I love the enthusiasm of some classic car owners. While they may not perform a hard sell, they give you reasons to justify purchasing their pride and joy. Take this 1969 Mercury Cougar Convertible. The seller state that life is short, and you need a Convertible. Not wishing to argue, I can’t help but agree. The Cougar isn’t perfect, but it is an excellent diver-quality classic begging to be enjoyed. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this classic is listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has hit $15,100 in a No Reserve auction.

Dark Blue Metallic is one of the more stunning shades to grace the panels of the 1969 Cougar, and it is more striking when combined with a White power top. That is what awaits this Mercury’s next owner, and it appears that the car has no serious cosmetic needs. Its paint shines beautifully, with an excellent depth of color and consistency. The panels look impressive, with tight gaps and no visible signs of rust. The grille exhibits wear, and a perfectionist may consider restoring or replacing it. The remaining trim is excellent for a vehicle of this type. The power top works as it should and seems to fit tightly. The Cougar is a classy car offering a slightly more luxurious experience than its Mustang cousin. Therefore, the narrow whitewall tires don’t look out of place on this classic.

Lifting the Cougar’s hood reveals a mystery that needs clarifying. The owner states that a 351ci V8 occupies the engine bay, but it isn’t clear which version. If it’s the H-Code, the driver will have 250hp at their disposal. However, the M-Code bumps that figure to 290hp. Bolted to the V8 is a three-speed automatic transmission that feeds the power to the rear wheels. If the engine is an H-Code, the Cougar will cover the ¼ mile in 16.6 seconds. The M-Code would slice that number to 16 seconds flat. Regardless of which motor calls this car home, it seems that it is in sound health. The seller indicates that it is fast and runs like a train. We can only hope that the train in question is not a steam locomotive!

One of the weaknesses of a Convertible is that with the top down, a sub-standard interior is on show to the world. This Mercury’s interior isn’t perfect, but a few small investments would provide significant improvements. The carpet is worn and faded, but it is serviceable. If the buyer craves a visual boost, $220 will secure a new carpet set. There is a small split on the outer edge of the passenger seat, and the back seat upholstery is faded. A set of slipcovers would hide the problem, but new upholstery for all seats will set the buyer back around $500. Someone cut the door trims and rear trims to accommodate speakers, and an aftermarket radio/cassette player occupies the space previously reserved for the factory radio. It would be tempting to swap the existing cassette player for a retro-look unit and fill the existing holes with new speakers. The remaining trim and dash look like they would be okay for a driver-quality car. As well as the power top, the Cougar scores well with factory air conditioning.

This 1969 Cougar is a tidy classic that offers an alternative to a Mustang Convertible with a dash of luxury and a potentially lower initial outlay. Lifting this car’s interior presentation would not be challenging, but it could wait until summer is a distant memory. If you find it too tempting to resist, joining the bidding party could be your next move. What do you say?