History
The Mercury Cougar was basically an upmarket version of the Mustang with ‘European’ styling - wood grained dash, European style switches, overhead console, leather upholstery etc. Under the skin it is basically a 1968 Mustang with a slightly longer wheel base.
This is one of 393 Mercury Cougar GT-Es produced in 1968. The first 356 received Ford’s legendary 427ci side-oiler engine, rated at 390HP. The 427 was Ford’s NASCAR engine and was fitted to the Shelby Cobras and other race-ready production cars. The 427 was expensive to produce with its close tolerances, side-oiling system, and 4-bolt main bearings. The final 37 Cougar GT-Es received the new, and cheaper to produce, 428 Cobra Jet engine. Of note, no Mustang was ever produced with a factory 427.
This GT-E was produced at Ford’s Dearborn plant in Detroit Michigan. Completed on 3 April 1968 and sold through Lakeside Lincoln-Mercury at Oakland California. It had one owner through its entire life, who passed away around 2004 and left the car for his nephew, who stored it in a warehouse until I bought it from him in 2014 and shipped in to Brisbane QLD.
The car‘s factory colour was Cardinal Red, but it was repainted in a sort of Calypso Coral with white top back in the 1970s or early 1980s. I have been communicating with the original owner’s family and friends who passed this on.
I have been progressively restoring the car since 2014. The very rare GT-E aluminium anodised side trim has now been restored. The next big job is body and paint work!
Modifications
The coral paint job is not original. Factory emission ‘smog’ control was removed during its working life, but I have a fully restored set to fit. All the rest is original as it came from the factory
