Over a 35-year production run as different types of vehicles, the Cougar is Mercury’s best-selling nameplate overall at nearly three million units. In its early days, the auto was a “pony car” and the second from Ford to do battle in that new market. First-year sales (1967) of 150,000 copies placed the Cougar in third behind the Chevy Camaro, also new that year. This ’67 Cougar began life in California and was bought from the original owner’s estate. It’s now in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, and looking for someone to get it back on the road. The “cat” is available here on eBay where $9,200 has yet to break through the seller’s reserve.
Unlike its cousin, the Mustang, the Cougar was not available as a fastback and didn’t gain a convertible until 1969. As the years went by, the Cougar shifted platforms and how it was marketed, often being Mercury’s counterpart to the Ford Thunderbird (big and bulky in the 1970s). As the story goes, the original owner bought this non-running, but survivor-quality Cougar new in Pomona, California and it stayed there past his/her death. From 1986 to 2021, it stayed in dry storage which would help explain the 35,000 miles on the odometer.
The seller purchased the car in 2021 and had it delivered cross-country to North Carolina. It was his/her intent to get it going again (last started in ‘86). But life gets in the way, and now that won’t happen, and the buyer gets to have that opportunity. Though it has been in the seller’s garage since it arrived, the seller chose to use 2-year-old photos with it on a trailer to present the car. The motor does turn over, so perhaps getting it to run again won’t require a herculean effort.
Regarding its condition, the paint (original?), body, and interior all look good with no signs of rust. The Merc has a 289 cubic inch V8 under the hood with a 2-barrel carburetor (per the VIN), bucket seats with a console, gauges, and factory air conditioning. If your goal is to have a running but unrestored early Cougar, maybe this one will fit the bill – if the price is right.
I don’t understand why you’d go to the effort to buy it, ship it cross country, and then not attempt to get it running if the engine turns by hand.
It’s actually HORRIBLE for the chances of it running again without removing plugs, soaking in auto transmission fluid. Keep doing each hole every few days. A little in the filler cap. Drain after a month, then Marvel oil only turning it over. You want lube to get in where dirt and oxidation set up. Turning a sitting engine with dry cylinder walls, rings dug in? Imbecilic.
Oh fiddle faddle, pull the plugs, squirt a little oil in the cylinders, pull the distributor, spin the oil pump to prime the system, and start it up. No big deal, done it many times
Dump a little gas down the carb or get it running off a can .See if she burps and maybe idles.If you can’t do it throw someone a few bucks to do it.Nice car.glwts
Somethings not right here. 35,000 miles and it’s that bad. Seats are even torn.
Looks like the rear seal might be bad too.
Its a 68, 67 didn’t have side marker lights. I’ve owned many 67 mustangs and 2 cougars, none have had side markers as this one has.
John – Where do you see side marker lights on this one? This is a ’67 as listed. Clean for a Cougar, I would be all over it were it not for space in my shop and it (apparently) has already been sold.
Those are cougar emblems on the rear quarters. No markers in the front fenders either. Definitely a 67.
yep no marker lights ,I just sold one it had no Marker lights either ,this is a 67 for sure.just sayin.
Russ you have me wondering what a fastback Cougar would have looked like. Actually I’m surprised they never made one.
Someone did, i have photos of a metallic blue one.
Billyman – I am in a fb group dedicated to Cougars and have seen one like in this link and other pop in from time to time of late. I too had never heard of them either. Interesting…
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/1968-mercury-cougar-fastback-that-shouldn-t-exist-is-very-real-and-awesome-215456.html
It’s no longer for sale as of Aug. 8.
Wha??? Still an active ebay page
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-Mercury-Cougar/374861976954
as of just now it’s got almost 4 days to go and is up to $10,500 with 14 bids.
not a bad project if it doesn’t go too much higher
This would have been a good specimen to have a more desirable optional engine instead of the base 289 2 barrel. Still this could be a nice score if the bidding doesn’t go much higher.
67, no side markers, that is the Cougar logo badge on the rear fenders, 68 had Cougar written in script above the red rear reflectors. And flowerpot steering wheel, only on 67 . I think there have been 2 different postings for 2 different cars
I had a 67 and 68 this is definitely a 67. Very clean no rust body, I bet getting it running will be easy yes a bit of work bot not a big deal. Personally I would love to buy it.