Vote for the October 2018 Ride of the Month!
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And before you knew it, summer was over. Not much fall in the air in Phoenix!
We have two great choices this month. Nominees, please tell us more about your cars!
Wayne Brander’s 1968 Cougar XR7-G
1970Puma’s 1970 Cougar XR-7
The 1970 XR7 is a 2nd owner car. It has been repainted 1x in the original C-code Dark Ivy Green. Other that, it is original or can be made original with available bolt on parts (i.e. I have XR7 hubcaps/steel wheels vs. aftermarket rims - now Magnum 500’s with the Mercury logo center caps, original valve covers vs. repro Walking Cougar covers, etc.). The original drivetrain is still in the car & runs very strong (351 Windsor-2V with FMS auto). The original owner had the 69 Sport Rockers/Mirror/side molding put on - he claims by the dealer when purchased in Dec 1969 (I do not have that documentation), but they are at least original to 69 (not repro’s as far as I can tell).
This is a New England car - purchased at Olde Towne Mercury in Windsor CT 2 days before Christmas in 69 and resided with the original owner in the Hartford CT area until I purchased it in 2011. It was surprisingly rust free when purchased and it now goes to many of the local shows/cruises around the Southern NH area. This is the 3rd 1970 Cougar I’ve had, so I do have a soft spot for that year…
Can we get a few more pictures of both?
These are a bit more recent with the Magnum 500 rims.
Both cars look amazing. I’m looking forward to reading both stories.
Hard choice this month as always.
Gavin
www.CougarClub.org
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My first car when I was 17 was a 68 Coupe and have always said I would some day return it to road worthiness. I still have it and it will now become part of my current G rebuild, as seen in the background. Twenty some years later I happened upon this Cougar and fell in love with it. It was the first G I had ever seen in person and the man selling it had just spent half a decade restoring it. I did some research on the internet and discovered a G registry run by one Royce Peterson who was nice enough to give me some more information on the car and confirm it was on the registry. So I bought it and picked it up the day before the East coast power failure of 2003. Unfortunately in my excitement to buy the car it seems I forgot to mention it to my wife, but I think she’s forgiven me… 
It has a 390 4 bbl with a C6 and 9” Posi, AC, PS, PB and the ASC Power Sun Roof and Black interior. It also has a working 8 track player which never fails to get a second look from the Gen X’rs. ( I still have an Iron Butterfly Tape 
) The PO knew a machinist and he made the Wheel center caps out of aluminum and made his own hood pins which are very close to the originals which where unavailable anywhere back in 2003. I often wonder what he could do with all the G drawings and specifications that are now available on the site. It has the original Third horn mounting bracket but not the original horn (if any one know of one for sale PM me) It was originally white but the PO decided to go with blue when he did the restoration which was what sold me on it as well as my first one was Metallic Blue. I will try and get some more pictures in the gallery.
I don’t get it out as often as I would like but nothing makes me smile more then hearing the rear tires squeal when it kicks hard into second under full throttle.
Now back to the G on the trailer. I was on EBAY back in 2009 and saw an XR7G for sale in Michigan…Here was my chance to rebuild a Cougar like I had always said I would and the rest is history, or at least history in the making as I finally start to take on that project. Hopefully in a few years I can put it up for Ride of the month as well…
