1968 Mercury Cougar

Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

8R91J505122

Clear

Gasoline

Here's my baby. 1968 Mercury Cougar. Due to being un employed for over 99 weeks and no job prospects coming up in the very near future, I have to let her go. Thanks economy! This is really not setting well with me. She's my second 68 Cougar. The first I sold and missed it immediately. This one popped up shortly after. I found her on a make shift car lot in 2003, coincidentally, she also popped up on Ebay at that same time. So, I looked at it up close, checked it out and decided to bring her home. She was in rough shape when I got her. The guy I bought her from had wanted to teach himself mechanics using her as his guinea pig. That didn't work out for him and she wound up sitting for quite a while. Fact of the matter is I used to drive past her in my first Cougar on my way to and from my Aunt and Uncles place, so I did recognize her when I saw her. After I bought her I did what I normally do. Researched her to find out what kind of history she had. She had a pot metal name plate on her trunk lid from Eaton Ford out of Emmett, Idaho. My research turned out this information. She was ordered in 1968 by (then owner operator of Eaton Ford) Bob Eaton for his mother. She owned it for about a year and a half then it went to Inez and Andy Anderson. From there, the Andersons' aged and eventually she sat for quite a while. Eventually she was bought by another person. Mathew Edens (possibly Eaton) and when she had 38,000 miles on her the engine was replaced. According to the receipt I have she didn't have any compression in cylinder number 1. So a used engine was installed. That was just before the guy I bought it from got it. Then she just sat again in the open on the side of a busy street for an additional period of time. Now, this information is the information I collected on her. And the millage listed I believe to be correct, judging by the condition of the body, paint and interior. This may throw some people, it doesn't really have anything to do with anything. But I need to apologize to the guy I talked to earlier tonight about her. I gave him the impression the car had about 115000 miles on it. I hadn't looked at the paperwork I'd collected to refresh my memory. So, if you happen across this posting... just know, I wasn't trying to pull a fast one or lie. I just mis remembered. Ok, moving on... So, I got her in 2003, she was in rough shape. Not derelict and rotted, but the front seats had been chewed on by someone's dog. The carpet was shredded. Door panels along with rear interior panels and back seat were grimy with ground in dirt. The rear package tray was busted up where some really ugly speakers had been. It also had the after market Shuck's special gauge cluster was mounted to the side of the console. The body had issues, no rust just dents. The front drivers front fender was dented just in front of the marker light. The bumper filler was missing. The hood had a dent along the front and the grill had a dent in the same area. The hood also at some point in time had a non functional hood scoop mounted on it. Antenna was missing, door locks were mis matched. A/C was functioning, but not very well. Oh, and it had these really ugly set of mags on it. It also had a dumb ass sticker on the drivers rear quarter window. So, I got her registered and she went straight to Caldwell to my Grandmother's house. That's where I proceeded to dismantle her and clean her up. I removed the front clip so I could inspect and access the metal under it. I took the hood and drivers fender to a body shop for repair and repaint. Originally, I was going to repaint the car a completely different color. But, after doing my research on the car, I learned this color called "seafoam green" was kind of rare. And there's few survivors with this color still intact. Anyway, the color grew on my and I opted to keep it so when the hood and fender were fixed they were painted in the same color. Oh, the front and rear valence panels were also fixed and painted. I cleaned the cowl vent area out, knowing what I know about these cars and having had one before I know this area is particularly bad for rusting out when dirt and debris are left there. I flushed it out, made sure all the drains were debris free. Did the same on the doors and rear quarter areas. I also got replacement headlight and grill assemblies. The ones on it were dented and dis colored. So they were replaced along with the tail light ribs. I cleaned and sealed the canister for the AC system. In the meantime I removed the AC compressor to access the steering pump and hoses. I replaced those, the master cylinder for the brakes. I replaced the radiator and water pump, spark plugs wires rotor and cap. Then changed the oil and had the fuel tank cleaned out. Also replaced the fuel pump and had the carb rebuilt. I replaced the tires and rims with stock getting rid of those nasty ass things that were on it. Also had the exhaust system done. That was done by a national company and not very well either. I won't mention the name. The exhaust from the mufflers back have since been replaced again by a shop that knows what they're doing. I drained the engine and tranny replacing filters and refilling with fresh fluids. I re assembled her and brought her home. Driving her off and on. I was having issues with the carburetor and had it looked at by someone I know. He did some things to it but it wasn't fixed. So, I wound up taking it to a shop and had it done there. The water pump has also been replaced again, the last one disintegrated while driving her. That was fun. That covers the mechanical and exterior. The interior I spent some money having the front seats re upholstered in the same materials and patterns. This for some reason was a difficult task. It took several months and had to be done twice. It's still not perfect, the piping along the center comfort weave material isn't right. But, I was so happy to finally have the front seats I decided to just leave it. I replaced the metal pieces in the visors and the package tray. I had some paint mixed up to paint the package tray the original dark green along with the trim pieces for under the rear window. I also ordered but never got around to installing new seals for the front and rear windows. The front window has a crack so would need replacing anyway. I replaced both rear quarter windows and door windows, not because they were broken but because they were badly nicked and scratched. Up until about 4 years ago I had local source for Cougar parts. So, I collected as much as I could then this yard decided they were picked clean and crushed them. So, that pretty much sums up what's been done. All in all she's in great shape. She still needs little things here and there. The carb could probably us some adjusting. The front shocks should probably be replaced. the rubber grommets cushioning the top posts have rotted away so it's metal rubbing metal. The front window needs to be replaced and she needs a carpet kit. She also needs a new sequencer for the blinkers. She would absolutely qualify as a daily driver. I'd have no fear or issues driving her where ever I needed to go. Unless it's snowing, then she should probably just sit. She's not been driven in the snow since I've owned her. But, the one I had before had been, and let me tell you it was a bitch driving from one side of the college campus to the other going up hills which were iced over. So, these cars aren't the greatest in snow, but the rest of the year she'd be fine! As I said in the beginning, I'm not happy about letting her go. I know as soon as she's gone I'll kick myself again. But my unfortunate circumstances don't really allow for any other options. So, if she has to go, I want to see her go to someone who'll take care of her. Keep her sheltered in bad weather (sheltered in a warm garage would be even better for her). I'd also like the person who gets her to continue with what I started and finish making her the beauty she once was. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I think I've covered everything one would need to know. Headlights open, although now one doesn't want to close. I suspect a vacuum leak somewhere. The sequencers don't work, but she still has signals front and back. The back has center light that blinks. She's a daily driver, she runs good and looks good. All the interior lights work. She also has a later model AM FM Stereo from a newer Ford. The console isn't cut up. so original radios can still go in her. Mileage to my knowledge is correct. Once past a certain age the state of Idaho doesn't require accurate mileage readings. They usually put "exempt" in the title area where Mileage is to go. On Jan-25-12 at 16:09:14 PST, seller added the following information: She also (thanks to me) has some scars on both doors from Grandmas Garage doors. I forgot to mention these only because I've gotten used to them being there and they don't effect anything mechanically. On Jan-27-12 at 15:04:10 PST, seller added the following information: For additional images please follow or copy and past this link into your browser's address bar. This is a set in my Flickr account and I just posted new pics today. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cauldrongraphix/sets/72157627700461278/ On Jan-27-12 at 19:11:26 PST, seller added the following information: *****Hello everyone watching this or bidding on this auction! I have run into a problem with the door locks that I thought I had fixed - namely that the doors open fine until you lock the doors. As I said, I thought I had fixed the problem months ago but when I went out tonight to move the Cougar the doors would not budge. Luckily the window was far down enough that I could get to the push down button. To the highest bidder - feel free to cancel your bid if you like after finding out this information. Please email me with any questions.