When it comes to storing a car to preserve it for years, nothing beats a climate controlled garage. It seems that sitting a car under a tree in the California desert is also a pretty fair option. That’s where this Cougar has spent the past 27 years, and while the interior has become pretty toasted, the body has held up really well. You will find the Cougar for sale here on Craigslist. Located in Indio, California, it is being offered for sale with a clean title. The asking price for the Cougar is $4,500 OBO.
Let’s talk about rust, and this is about it. There is this section in the front floor on the driver’s side and a smaller area in the floor on the passenger side, but the rest of the car looks solid. The trunk floor is clean, and there may be a small spot in the front corner of the passenger side door, but the rest of the car looks fine. There are a few dents and dings, but once again, there’s nothing major.
I guess that the dry desert environment has to take a toll somewhere, and the interior has really copped a hammering. The headliner is pretty shredded, and the dash and pad are pretty well beyond help. The seats will need new covers, as will the door trims, and the car will also need new carpet. The seller doesn’t indicate whether the instrument panel or shifter are present, and they aren’t obvious in any of the photos.
Under the hood is the original 351ci Windsor engine which is backed by an automatic transmission. The car also has power steering and power brakes. There are a number of items missing here, but we don’t get any indication of whether the engine turns freely. It may not be a huge problem getting the engine to turn freely if it is stuck, but the whole thing will need a pretty thorough inspection if it has been sitting for 27 years.
This Cougar clearly demonstrates the “swings and roundabouts” nature of desert life and its impact on cars. The body is really solid, but the interior trim is pretty sad. If someone had a Cougar with major rust issues, then this car would represent a good opportunity to transplant all of the good components from that one into this one. Of course, interior trim is not massively expensive, so with so little rust, restoring the body of this would not be a major project. If the drive-train can be revived relatively easily, then this Cougar might be a solid and viable project car.
What! $4,500.00? I wouldn’t give $200.00 for this heap! I could never understand why people think that their non-running rust bucket heaps are worth the big bucks? (Especially Mopar and Porsche owners). All these wishful unicorn chasing pipe smoking sellers are in La La land!
Lol
It’s a bit too rust and is missing way too many parts to justify the asking price, $1,500 at most. Anyone would be wise to make sure the status of its title and if there is any back registration due, back fees ad up quickly in California and turn marginally restorable cars, like this one, into parts cars.
Steve R
By the way, here’s a car (My daily driver). I paid around the same price this guy is asking for his cougar. Ok it’s not a mercury cougar but it drives and has all it’s parts!
I hope you’re not seriously comparing your ex police car / Grandma’s car to that classic 1969 Mercury Cougar are you? Not even in the same category as far as values go. That’s like comparing apples to oranges….heck that’s like comparing apples to skyscrapers to be honest!
No I am not comparing the makes of both cars, just comparing the condition and cost of the two cars. One drivable and one that is junk…….But you knew what I was saying……..P.S. I didn’t know cops used Mercury Marquis as cop cars? Just saying?
Good parts maybe but not worth asking price
Let’s see what else is out there…hmmm, took me about 10 seconds to find a ’68 with a decent body and interior, running and with 7K in receipts for work done for… $7,000. By the time you haul this heap home and buy a couple of parts, you are into it for 7K. Which would you buy?
This is embarrassing, but I didn’t know deserts had trees.
Too bad the interior is a total loss because the 1969 Cougar started life as a beautifully styled car. Bigger and usually more luxurious equipped than it’s corporate cousin, the Mustang, the Cougar was one of the most civilized pony cars. Sadly, this will take more parts and labor than my budget allows.
The price is rediculous! These cars are not rare enough to demand that kind of money for a piece of scrap! I know a guy that bought one the same color in immaculate condition for 8 grand last year! Seriously
What a fine car in its day, and this one had factory A/C to boot! I agree it is overpriced, but the car is do able and should be done. It looks to be a solid start if one has a rusty driver or wrecked doner car. Money saved in body and structural repair would quickly recoup the purchase price. (especially if you do all your own work and are good at it) I would give it a $2500ish value. Hopefully the seller will come to his senses quickly.
Apparently none of you have any idea of the value of a Cougar, or its parts. $200? That will not even buy you one door off this car. Providing of course that it is as rust free as the seller claims. And the rust that is shown is nothing compared to what those of us who live in the rust belt of America have on a local car. A front fender is $300-500 each, same for the doors and hood. Each quarter panel is 1K. And the list goes on with other sheetmetal, tinted glass, disc brake setup and trim. Plus a lot of the parts are 1969 Cougar only. Some parts will interchange with a 1969 Mustang.
I do agree that $4500 is a bit much given that it is a plain jane Cougar with nothing real special about it. But if it is as rust free as claimed then it would be a good deal for someone looking to build a restomod or to use as a good replacement body for a more financially worth while Cougar. 2K to 3K would not be out of the question. Keep in mind that the seller needs to start somewhere and given how cheap most CL buyers are I would bet that most of the offers he is getting want to cut the price in half.
Cathouse I would have to move or find a different hobby, those prices in the rust belt just to depressing man. I would probably take up fishing,drinking,something different