It’s said that Jerry Garcia, at least on one occasion, compared The Grateful Dead’s music to licorice, stating that many people don’t like that flavor, but those who do really like it. The same holds true for most Neo-classic cars, as a few gearheads seem to appreciate and seek out these unusual creations, although many don’t offer the same mass appeal as more mainstream automobiles. However, this 1988 Tiffany Classic is pretty cool in its own special way, and with just 40,000 miles and some recent maintenance, it’s likely got quite a bit of useful life left for the next owner to enjoy. Reader Rocco B. spotted this sumptuous driver here on eBay in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and we’d like to thank him for the fun tip! This one can be yours right now for $18,500, but the seller also wisely included a make-offer option.
Those with a keen FoMoCo eye will recognize that this Tiffany began its journey as a Mercury Cougar, but once Classic Motor Carriages took over, the exterior was modified to Excalibur styling by adding touches that would have been right at home on top-tier luxury cars in the thirties. Truth be told, I like the design here better than most neos, and it doesn’t hurt either that the body is so well preserved. From the pair of trunk straps to the quad horns protruding from the grille, this one offers a high level of opulence from front to back, and everywhere else in between. It’s nice that this one also features a sunroof, but those fender-mounted exhaust exits would be more believable if there were four ports on each side instead of three.
CMC stuck with the Cougar engines, and from what I understand, they always used 302-equipped cars as a base. With the stock section from the doors forward removed, the narrowed bay is much more cramped than usual, and some components could stand a bit of cosmetic detailing. However, the best news here is the low mileage, and the seller reports that the car has been gone through top-to-bottom mechanically. Some of the recent maintenance is said to include flushing the cooling system, a complete brake inspection, and automatic transmission service.
The cabin has mostly an eighties Cougar feel, but the reasonably good condition inside is certainly a positive here, plus the red interior complements the black exterior nicely. For those seeking a Neo-classic, this one seems to be a fine example, and I’m certain it’ll stir up plenty of attention wherever you go. Having the 5.0 engine is also desirable, as a 3.8-liter V6 was the standard engine for the Cougar in ’88, which was also the final year the car rode on the Fox platform. Is this 1988 Tiffany Classic one you’d have any interest in pursuing?
This is one of those cars that, while I’d never want to own it, I’d love a chance to drive one. I’ve always preferred the Tiffany above a lot of the other neo-classics, and this one is really in nice shape.
I remember seeing these based on the Cougar. I actually like these a lot. The Cougar doors and stretched formal roofline just seem to work here. The Fox Body platform was a great choice, not just for solid underpinnings but also parts availability as well. This one looks like a creampuff. It’s definitely been well cared for over all these years. I often wondered how stretched cars like this ride and handle?