It’s still hard to believe that Mercury is gone. I mean the car company, not the planet. They weathered many storms, downturns, recessions, and depressions and they sure churned out some great cars, not the least of which would have been this first-year 1967 Mercury Cougar. This cool cat can be found here on Craigslist in Zanesville, Ohio with an asking price of $5,000. Let’s check it out.
This is one of the great designs of all time, but that’s just my opinion. Sure, everyone instantly knows the Mustang but the Cougar was different. It was fancier, it was more of a button-down car, one that wasn’t typically owned by either street racers or secretaries. They were more for junior executives, but again, that’s just my opinion. It’s hard to argue with the design of the first-generation Cougar, though.
Believe it or not, the 1967 Mercury Cougar was Mercury’s most successful new car launch in its history with over 150,000 of them being built and sold in 1967. This particular car is in need of a lot of work as you can see. There appears to be rust and bodywork and dents and dings all over it, sort of like myself. The seller says that this “is a non running project that needs a lot of work.”
The interior needs as much restoration as the body and mechanical bits do on this Merc. The back seat looks about as close to being perfect as can be which is surprising given the condition of the rest of the interior, other than the passenger seat. The Cougar was one of those Donny and Marie cars, as in being both a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll at the same time. It could be a muscle car or more of a luxury car, or both. The later generations of Cougar would include four-door sedans and even station wagons, unlike the Mustang which stayed pretty true to its original course.
This is a 289 cubic-inch V8 that would have had either 200 or 225 hp. A 320-hp 390 V8 would have been available in the GT. This one “Ran when parked last year” so hopefully it can be up and running again in no time. Most Barn Finds readers cut their teeth on V8s from this era so I have no doubt that most of you could be driving this car after spending a short time under the hood. As a price comparison, Hagerty is at $9,100 for a #4 fair condition car and $18,200 for a #2 excellent condition car. Is this one worth bringing back to life? Dumb question, of course, it is.
Still maybe not bad price for that part of the country even against a Mustang coupe.
These are by far the best looking cougars ever made, and I’m not a ford guy. Now, to get taboo, I would find a donor mustang with a coyote motor, swap everything over, do a tune, 500 hp 302. I’m far from a fuel injection and tune guy, I prefer carbs
With a Coyote all you need is a chip and a laptop and you instantly have 75 to 100 more HP. That is if you keep the computer and fuel injection.
With a carb all you need is a screwdriver and an experienced ear!
67 and 68 where the best years for the Cougar in my book. I’m with Scooter, a 302 with maybe 300hp and a carb would suit me just fine! Been keeping an eye out for one for awhile now, this one seems priced a bit high for what you get.
@LAB3, You can not get 75 to 100 more horsepower with just a carb tune. I love the old Iron but I’m getting older and tired so the easier the better and the ridiculous prices for old iron are just that. Love reading about the barn finds but seriously how many of us will buy one of these at the prices their asking.
Hear ya on the prices! Guess I waited too long to get my project car. Only 3-4 yrs ago this one would have gone for $1500. That’s what you get for waiting until retirement….
Price seems high to me. I sold a 68 XR-7 GT 390 with the body needing no work for $3,500. I would have loved to have kept the car but I had too many projects. The cool part about the car was it had the big three options but didn’t have a vinyl top which I loved since I’m not a fan of them.
I would agree that the 5K price is on the high side for this particular 67. I also think that 3.5K for a 68 XR-7 GT is on the low side, unless the interior was trashed and the drivetrain was missing.
You didn’t sell it Jim, you gave it away!
The link to the CL ad says that the posting has expired so all I can go on are the photos posted here on BFs. This looks to be a pretty basic 67 Cougar. The automatic transmission is an option and it looks like it has power steering. Other than that I am not seeing much in the way of options. In the open hood photo I can see the rust where the front and rear aprons meet the shock towers. If it is rusty there I would bet that there are rust issues with the floors and maybe even the frame rails and cowl. If the rust is not too bad this would be a good car to restomod.
Scotty,
The S code 390 GT engine was available in any 1967, 1968 too, Cougar without ordering the GT package. Cars ordered in that manner will have a 6.5 LITRE emblem on the front fender instead of the GT emblem.
This car was recently listed at 3500. I was thinking about getting it until the seller raised the price…. Too bad.
Don’t underestimate the 289. I have one in a ’67 Caliente and it’s a pretty lively engine, with much more willingness to rev than the 390 in my ’66. A 289 is just as buildable as a 302, and they sound sweet.
Personally, I’d keep the engine and throw in a 5-speed behind it. It may not be a drag car, but even a mildly built 289 is enough to break the rear loose with ease.
I agree with you on not underestimating the power of a “lowly” 289 V8. My 1967 Country Sedan came with the 289, and that big family hauler had no problem keeping up with modern traffic
I’m not knocking the 289 by any means. You can pick up a 302 built to practically any specs you want from any number of places at a reasonable price.
67 is the best looking cougar
I agree with those who like the design. I think this will take forever to get right and even at the asking price, which is too high, there are better cars to be found. Try the fordlord.com.
This looks like real good project anybody with some ability can tackle. Definitely will need more than armorall and turtle wax.
Really cool looking color car. Very good price for a cougar these days.
Never, ever, ever, ever, ever buy an old car from this part of the country, unless you get a great deal, and know how to weld.
Scooter, forget the tuners. EPA just fined Bully Dog a gazillion dollars for canoodling emission devices. Hot rodders always find a way to make an engine perform better, let’s hope they can work around this!
http://www.thedrive.com/news/23833/epa-fines-tuning-company-300000-for-producing-and-selling-emissions-defeat-devices
Upon my suggestion, a friend bought a 67 in similar shape with lots of spares for $1500 in 2016. Couldn’t jump off the phone and into his car to go look at it quick enough. Downside is he, like others who swear they want a car to restore, got as far as tearing out the glass and sourcing five Magnum 500 wheels before realizing it wasn’t just a weekend project. Last I heard, he has it sitting in a grassy area next to his house. Which is how he found it two years ago!
My first was a ’68 XR7, what a wonderful car, wish I still had it. In those days, Ford used what they had on the shelves – it came with a 289 block and 302 heads (per stampings) and that car, with a HiPo cam, medium riser, headers, straight pipes and glass packs would scream for a small block. Love the XR interior appointments. This one may be a bit over-priced for the condition – Cougar body parts getting difficult to locate. By the way, given all that, if this one were a XR7, I’d be arguing with the wife about getting it…
I always thought the sequential rear turn signal lights were the coolest. They seemed to get your attention.
My favorite year Cougar too.
flipper hd lghts too !
Every time i see a cougar i think of car guy james and his 1000$ rig with 428. Im a sucker for original paint, or eorn down to primer. This is a great color. Yea as i get older i like simplicity, like a 2 bolt fuel pump on the side of a 350 chevy vs an electric fuel pump in the tank in a silverado? Which one would you like to do on the side of the road? I love fuel injection and progress, but i really love not playing with sensors , or having to deprnd on someone else to learn and diagnose my car . Its not gonna happen, The curse of technology.
I had one of these awhile back. I was always the only one at car cruises and shows. It would get more attention than superbees and roadrunners. Wish I still had it!
I used to shift my 302 Cougar @ 7500 RPM. This was at Watkins Glen NY.
Did any of you boomers ever see a Mercury cougar in the NHRA back in the sixties that was called the “Top Cat”? Interesting machine with the full boogie 289 and special heads it could run in the ten second bracket and was actually streetable from what I read a number of years ago. Like the Cougars!
This is definitely one to restore. Affordable car that will only increase in value because of the scarcity.
I’m Smitty in Sullivan Missouri and I would love to buy this pretty kitty I’ve had 7 67-69 cougars and I want this one to completely restore my number is 260-797-2183 or my email is gschmidt7765@gmail.com I have cash n a trailer PLEASE call me or text me
Got a 68 cougar,want to sell it,my first car when I was 16.im 51 now.got 3 extra front grill extra tail lights 3 extra whipper moters.i think ill stop now.ect…been in the all its life ,got 2 bad rust spot.1 side of lower trunk,other side perfect. And to small pin holes drier side floor.noy sure what to do.need advice. Jeffery.washington state.
@Jeffery – Why don’t you have us auction it? https://barnfinds.com/sell/auction/