A lot of people (most?) don’t like cars from the mid-late-1970s but I find them really fun and interesting. Sure, it wasn’t muscle car heaven but if a person likes wacky oddball cars like I do, you just have to like this 1978 Mercury Bobcat. This little Bobcat is listed on eBay in Calhan, Colorado with an unmet and very ambitious starting bid of $5,000.
We all know that a Mercury Bobcat is basically a Ford Pinto with a few touches to set it apart from its basic cousin. It wasn’t much more luxurious but it certainly is more unique. Most of us have seen Pintos on the street from time to time, or at car shows, but when was the last time you’ve seen a Mercury Bobcat? It’s been at least a couple of decades for me. The seller says that this is a “survivor” and that may be the case for most of the interior, but other than that I’m not quite so sure. It does come with “refurbished white wheels that are off a 70’s Mustang II”.
The seller is most likely a nice person but they may be more enthusiastic about pricing than what the real world market is at for a Bobcat. A $5,000 starting bid for a car in relatively rugged condition seems odd to me. Like one of those “Yes, honey, I’m trying to sell the Bobcat!” sort of situations. You can see cracked paint, which is never a good sign, above the rear wheel on what is oddly the only photo of the driver’s side seen above. The underside looks great, but then the bottoms of the doors are very, very rusty. New doors will probably have to be found which would hopefully be easier than fixing that rust.
The interior does look very good other than whatever happened with the shifter knob. Unfortunately, there are several issues such as the “4 spd stick shift is a little lose, but it is very driveable as is. I have a part that goes inside the transmission to fix it; however, it looks like someone before me put JB Weld on the round plastic piece that sits over the hole where the stick shift goes through so the round plastic piece doesn’t screw off.” And, “Windows are sticky so they do not roll down easy, and the driver-side window knob is broken off.” Check out the description for the whole list of things on the next owner’s to-do list – it’s not a small list.
The 2.3L inline-four engine looks good overall, but it was “rebuilt in summer 2017 with a Ranger head, and it only has around 500 rebuilt miles on it!” I never understood why someone would go through the trouble of pulling an engine, rebuilding it, and then putting it back in again but not restoring the engine bay and all of the related accessories. Surface rust on things around a rebuilt engine does not look good or give any confidence in the general condition of things. It sounds like they’re turning this car into a bit of a restomod, if you read the description maybe you can shed some light on what they’re trying to do. This could be a fun car to bring back but it needs a lot of work and then there’s that opening bid price, ouch.
Well Scotty, all I can say about the asking price is that Colorado was the first State to legalize recreational marijuana. Probably had a big influence on this seller.
Absolutely! I apologize if this is too far off topic, but for that reason alone I have no desire to go back to CA, or visit anywhere marijuana is legal. I despise the stench to no end!!!!
The “Little Tree” air freshener hanging from the shifter supports your theory.
Steve R
This “car” I believe didn’t cost, or at least wasn’t worth 5k when new. Wouldn’ buy one if had 0 miles and plastic on the seats…Didn’t they “explode” when hit in the rear end???? Makes me laugh to think someone would cough up that much money for it. Some of these “classic” cars are not too “classic”, after all.
A $5000 1978 anything should have no rust whatsoever.
A `78 Anything for $5 large had better still have the window sticker in place, and mileage along the lines of, say, less than 2,000 miles. (The only exception that comes to mind would be a Mark IV or Cadillac of that condition.) The seller will soon realize his mistake in pricing this, and have to ‘re-assess’ his figure. I’m sure the neighbors are sick of staring at it too, which might push things along for him. Me? I’d close the blinds….
I agree with Rock On , Too much Wacky Tabaccy going on in that household. Too many zeros in the price. Going to have check the price of pot in Colorado to see how much $5000+ will buy for his next “Love in” party at the house.
$5000 sounds like a great price as long as the comes with at least $4000 in the glove box.
That’s what I call “Rocky Mountain High”. Bobcats may be more scarce than Pintos, but not so much to warrant a $5k starting bid. Top end would be $3500 for a car in much better shape. $2k is a decent offer for this one
wonder if that head it has is the desirable “D” shaped exh. ports (sez “ranger’ bet they R).
http://www.wilcoxengines.co.uk/images/2008_0502corkill0009.JPG
I understand those R quite an improvement.
wonder if that head it has is the desirable “D” shaped exh. ports (sez “ranger’ bet they R).
http://www.wilcoxengines.co.uk/images/2008_0502corkill0009.JPG
I understand those R quite an improvement. Fella I know put the head ona 2.5L, went in his BroncoII. He’s very happy w/it. Orig ‘lima’ motor hada very nice Weber progressive. THOSE are used on quite a few vehicles I know too.
I’d like this merc as a wagon…
I have rebuilt several engines in my cars overnight the years, and very rarely have I detailed the engine compartment. Usually I just need my car back as quickly as possible so I can get to work!
If this is your definition of “fun & interesting” cars from the late ’70’s…seek help Scotty. ;)
Ha! I know (think/hope?) that you were at least sort of kidding, Mike B.. maybe… If the car world only consisted of Mustangs, Camaros, and Corvettes just think how fun and interesting the planet would be! (zzzzzzzzzz).. My wife is a head shrink and you’d think that would come in handy every now and then but even she can’t understand the things that I like and/or buy!
Gently kidding, yes, to each his own of course and yes it’s not all about Camaro’s. It’s also not all about domestic. Late ’70’s fun & interesting to me leans more European. I’ll even throw in Pacer as an example of “well performance is off the table right now so what can we do with packaging?” approach to be interesting. Keep spinning.
Now it comes to me Scotty. Float this behavior theory with your wife: Too many after school episodes of Gilligan’s Island?
Good, Scotty. Continue to confound her with your thinking.
In the war between men and women, turnabout is fair play.
Thanks for featuring this Bobcat.
Mike, the car is fine. The price isn’t.
People loved these cars because they were cheap and fun to drive, for the most part.
The Pinto is still my favorite car and I have had many over the years.
I agree the BobCat Name has an appeal to it alluding to mysticism and enchantment. The grille unique to the Bobcat is quite pleasing and elegant. The short clamshell body is alluring. The red interior is in great condition and a great color contrast with the white.
Price is crack pipe but why would you not mount those white wheels, it would look 10x better.
Have you ever noticed how many people are selling, claiming they are “thinning the herd” or “too many projects” but don’t have anything else for sale?
Reefer Madness!!!
Great movie from the ’50s. Forced to watch it in jr. HIIIIIIGH, DUUUUUDE!
Reefer Madness was 1936 Brah.
I just picture this doing a 180 and a bunch of bowling balls flying out the hatch glass!
Have a local used car dealer that was asking 6K for this 74 Pinto nice clean low milage original but no takers at that price. Ask whatever you want doesnt mean anyone in their right mind will ever pony up the cash for it .
A time and a vehicle best left to fade into obscurity.
Hi, my name is Keith, and I like cars from the 70’s
Keith would you happen to also like turtles ? Lol.
My final offer is $2.00 take it or leave it
Remember Scotty, you can rebuild in the car or you can take it out of the car to rebuild! Maybe they did a in-car rebuild on it? They should have made it clear
Outrageous. I Sold my 74 Pinto~ with 24k miles and all its orig paperwork only a few sap paint spots, with tape still on the rear springs from the factory, 1 tiny crack on the dash, totally rust free CA car.
$2150.
$1250. At Best.
This “car” I believe didn’t cost, or at least wasn’t worth 5k when new. Wouldn’ buy one if had 0 miles and plastic on the seats…Didn’t they “explode” when hit in the rear end???? Makes me laugh to think someone would cough up that much money for it. Some of these “classic” cars are not too “classic”, after all.
this car ended up in utah at my work, and is currently undergoing body and paint work. small world
I vote “yes” on the quality of this car for its age as I used to be the owner who sold it to the gentleman in Utah, and he was quite pleased by it when it arrived to his place. Like I had said, the engine was rebuild at Ace downtown Colorado Springs with a Ranger head. So the buyer got a car and a rebuild engine. And he has since improved on the car’s condition. Kudos. It’s nice to know that cars can get improved when sold to a new owner. I like to maintain my cars at minimum and drive them. If I can’t do that, then I don’t want them just sitting around rotting.