It is hard to think of any motoring experience more enjoyable than hitting the road on a sunny day behind the wheel of a classic convertible. That prospect becomes more tantalizing when the vehicle in question has a healthy V8 under the hood. That is what this 1969 Mercury Cougar Convertible offers and its long list of optional extras should help enhance the experience. It needs a new home, and while it isn’t perfect, it is a rust-free classic with no immediate needs. The Cougar is listed for sale here on eBay in Granite Falls, Washington. Intense bidding has pushed the price past the reserve to $21,000.

When assessing this Cougar for this article, I elected to refrain from referring to it as a genuine survivor. It remains largely as it was the day it rolled off the production line. The seller indicates it wears an older repaint in its original shade of Burnt Orange Metallic. It holds an impressive shine, but they admit it has accumulated a collection of smaller chips and marks. None are severe, and if the buyer elected to leave the vehicle untouched, that would be understandable. The White power top is original, and although it is presentable and free from rips, it doesn’t present as well as the rest of the exterior. If the buyer elected to spend $500 on a replacement, that would seem sensible. However, if they intend only to use this classic on sunny days, they could leave it untouched. One issue they won’t face is rust. The exterior is clean, and the floors are rock-solid. The trim is excellent for a vehicle of this age, as is the tinted glass. The wheels are a recent addition and are chrome replicas of the factory wheels this classic wore when it drove off the showroom floor.

Buyers faced a wide selection of motors to power their new Cougar in 1969, and this car’s original owner walked the middle ground by selecting the M-Code 351ci V8. They added a three-speed automatic transmission and power assistance for the steering and front disc brakes. With 290hp at the driver’s disposal, this Cougar would have stormed the ¼ mile in a flat 16 seconds. For potential buyers, this classic’s drivetrain contains plenty of positive news. The seller indicates that the previous owner treated the engine and transmission to a rebuild, although there are no receipts for the work. However, the presentation makes that claim plausible. The suspension and brakes came in for considerable attention, and there are receipts supporting this. The result is a vehicle that runs and drives well. It is a turnkey Cougar ready to hit the road with a new owner behind the wheel.

If this Cougar has a real weak point, it probably falls to the interior presentation. The condition is acceptable for a survivor-grade classic, but some issues may need attention. The original owner elected White trim with Black highlights, and it makes a striking first impression. This photo reveals a small tear on the outer edge of the driver’s seat, but this shot exposes its most significant shortcoming. The outer trims in the back seat look pretty dilapidated, and someone has attempted to disguise the problem with tape and paint. They also cut the trims to fit speakers for the aftermarket radio/cassette player. Replacement parts sell for around $280 per pair, but as the only ones I could locate were black, the buyer will need to paint them to match the rest of the interior. There is also a small tear in the back seat base, but it may be repairable. The original owner ordered this Cougar with air conditioning. However, a recharge may be on the agenda since it doesn’t blow cold. Other optional extras include power windows and a tilt-away wheel.

While the First Generation Cougar didn’t sell in the sheer numbers enjoyed by its Mustang cousin, a 1969 figure of 100,069 justified its existence within the Mercury range. Only 5,796 buyers selected the Convertible version, representing a relatively small percentage of the overall sales total. This one isn’t perfect, but it is a rust-free classic with no immediate needs. It is ready to hit the road with a new owner behind the wheel, and I’m sure we’ll have plenty of readers who find that prospect difficult to resist. It will be interesting to see if any succumb to the temptation and drop a bid on this beauty. If you do, I will hardly blame you. If you’re successful, I admit I’ll envy you!