you want to spend.
Another thing to keep in mind is that XR7-Gs are neat because they are unique and have (I think) more unique bits and pieces than any other Cougar - but the down side to that is if any of those unique parts are missing or in need of replacing, they are pricey.
Philip covered all of the XR7G points. I think a fair price on a restored Hertz G starts north of $50k. The Seafoam G was a J code 302. Contact Royce Peterson at the XR7G registry and he should be able to give you information about recent sale prices.
Steven
When you see it get under it and check out the floor and inside the trunk. Runs and drives? Looks good from the picture. Sunroof working a big plus even though some German/Porsche parts are available. Talking with a AO Smith engineer from the time when the sunroof was installed the original vinyl top was ‘ripped’ off sometimes requiring scraping of the glue resulting in bare metal especially around the rear window and windshield. They just put down new glue to hold the new vinyl top, there was no re-painting.
If you don’t buy I’m sure there will be a line up for it.
When you spoke to the owner did he say what the drivers door tag had been replaced? I’m sure Royce has already covered this with you but make sure the G is in the registry so the records and information will be accurate. It looks like a nice G from the pictures. Good luck with your purchase.
Steven
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