Hi . . . perhaps some of you remember me from several months ago about a thread I started about a book I was commissioned to write on high-performance marketing in the 1960s. (I would show you a link to the previous thread but it seems it was deleted so I don’t want to offend the sensibilities of the mods and the rules in place - apologies if that was the case!)
In any case, I have one mystery to unravel and was hoping someone here could help me.
I know Kumpf Lincoln-Mercury sold some specially build 1969 Cougars courtesy of Kenz & Leslie. I’ve spoken to Mr. Leslie but he remembers little about it and says he doesn’t have the attached item I’m looking for. Also spoke with the son of the owner of the dealership (Florian Barth was the owner at the time), but he said a water leak in his mother’s basement ruined a lot of items, not to mention he was only 13 at the time.
Doing a search here, I have reached out to a gentleman who may own one of these, so it’s too early to say that he can/can’t help me, but I thought I’d reach out to the rest of the Cougar community to see.
Specifically, what I’m looking for is a nice clean scan of what I’ve attached (the book requires a certain format and resolution, so that’s something to discuss later). I also would like to know more about what was done to these cars because what information I’ve found is scant.
I have not been able to find anything like this on eBay, so your help would be appreciated. Of course, if you require compensation for your time, I am happy to oblige. I still will have to deal with obtaining the rights from the rightful owner, whom I will guess is Mr. Barth’s son.
On another note, I have to give kudos to Jim Pinkerton and Dennis Pierachini for their assistance with other Cougar items - they have been GREAT!
In the many years I have been having fun w/ these cars I recall these few cars fixed up by them. I 1st ran into the ads placed in newspapers of the times.
I have found 2 of these cars since. One was for sale a few years back. I believe it went to someone here, but can’t recall much more.
A good friend’s father has lunch w/ Mr. Leslie ( I think it is he & not “Kenz”) I asked about these cars. I was told they had not done very many, around 10. All were 428 cars. They did a tune & carb adjustment(s). The stripe was painted along top of fenders.
These are ads I found in the local papers way back in the 90"s Spent the day at the library looking at Microfisch (sp)
The car also got a set of wheels that I think were Keystone classics. The car also got a trunk badge from Kenz
Should we tell him about the other other Cougar forums? >.>
Lets see, keeping it strictly “clean” (gotta be careful with those “Cougar Forum” searches), there’s The Curb, and the '71-'73 Cougar forum, and there is one for the newer models as well but I forget the name of it.
Just spoke with him. He doesn’t have the car anymore - it went to Montana, but he doesn’t remember the guy’s name other than he said the guy tracked down one of the original mechanics. Wish I knew who that was!
He’s supposed to send me an image, but I suspect it’ll be the same one that I’ve posted above, both of which aren’t good enough resolution for my needs.
I have the car that did belong to Zen Dog. The car is in storage in Idaho awaiting restoration. The car still wears some of the original paint and does have the stripes on it along with a fair amount of gold leaf in the stripes and on the rocker moldings. The car is more or less an XR7 R code coupe that was built prior to the advent of the eliminator package.
