1968 Mercury Cougar Hardtop
"If you want a sports car and she wants a luxury car, or vice versa, you both want a Cougar. Named Motor Trend magazine Car of the Year its first year out, Cougar for '68 is out to win new world records. Four new models, each with an equipment list that would turn every other car in its class green with envy. Each with personal luxury touches previously found only on the costliest of European models." From the 1968 Mercury sales brochure.
For consignment, a 1968 Mercury Cougar with a title verified 93,323 actual miles. In 1968, 113,741 2 door Cougar hardtops were built, less than half as many as the number of Mustangs produced that year. There's no getting around the impressive design of the car and rumor has it, it was intended to be the American Jaguar. Few tail light bars are as distinctive. But there's more. Let's get into it.
Exterior
You can't miss this cat coming down the street and not just because of its classic lines. That yellow paint is bright with a capital B and is contrasted nicely by the black fill between the bright trim of the grille and headlight covers, the vinyl top, and of course the tires riding on 15-inch gold accented hurricane wheels. In a conscious design choice, the car's tail lights mimic the front and span nearly as far, interrupted only by the space for the license plate. It's here where the Mustang lines are evident and the valance mounted reverse lights bring the point home, forget Jaguar, this was Mercury's Mustang! The profile lacks some of the dress up bits from the Mustang and the Cougar was marketed as a luxury sports car, so removing those add ons tamed its exterior profile. There's nothing left on the side but sizable side markers while a Cougar emblem is planted on a front headlight cover. Some of the brightwork will need refurbishing, but the vinyl top seems to be in great shape. Imperfections include rust at the pinch weld below the rocker panel, various sizable paint chips, porous and uneven filler, and numerous spots of bubbling.
Interior
Black vinyl door panels, familiar if you know classic Mustangs, adorn the doors with a metal trim ring around the perimeter and a Cougar emblem up high. The low back bucket seat for the driver is torn in several places, the passenger seat is missing, and the back seats look pretty good. The steering wheel is tired but intact and shares the column with a SunTune tachometer in front of the standard instrument cluster, also tired with peeling chrome plastic trim and switchgear with patina. The center stack houses an AM/FM radio and a nifty storage compartment covered with a garage like, roll up door. A T-shifter is in the center console and the surrounding base could use some restoration. The carpet is in bad shape and will need to be replaced but the headliner is in place and tight.
Drivetrain
It's patina city under the hood where coating on the fender tops and walls is peeling with surface and invasive rust underneath. Metallic blue valve covers shine through, but barely in this driver quality bay that's home to a 302ci V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor and a C4 3-speed automatic transmission. Power is transferred to the Ford 8" axle in back with 3.00 conventional gears and drum brakes are provided on all four corners.
Undercarriage
Heavy surface rust covers the underside while rust of a more invasive nature is on sheet metal body braces. There's some oil on the pan and some caking of grease on the knuckles, but overall, the underside is mostly dry. The single exhaust meets a stock style muffler before exiting via a steel tailpipe colored by pitted surface rust. Suspension consists of coil springs in front and leaf springs in the back.
Drive-Ability
Hello sunshine, let's add a bit of brightness to the test loop. There's a minor rumble out back through the single exhaust and a bit of noise up front from an exhaust leak. Beyond that, the 302 delivers good power and has some horses hiding in the tank. Anyway, the car handles just fine, tracks well, and is nearly imperceptible from a Mustang of the same era, with far more interesting tail and headlights! Your passenger will have limo-like legroom until you find a front seat, and not to worry, the aftermarket is there for you. We must note that the clock is not working and the A/C is also inoperable while all other functions provided, work. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
Here's a car with mostly decent big cat bones for a fun, family project, or drive it as is. Lots of options here for this roadworthy Cougar from 1968. Once you have it home, you'll want to pick up Kevin Marti's book, "Cougar" which is a book of statistics for the 1967-1973 Cougars. Then, join the Cougar club, which as of this date last year, had over 10,000 members!
8F91F510766
8-1968
F-Dearborn, MI Assy Plant
91-Cougar Hardtop
F-302ci 2bbl V8
510766-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY PLATE
BODY 65A-Cougar Hardtop
COLOR U-Medium Aqua Metallic
TRIM 1A-Black Vinyl
DATE 05M-December 5th
DSO 15-New York
AXLE 5-Ford 8" 3.00 Conventional
TRANS W-C4 Automatic
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.
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