Hi all, I just posted some never seen xr7-G pics at the 1968 Detroit Auto show (actually Dec 67) over on Mc.net. I would have posted them here but I was a little worried about saving some bandwidth. Anyway I’m not real happy how they came out.
So maybe if Bill or someone wants to take a stab at posting them here correctly, I can email my scans to you directly. This is a new computer and scanner I’m working with and I’m really not up to snuff yet. Thanks.
http://www.mercurycougar.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=29764&d=1333466512
http://www.mercurycougar.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=29765&d=1333466599
Let me make this observation, we all know that was a prototype but notice the 67 steering wheel with no wrap. The pillar emblem doesn’t appear to be the one that they use on the production cars. (can’t really make out what is though, maybe a mercury man head?) and on the tires it just say’s radial on it.
Are the pictures black and white or is that just how you scanned them? Also you might try bumping up the scan resolution to at least 300 dpi if you didn’t already. Then if you want you can send the files to me and I can crop out the white space and post them here. I’ll PM you my email address.
Cool pics though! Check out the front side marker light, flush mounted in the fender and very skinny.
Are those fog lights recessed into the corners of the valance instead of near the center?
Yup, every pic of the prototype cars I’ve seen have been on the corners of the front valance.
Where were the turn signal lights?
Dang man, good eye. Where are they? I check some of my other photos and I don’t see them on there either. I guess that’s why they call them prototypes.
Here they are in high-res! Looks like maybe a small emblem behind the front wheel? Also the fins in the hood scoop look more pronounced, like they go back deeper than the production version. And the weird side marker light. Hard to tell, but the medallions might be different too?
Ah, now I can see. Thanks Andrew.
No problemo! 
I like the skinny side marker lights.
Looks like '67 AC vents as well. They must have started out with a '67 to build the car.
No rocker mouldings. 1967 seats.
Is the radio bezel painted the dash color?
Same here…wonder why they changed them…?
Thanks for the photos Jon, they are tres cool!
Considering lead times, I’m sure they used a '67 to build this '68 prototype.
Early Shelby fastback and 'vert prototypes used for 1968 fiberglass/stripes/badge testing and then first ads were also built from '67s.
Hey Jon, who had these pics? I would have love to have been down there that year. I wasn’t old enough to drive yet nor was I potty trained. I figure I was 15 months old
Hi Ray, my neighbor had these pics for all these years. He said he was home on leave from Vietnam at that time. So for something to do he grabbed his mothers camera and went to the auto show. If I’m not mistaking I think I was down there also.
I was only 13, but I remember going down there with my brother and brother-in-law. My brother ended up buying a new 1968 mustang. To tell you the truth it was a toss up between a cougar and a mustang and actually I was pushing for the mustang real hard. I don’t even remember seeing that there, if I was looking at some of the models it didn’t have anything to with cars. Hehehehe
I know this was covered in another thread but I just can’t find it. The skinny marker lights have a walking Cougar on them, a very cool touch. I love the prototype cars and show cars because of these special touches.
Steven
From what I could make out in my large G picture. The front lower fender emblem says “Gurney” in the chrome area and a red block in front with the “G” (Gurney G). The rear marker has the running Cougar emblem over it. Some close up pic’s that Phil did. Thanks for the pictures Jon.
Good pics Brian. The car that was at the Detroit Auto Show I believe was the real prototype. Other early pictures I seen (like with the female model) I think might have been factory show cars possibly DSO 84 car. For instance the pic with model shows no luggage rack and a 67 style 6.5 litre fender emblem with the foglights in the correct place (more towards the center), plus it had whitewall tires. If you ever seen the photo in the sports panel brochure with Dan Gurney it also shows the foglights in the center and 67 6.5 fender emblems only with blackwalls, the photo on the page next to it shows no 6.5 emblems. I know some of these pics have been air brushed over, but I think there might have been 2-3 show cars and possibly only one prototype. Well, I guess you know who were going to have to ask. (on my list)