Whenever you’re in the market for a vintage project, it’s always good to be able to trace the auto’s history as far as possible, especially if its known whereabouts go back to day one. That’s the case with this 1968 Mercury Cougar, as this one was originally purchased by a man in Los Angeles who subsequently turned the car over to his daughter, with her sister eventually getting behind the wheel. Then, the current owner took over the reins in 1989 and used it as a semi-daily driver for a while. However, the seller says the Cougar has gotten tired and is ready for a restoration, although he believes there are good bones here to work with.
The seller doesn’t mention if the paint is still original, but with the amount of patina, if it’s ever had a respray it was way back in the car’s past. For fans of the baked-on look, this one scores high, though I suspect most potential buyers would prefer to make a few repairs and apply a fresh finish. The body is said to be mostly solid overall, with only one small rusted area above the windshield. It’s also never been involved in any accidents, so hopefully, there won’t be any surprises once you get into the project.
Inside, most of the components are in decent enough condition for a driver, and I’m wondering if just a thorough cleaning might not bring the upholstery up to satisfactory for most owners. The seller mentions that nearly all of the interior is original, with the headliner remaining in good shape, but the dash pad has been replaced. A new carpet might work wonders for the appearance in there, plus it would be inexpensive and easy to install, so that might be the first thing on my to-do list here.
The 302 V8 is said to be running smoothly, but it’s going to need a rebuild, as the owner says there’s the type of smoke that’s indicative of ring wear. A manual transmission was available, but an automatic can be found here, and there’s no word on how well it’s shifting these days. With some work, I can envision a fun cruiser here, so if you’re ready to dig in this 1968 Mercury Cougar can be spotted here on eBay. It’s located in Gig Harbor, Washington, and can be yours for the buy-it-now price of $14,950 or perhaps less, as there’s also the option to submit an offer. As it sits, what’s a fair amount to pay for this one?
Looking at the firewall, I assume this Cougar was originally blue?
& i bet so was the carpeting.
Perfect doner for a coyote and a nice wrap
For a standard Cougar it has a few nice options. A/C, power brakes, console, decor interior, tilt away steering column and what looks like a 4V engine.
How many years was this just-plain-sitting?
Pretty straightforward Cougar project, but knowing up front that you need to rebuild its engine and spring for a good repaint, $10-$12k is a better entry price. Rebuilding engines these days is becoming more difficult, and machine shops are several months out for the waiting list. Glad it’s on the opposite coast.