I found these video links this past Thursday and thought I would share them. In this video series I noticed some things I had questions about. Why is it in some of the races the team Cougar’s have closed headlight grilles and some open? When they are open the lights appear to have tape on them in a cross row pattern. Is this tape or are the headlights removed and the openings used as air intakes? We’re all races started with the drivers running to their cars and jumping in? Did the team Cougar cars have opening doors? I see in the video Dan Gurney steps through the drivers window while on Mark Donahue’s Penske Camaro the doors open. Ok and my final question for now… Do you pronounce our cars name Cougar or Cou-Gar (watch the video )
Steven
That’s the famous “Cougar Caper” or “Cougar Capers” episode of ESPN’s 'The Glory Days" hosted by Dave Despain. On that episode they were showing what looks to me like a short documentary on the Cougar Trans-Am effort that was produced in-house by Mercury in 1967. And yes, good old Chris Economacki does have a funny way of pronouncing “Cougar”.
I believe the only race where the drivers run to their cars is Sebring. That is also the only '67 Trans Am race where all three Bud Moore Cougars are on the track at the same time, at least all dressed in their red and silver BME livery. They were also shod with Kelsey-Hayes Magstars for that race.
I don’t think the Cougars ever used empty headlight buckets as air intakes. Some races needed headlights, some didn’t. I believe the doors always functioned, I think a young Dan Gurney just found it easier to slide into the car “Dukes” style.
The BME Cougars were constantly evolving as race cars and changed from race-to-race - loosing grill pieces, bumpers, front quarter panel extensions and trim along the way.
Thanks for the answers Philip. I notice that the Cougars were changing as the cars went from race to race. Very cool episode on team Cougar. It would have been great to see Team Cougar continue racing in 68 but I guess Ford was worried about the beloved Mustang sales going down if Team Cougar did that well in it’s first season. Get rid of competition from within I guess. Booooo on Ford for that!
Steven
Yeah, Peter Revson who won two races for Team Cougar in '67 and who had also raced for Ford said in his book that Ford hated Mercury, at least as far as competition went.
I really wish Ford would remaster these vintage documentaries like “Cougar Capers” and release them on DVD!
Ok another quick question. If the Trans-Am Cougars were 289’s why do the have the GT badges? Did they start off life as a S code 390 and then down size the engine to meet the 5 litre series rules. I know the GT’s had a better handling package but why put the GT fender badge on the small block car… Unless they were there because the cars started life as a 390?
Steven
It’s still not %100 clear on how many Cougars Bud Moore modified for use in the 1967 Trans Am, but so far the best guess is three. Three is all that was ever seen at once and so far no other concrete evidence has come to light to substantiate more than three. Bud Moore has said “three or four” and there may have been a fourth 1967 Cougar that was prepared to Trans Am specs that was sold to Reid Shaw in '69 or '70 that was raced by Wayne Andrews in the NASCAR Grand American series. I am actually now in touch with Mr. Andrews and his sons and I am getting ready to interview Wayne, so maybe some new info will come to light. I believe that Mr. Shaw is also still alive. At any rate, Shaw Racing Enterprises did buy 2 Cougars from Bud Moore and for sure one was an ex TA Cougar. As an interesting side note, after 1969 Mercury contacted Shaw and voiced their displeasure that Shaw and Andrews were racing what was by then an outdated body style. Mercury actually supplied Shaw with brand new 1970 Cougar body panels and he fitted those to the '67 Cougar chassis. The second Cougar owned by Shaw kept it’s '67/68 body and was later sold and raced by a Kevin Bannister. Wayne Andrews son told me that the Cougar that had the '70 body was raced by his father through the '71 season. After that Reid kept it for a while and converted it to a late model and ran local short tracks. He eventually sold it to a guy he called a Boot Legger in South Carolina.
Anywho, the first Trans Am Cougar was a 289 A code car that was sent to Kar Kraft (possibly) and then on to Bud Moore Engineering for further race prep. The VIN of that TA Cougar (the “mule” or “prototype”) is known.
The next car is the one that has been identified as a GT with the 390. Yes, the 390 was pulled (rules stated no engines bigger than 5.0 litres) and a high performance 289 was put in, but the car retained it’s GT badges, for Daytona and Sebring at least. At some point after that the GT emblems were removed. It has been said that having the heavy duty GT suspension already in place was an advantage, but the 3rd car presumedly was another A code 289 car. I don’t think the VINS are known on the 2nd and 3rd car but maybe Phil Parcells or Kevin Marti have figured that out by now.
Sorry for the long-winded reply but I just love this stuff!
Was the first T/A Cougar, the #98 owned by David Tom? This car had a different placement of the roll bar (very noticeable in side shots), this car also did not always run number #98. I think that David said that the car was originally intended for road racing?
Ordering GT Cougars makes sense, that would be the easiest way to get the heavy duty suspension and a 9 inch rear end. Plus they would have had the 22 inch radiators?
What about the Estes Cougar? That is a survivor, and often seen in SoCal.
The “GT” option was available on Mustangs with small block V-8 engines, curiously, it wasn’t available on the Cougar with a 289 in 1967 nor 289/302 in 1968.
Scott I didn’t know that about 67 Mustangs. I knew the 64 1/2- 66 had small block GT’s. I just figured they we’re the same as Cougars in 67 using the big block in GT models. Did the small block GT Mustang have a 9" rear end?
Steven
Also, David Tom told me that he suspected his Cougar, the “mule” Cougar, had a 302 and 4 wheel discs brakes when it raced at Kent, the last race of the 1967 season.
Strictly speaking, both would not have been legal of course
Yeah, the Estes Cougar is a true survivor and even tho it looks a little rough compared to all the pristinely restored vintage Trans Am cars it is all that much cooler for it.
There is another terrific original documentary, this one shot by AMC about their Javelin Trans Am effort, where the Estes Cougar has a quick cameo. It appears as if the car is white at this point.
The Estes Cougar is the only truly legitimate surviving Cougar from the 1967 Trans Am series. The car was not one of the ones built by Bud Moore, it was a privateer. I’ve seen it and all the other ones mentioned. If I could have one of them it would be the Estes car.
All Interesting stuff.
From a strictly data and picture side , I have been investigating 3 of the cars @ Canepa Designs.
First is 1 of 5 known to exist 1967 Shelby GT Kar Kraft car. Only one shipped to Australia, only one factory fitted with Webber
induction. Available for ownership , 350,000.00. Race console, brake ducts, and panhard bar seem a bit newer technology.
Second . 1969 Shelby Boss 302. 1 of 3 Kar Kraft , prototype and Test car. All I can say is let the pictures do the talking. Great historical pictures including Revson helmet in a car with Gurney name on the roof.
Third . 1967 Chevelle Smokey Yunick NASCAR car. Arguably the most mysterious of all time.
The pictures of the Chevelle, will explain why Ford was leaning from Caroll Shelby to Bud Moore Engineering. I’m sort of interested by the frame and cage development , and " evolution " leap from 1967 - 1969.
As well , I just can not get enough of this era… Thx, Jim
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