Project With Parts: 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7
The Ford Mustang and Plymouth Barracuda may have been the first pony cars, but Mercury upped the game a bit when it came out with the Cougar in 1967. The Cougar was a stretched version of the Mustang but outfitted a bit nicer, especially in XR-7 form. Here is a 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 2 door hardtop for sale here on Craigslist in Lambertville, New Jersey. Thanks to Barnfinds reader Roger for bringing this car to our attention.
The Cougar was like a cross between a Mustang and a Thunderbird. The rear of the car is where you really get that sense. It has these wide taillights that borrowed Thunderbird’s sequential turn signals. Up front, it had concealed headlights just like the Thunderbird of the same era. This Cougar XR-7 was a barn find that apparently has been sitting out in the elements for the past two years. The seller admits that he/she will never get to finish the car, so has decided to pass it on to someone who will.
The interior is one of the places you can easily distinguish the XR-7 from the base model. The XR-7 has a nicer leather seating interior. Unfortunately, this one has seen better days and will need to be replaced. I don’t see any cracks in the dash top. Part of the dash paneling is off but is in the trunk. The carpeting will probably need to be replaced. It appears to have an aftermarket air conditioning, but something tells me it doesn’t work.
Here is the engine, complete with leaves and acorns. And where there are acorns, there may be rodents. The engine is a 302 cubic inch with a 2 barrel carburetor. It has an automatic transmission. The seller states that the car runs and drives. The car has 116,000 miles.
There are many parts in the trunk. They include new vinyl top, dash panel, a box of speakers, hood hinges, and exhaust headers. Also included are a trunk lid, door, and hood. The door included is the driver’s door and since there are no pictures of the driver’s side of the car, it may be dented or rusted.
The seller says the price is firm at $4,100, but also later states that he wants you to give him your best offer. So are you ready to take on this project car and dream what it will look like finished?
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Comments
So, 20 seconds with a leaf blower was too much effort…
Maybe use the leaf blower under the hood, too. I’m sure there’s an engine somewhere under Chip and Dale’s retirement acorn stash. I agree with the other comments regarding the price. Too many unknowns, especially regarding rust issues. A 302 two barrel with an auto trans rated at 210hp was the the base engine so performance will be tepid at best. With well over 100,000 miles, unless it was well cared for, the engine will be tired and probably need a re-build. $2,000 at best.
If 68 cougar XR7 is still availlable, I am very interested. I would like to see and purchase with cash. My first car after high school graduation was a 68 cougar XR7, but I had to sell when we started having babies. I’ve wanted one ever since.
Thanks, Jimmy Simpson
With all those leaves piled on the cowl, you can bet the cowl vents are completely rusted out. And with that, it will probably need, at a minimum, front floor boards. You can see the tops of the fender aprons need rust repair as well.
I just don’t see this as a $4100 car. Maybe 1/2 that if there aren’t any other severe rust issues.
The A/C is aftermarket. If the spare hood is not rusted out on the underside that alone would be worth $800-1000.
What’s lurking under the vinyl top would also be an area of concern.
I would wager cash will talk, and loudly.
The price is too high; Dave is right. It’s about a $2000.00 car.
Looks like it has a front clip replacement.
Another accident victim.
The whole passenger side has the most door dings that I have ever seen.
The owners lack of interest with no leaf removal is underwhelming.
this is a parts car. If that.
One of these days I’m going to buy a 67-68 Cougar, but not this one! Too many unknowns.
Have had my eye out for the right one myself, they can still be had for a reasonable price if you’re willing to jump and run with a trailer. The question becomes how far are you willing to go to look at something you may or may not want to buy?
Someone please “rescue” this car, 2 more years with this guy & there will be 0 left ! I just don’t understand it.
Del….wait…..I’ll get a pic of one of my convertibles that sat for years in a business parking lot…..finally got that one when they were going to have to repave the parking lot and wanted it moved….and the business owner finally called.
Barn Finds is making sellers crazy thinking their car will sell faster and for more if it looks like crap AND came out of a barn. The world has been turned upside down! I had a ’67 Cougar convertible…..love to find one with 3 pedals..slushbox not so much.
Mercury did not offer the Cougar as a convertible until the 1969 model year. If you had a 1967 convertible then you either had a very rare factory prototype or a custom conversion.
I remember Ford’s ads about their ‘syrupy smooth’ automatic transmission.
Not what a real performance enthusiast would lust after!
Without moderm media a lot of this stuff would have been crushed.
At least its easier to find a parts car now.
But of course the owners think these things are restorable. Most aren’t