Vehicle Description
1968 Mercury Cougar Hardtop
"If you want a sports car and she wants a luxury car, or vice
versa, you both want a Cougar. Named Motor Trend magazine Car of
the Year its first year out, Cougar for '68 is out to win new world
records. Four new models, each with an equipment list that would
turn every other car in its class green with envy. Each with
personal luxury touches previously found only on the costliest of
European models." From the 1968 Mercury sales brochure.
For consignment, a 1968 Mercury Cougar with a title verified 93,323
actual miles. In 1968, 113,741 2 door Cougar hardtops were built,
less than half as many as the number of Mustangs produced that
year. There's no getting around the impressive design of the car
and rumor has it, it was intended to be the American Jaguar. Few
tail light bars are as distinctive. But there's more. Let's get
into it.
Exterior
You can't miss this cat coming down the street and not just because
of its classic lines. That yellow paint is bright with a capital B
and is contrasted nicely by the black fill between the bright trim
of the grille and headlight covers, the vinyl top, and of course
the tires riding on 15-inch gold accented hurricane wheels. In a
conscious design choice, the car's tail lights mimic the front and
span nearly as far, interrupted only by the space for the license
plate. It's here where the Mustang lines are evident and the
valance mounted reverse lights bring the point home, forget Jaguar,
this was Mercury's Mustang! The profile lacks some of the dress up
bits from the Mustang and the Cougar was marketed as a luxury
sports car, so removing those add ons tamed its exterior profile.
There's nothing left on the side but sizable side markers while a
Cougar emblem is planted on a front headlight cover. Some of the
brightwork will need refurbishing, but the vinyl top seems to be in
great shape. Imperfections include rust at the pinch weld below the
rocker panel, various sizable paint chips, porous and uneven
filler, and numerous spots of bubbling.
Interior
Black vinyl door panels, familiar if you know classic Mustangs,
adorn the doors with a metal trim ring around the perimeter and a
Cougar emblem up high. The low back bucket seat for the driver is
torn in several places, the passenger seat is missing, and the back
seats look pretty good. The steering wheel is tired but intact and
shares the column with a SunTune tachometer in front of the
standard instrument cluster, also tired with peeling chrome plastic
trim and switchgear with patina. The center stack houses an AM/FM
radio and a nifty storage compartment covered with a garage like,
roll up door. A T-shifter is in the center console and the
surrounding base could use some restoration. The carpet is in bad
shape and will need to be replaced but the headliner is in place
and tight.
Drivetrain
It's patina city under the hood where coating on the fender tops
and walls is peeling with surface and invasive rust underneath.
Metallic blue valve covers shine through, but barely in this driver
quality bay that's home to a 302ci V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor
and a C4 3-speed automatic transmission. Power is transferred to
the Ford 8" axle in back with 3.00 conventional gears and drum
brakes are provided on all four corners.
Undercarriage
Heavy surface rust covers the underside while rust of a more
invasive nature is on sheet metal body braces. There's some oil on
the pan and some caking of grease on the knuckles, but overall, the
underside is mostly dry. The single exhaust meets a stock style
muffler before exiting via a steel tailpipe colored by pitted
surface rust. Suspension consists of coil springs in front and leaf
springs in the back.
Drive-Ability
Hello sunshine, let's add a bit of brightness to the test loop.
There's a minor rumble out back through the single exhaust and a
bit of noise up front from an exhaust leak. Beyond that, the 302
delivers good power and has some horses hiding in the tank. Anyway,
the car handles just fine, tracks well, and is nearly imperceptible
from a Mustang of the same era, with far more interesting tail and
headlights! Your passenger will have limo-like legroom until you
find a front seat, and not to worry, the aftermarket is there for
you. We must note that the clock is not working and the A/C is also
inoperable while all other functions provided, work. While Classic
Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time
of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be
working at the time of your purchase.
Here's a car with mostly decent big cat bones for a fun, family
project, or drive it as is. Lots of options here for this
roadworthy Cougar from 1968. Once you have it home, you'll want to
pick up Kevin Marti's book, "Cougar" which is a book of statistics
for the 1967-1973 Cougars. Then, join the Cougar club, which as of
this date last year, had over 10,000 members!
8F91F510766
8-1968
F-Dearborn, MI Assy Plant
91-Cougar Hardtop
F-302ci 2bbl V8
510766-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY PLATE
BODY 65A-Cougar Hardtop
COLOR U-Medium Aqua Metallic
TRIM 1A-Black Vinyl
DATE 05M-December 5th
DSO 15-New York
AXLE 5-Ford 8" 3.00 Conventional
TRANS W-C4 Automatic
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
