Ford doubled down on its presence in the “pony car” market in 1967 by launching the Cougar over at Mercury. Sharing infrastructure with the popular Mustang, the Cougar was perhaps a bit more stylish and luxurious than its Dearborn cousin. This 1968 edition is said to be a good-running automobile, but it’s going to need some bodywork and paint. Located in snow country up in Ashville, New York, the seller will be moving and needs the car to find a new home. Available here on Facebook Marketplace, this “cat” can be had for $5,500. This tip comes our way via Barn Finder “Ted”.
Though the concept of the Cougar would morph over its 35-year run at Mercury, it would go on to become the division’s best-selling nameplate at just under three million copies. In the 1970s, it was hard to drive by a Mercury dealer without seeing the marque, “Sign of the Cat” which would carry the company’s marketing for many moons. After a robust first year {150,000 units in 1967), putting the Cougar in third place in the sales race), production of the 1968 models cooled off by 25% the next year. Like the Mustang, the Cougar saw few changes in 1968, such as the addition of side marker lights.
One of the changes in ’68 was the 302 cubic inch V8 replacing the 289. That’s what’s in the seller’s car and it has a rebuilt 2-barrel carburetor. We assume it and the C4 automatic transmission are original to the vehicle (no mention is made) at 57,500 miles on the odometer. This is an automobile that’s had at least three owners and is said to run well. The fuel tank is new, which suggests the Cougar was dormant for a time. Its problems seem more cosmetic and structural.
The passenger side torque box is damaged and needs repairing or replacing. The paint has seen better days, especially on the roof where the clear coat is peeling. The interior looks okay except for one tear, and do we see an early example of shoulder belts hanging down from the headliner? The car has been listed by a friend of the seller, so inquiries will have to be forwarded if anyone is interested in the car. It looks to have seen its fair share of snowy winters, and that can’t have helped the Mercury remain solid.
Not sure why, the Mustang,,meh, but the Cougar,,nice. Same with Firebird and Camaro, I guess. You have to hand it to Ford, they took the Mustang, and made a seemingly totally different car with the Cougar, a Mercury tradition, and not what it had become in its final years. The Cougar was a Mustang in an evening gown, and once again, catered to women. Men bought the fire breathing CJ Mustang, while Cougar did offer that type of car, I’d say 90% were just like this. They were driven by secretaries of big shots, sisters of big shots, wives of big shots, you get the message, a class above a mere Mustang. Again, Fords intent with Mercury since the get go.
Great find, nice the headlight doors work, we’ve all seen them propped open with a stick, but that rust, MAJOR deal breaker. Some, the ones with greasy fingernails will disagree, and probably repairable, but the main stream of folks today want a car they can enjoy RIGHT NOW. Since the latest TV auction would make it seem, cost is not an issue, and there are plenty of nice Cougars around, why bother with the nightmares and cost of a restoration? That’s how I see it, anyway.
I would think an avg passenger might not know if he or she was in a ’67-68 Camaro or Firebird, since w/o the emblems & some minot trim, the interiors are soo much alike – heck the 2 cars share even the same front fenders!
Steering wheels are different.
Sales “by a friend” are always questionable. This car isn’t nice enough to be a hoax but still might warrant thorough ownership records if anyone’s interested.
I shouldn’t have this many ?’s on my mind for a car with only 57,500(if that’s accurate) but I do.
Come on guys, always loved the Cougar and the ladies at the drive in did too!
Unavailable…..
Great find! Really $5500? I’d almost fly all the way across the COUNTRY to buy that car!
For a car with 57K miles it’s led a much rougher life than that F250 in VT, Either that or the odometer rolled over once. For $5500 this actually looks rather solid from what I can see; more pics of the underside are needed and a description of how this runs will definitely help!
It’s a rebuilt engine. It should run great ! And with the oil and Debbie plans back then. They seemed to wear out much faster then today’s cars. So 57k miles is very possible. Maybe to much sitting around. Causes dry valve seals and they start smoking.
Just now checked and the listing is off Facebook Marketplace.
Ted
Yes Russ, all 1968 Cougars were equipped with front seat shoulder belts. There was even a very rare option to have rear seat shoulder belts.