PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - 1967 Cougar 39k "barn find", what do you think?

Jim B. · #1 11-04-2012, 09:42 PM

I found this ambitiously priced thing on ebay, and once owned one of these, and sure would love to own it. Do I need it? Nah. But the condition and provenance sure seems impeccable..

link:

Mercury : Cougar base model in Mercury | eBay Motors

asking $15,500 obo

Ad text:

"A TRUE SURVIVOR" A California Black Plate car. only 39 k original miles. Still in the original owners name.
I saved this car out of a warehouse that was being cleared out. Almost a true barn find. it has the original paint, and interior.
purchased at Pap's Lincoln Mercury in Sunnyvale CA. and kept here in the San Jose area all of it's life.
There is absolutely no rust on this car. except for the areas of every car getting a tiny bit of surface scale, This is stuff like the exhaust and parts on car that are not painted from the factory.
The trunk is like brand new, like it was in 1967. The body is just like it rolled off the assembly line. All the vacuum lines and hoses are completely in tact and everything functions like new, the headlights work great and stay down as they are suppose to.
The inside of the car is immaculate, the steering wheel is near perfect. I have never seen a cougar this nice, and this original.
Please email me with any questions. I am not taking low ball offers, if you know what this car is you will understand, it is a bone stock non modified vehicle. a true one of a kind beauty that needs a good home with someone that can appreciate how things were built back in the 60's

It's just 250 miles away and the area is well known to me.. I'd like to look at least.

What do you guys think? MS Fowler would surely know for sure about these. The owner owns a Mustang/Cobra repair facility.

Some back & forth has so far occured wiith the seller and myself...

Q:

Is the car "turn key", oil ok and tires not old and cracked? looks like 1981 tags? What is vin# for Marti report? Is it green or gold color? Does it have 2bbl 289 or 4bbl? single exhaust? any time or mile based records of oil changes or service? Cruiseoatic trans or 3 or 4 speed manual?Does it have disc or drum front brakes/ ( "DISC BRAKE" ) symbol would be on brake pad cover? red warning light under dash for e-brake? Power steering or brakes? tinted & shaded windshield or just the standard oine without? Console? factory Air cond? Owners manual in the glovebox? Clock r blank in center of dash? Courtesy lights or not on C pillars inside at side of rear sets? Is battery ok, does brakes, lights, horn, etc all work? Are sparkplugs & coolant fresh or ok? Do you know much about history of cr & why stored so long? Is original owner alive? Spare tire & scissors jack in place? Can I come and see before bidding/buying? It is not too far away from here.

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A:

It's a base cougar, no options. I went through the mechanicals and made everything reliable and safe. Drum brakes are all new but drum in the front. I pulled the engine and resealed it as well as the trans. It's an automatic 3 speed c-4 and no console. No options! 289 2bl carb. It runs as smooth as glass. All fluids are new. This is a turn key car, it needs nothing. I had planned on replacing exhaust to dual but it is single factory right now. The trunk is mint, with spare tire and jack included. The owners are not alive as far as I have found out. It was left in a warehouse for more than 20 years, so kept indoors all it's life. I live in auburn so I am close to u , but my shop and car is in Santa Clara area. Let me know and you can come look at it, I can also send you more pics on Monday, and can transport the car to you if you buy it. Thanks for the interest. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Q:

Thank you for the response. My question to you of greatest import is specifically about whether it has no power steering, as I have driven these with power steering only, and found them rather difficult to manage in low speed turning and parking maneuvers even with PS so I am wondering how much tougher (and I am not so young) it might be now.
That said I would like to see the car, in person. 5 minutes looking and 10 driving should do a lot to convince me about what i need to decide, though I am NOT wasting your time here, as I was with a friend at Candlestick Park in SF just yesterday and my friend said he thought he had heard of your business in the South Bay and that it is reputable.

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