Hi all!
After 30 years of fightin fire, I’m rewarding myself in retirement with a 70 Cat, to replace the 69 XR7 I had to give up when I got hired.
I know a little, but not enough about details to do a proper inspection of a potential purchase. Can anyone recommend a “Cougar expert” (or at least someone with classic car experience) to help me inspect a potential purchase in the Austin area, in the near future?
Thanks in advance, y’all!
Congratulations on your retirement.
I too got myself a 70 XR7 as a retirement project. My first new car purchase was a 70 Std.
There are active Cougar Clubs in Houston (Southeast Texas Cats Mercury Cougar Club) and Dallas (Lone Star Cougar Club).
I recall finding some checklists on the internet as well as inspection service four years back when I bought mine but I don’t have any of that information any more.
One of the really good Cougar parts supplies, West Coast Classic Cougars does an extensive series of videos on Cougar repairs and upgrades.
Their video catalog is available at:
https://www.youtube.com/user/WestCoastClassicCoug/videos
A few of these focus on Car Buying Guides
A 1970 XR7 Conv - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fizb2vo68vA
Some 1967 models but with information that is applicable to other years as well
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hJ2U1xxZAk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0L-UTtOBWo
Are you moving to the Austin area or just got your eye on a car there? If so, welcome to Texas. I’ve been here in Houston since 1977, drove here in my first Cougar.
Good luck in the car search and enjoy your retirement and your Cougar.
Tom
I have to back up the WCCC Videos on buying a Cougar. Don does a very good job of showing you what to look for specifically about Cougars.He’s been taking them apart for 30 some years
Eric Overton is in the Austin area. He knows Cougars well. I don’t know if he’s on this forum, but he is on Facebook. Look for the Eric Overton with Focus Embedded in the profile.
Thanks, yall! I’m gonna search for some checklists, and maybe hit up one of those Texas Cougar clubs. I’ve also spoken with Don a couple of times, and he is The Man as far as Cougar stuff. I’m not moving to Austin, but the car is there.
Also gonna look up Eric Overton. I work with a guy who knows old cars - not Cougars specifically - but it may cost me as much to fly him as paying someone locally to do an inspection.
Thanks again for the help, boys! Any other pro-tips are definitely appreciated.
