When a classic car emerges from long-term storage, it is fair to expect it to need some work before returning to its rightful place on our roads. The scope of that work depends on many factors, including the storage environment and the vehicle’s prior history. The seller of this 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 is candid about its condition. They admit that while it is complete and original, it has a few pressing needs. Depending on the severity of its problems, it could prove an affordable starting point for a project build. Located in Canby, Oregon, you will find the Cougar listed for sale here on Craigslist. You could become its new owner by handing the seller $7,500. I must thank Barn Finder Matt H. for spotting this beauty for us.
Taken at face value, this Cougar looks like a promising project. It wears attractive Cinnamon Frost paint with a Black vinyl top. Evidence suggests it has received at least a partial repaint, but this doesn’t rate a mention in the listing. The panels are straight, the vinyl is in good order, and the trim is acceptable for a survivor-grade car. It has even retained its factory wheels and trims, which often disappear as owners replace them with alloy wheels. However, one sentence in the listing leaves us hanging by a thread. The seller describes the XR-7’s body as very rusty but fails to clarify the location and extent of the rust. Nothing significant is visible externally, although I think I can spy some problems with the outer rear wheel well. That suggests that the issues are on this vehicle’s underside and could include floors, the trunk pan, the torque box region, and possibly the rails. The shock towers look okay, but given the photo quality, I wouldn’t bet my house on it! In this case, interested parties may need to negotiate an in-person inspection to ensure they aren’t biting off more than they can chew.
When it was shiny and new, the inside of this Cougar must have been a wonderful place to spend time as the miles rolled effortlessly under its tires. The original owner ordered it trimmed in Saddle leather, opting for air conditioning, tinted glass, a console, and an AM radio/8-track player. These accessories remain intact, but the interior requires plenty of attention. The leather is dry, split, and cracked, while the seat foam shows signs of deterioration. Before spending any money, the buyer should deep clean everything. The process may reveal plenty of salvageable items, limiting the expense of this aspect of the project.
The included Marti Report reveals that this Cougar rolled off the line equipped with an A-code 289ci V8, a three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and four-wheel power drum brakes. The A-code would have produced 225hp, which would have sent this classic through the ¼ mile in 16.2 seconds. The XR-7’s mechanical health is another aspect of this classic where we fly blind. The seller indicates the car has been in long-term storage, but not whether it starts or runs. Since they use the word original in their listing, that could mean it is numbers-matching. If the engine turns freely, successfully coaxing it back to life may be possible without spending a fortune. Once again, an in-person inspection would answer plenty of questions.
This 1967 Cougar XR-7 is a car that leaves us wanting more. I am prepared to accept the seller’s claim that it is very rusty. However, with no glaring faults visible in the supplied photos, it would be wonderful to know where the rust is. It could prove a straightforward repair or the work could consume hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars. This is a case where less isn’t necessarily more. It is worth remembering that the car is complete and unmolested and that the original owner chose some desirable optional extras. With Cougar values climbing steadily and this project looking affordable, would you be tempted to pursue it further?
The shock towers are not ok. Note the holes where the inner fenders overlap the shock tower on the right side. I’ve found that the condition of this area is a good predictor of the overall state of the chassis as far as Mustangs and Cougars are concerned. In other words, this one is likely to be very rusty underneath.
Those holes … they look too perfectly round to be rust to me but what are they? Almost looks like they were drilled, but for what? I hate when people advertise mid-60s Mustangs/Cougars with no shots of the floors. And the outer rockers can look fine but the inners can be completely rusted out (like my ‘66 convertible). Like Glenn said, if it spent any time in Illinois … nope. And how much would a new leather interior cost?
They are rust holes and they are not perfectly round. That is how they look when someone picks at them. I have seen a lot of them in my 40 years of dealing with Cougars. It is normal for a car from any area that has rust issues.
Sounds a little steep for a rusty underbelly.
Assuming the vehicle has rust issues, it was purchased new in the state of Illinois and how long it remained is anyone’s guess prior to the current location.
Pretty nice if you ask me. You askin me?
Yes, it needs a lot, but I always loved the dash of these early XR-7 Cougars, even back to my junior-high days when they were introduced.
I had the near identical car in high school – loved it but too young and cocky to have nurtured it like I should have. While this one may have some surprises underneath, I would be very interested if not for being on other side of country.
Years ago, as a police officer, I responded on a call of a live cougar in the identical ’67 Cougar in a residential neighborhood. As you would expect the big cat was angry and tore up the interior, right down to the seat springs. Eventually the owner of the cat was found and charged w dealing in protected wildlife. Guess he thought it was a big yuck! No idea what happened to the car.