I was under the impression that Test Car meant that it was intended for testing by the automotive press. Can’t tell you where I read that though. So I won’t be totally surprised if turns out to have a different, or more than one, meaning.
Photos of what is believed to be a pre-production Eliminator exist. A major clue is the chrome base on the sport mirror, a feature that was phased out before Eliminator production began. Interestingly, the spoiler pedestals appear to have been chromed to match, another feature that didn’t make it onto the regular-production versions. The car was used for a number of early publicity shots.
And it appears to be the car that was given away at the 1969 Super Stock Nationals.
I don’t believe it’s the same car being discussed in this thread, and I’m skeptical that the Eliminator conversion of 9F91R516789 was done while it was in the hands of Lincoln-Mercury. (Although admittedly it’s more thorough than the typical clone.) But I’ll be watching with interest to see what additional information turns up.
The tags you found under the front seats are normal. They ID the seat to be for a Cougar. If you pull the back seat you should find the same type of tags there as well.
Where exactly did you find the tag on the passenger door? I have never seen a tag on the exposed area on the underside of a door. Or was it laying down inside the door? Either way it has what appears to be a date of 1/7/69 which would be after your car was made as I recall. In my opinion that is a tag from another seat that for unknown reasons found its way to your door.
The invoice says it was delivered to Product Engineering in Dearborn. To have the PE group pull a car that late in the production build cycle it has to be used for a new package development or a test mule for parts for the up coming 1970 model. So far it appears it’s a possibility it could have been used for the Eliminator package development. Keep digging and see what else you find as to exactly what it was used for. Surprised they would pull a
428CJ Cougar just to test fit Eliminator parts. Expensive Cougar for them to pull from sales just for that purpose. Maybe they did some suspension and handling tests with it.
Thanks Brian.
I talked to Pamela, and the Marti report …couldn’t shed any more light. I called FoMoCo. The gal I talked to had never even heard of a Cougar! Geez… young people these days!
9F91R516789 65A W 172
1A. PB
The numbers on the buck tag. I understand everything except the 172.
Do you know any good body men in or near Central Illinois? Mechanic is going to replace the 351 Cleveland with a CJ428 I found last week in Indiana. But there is rust in the floor board. I’d like to get her fixed up in memory of my husband
Thanks, Michelle
So are the wheels chrome then? If not, they may not have paint on them now, but I’m quite certain L-M didn’t release a car to the public with bare steel, unpainted wheels.
