1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E four speed Tribute Car

Description

I am not a dealer - small time collector building a new house and have to downsize my collection.Bought this sweet '68 Cougar a few years ago to build as a 1968 GT-E 428 CJ four speed tribute car - I used as my inspiration a genuine Augusta Green '68 GTE 428 CJ four speed car you can see in Hemmings online article "Rare Cat Spotted in Maine: a 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT-E" - which sold in 2015 for $228,800 at OwlsHead Classic Auction. Last December there was a red '68 GTE 427 engine / automatic car on Ebay for $47,770.00 - MY RESERVE IS FAR BELOW THAT !!
I have literally driven the car less than 1,500 miles since I bought it as it sat in the GT-E project phase most of the time - body work & mouldings, paint, interior, drivetrain upgrade, etc.
This '68 Cougar was originally a factory 3 spd manual 302 engine car and it appears I may be only the 3rd owner.
GT-E PARTS -I bought the GT-E badges, body mouldings, headlight bars, and tail pipe splitters from West Coast Cougars - total cost around $3,500.00 alone. Bought a new correct reproduction 428CJ Ram Aircleaner from FordRamAir for around $1,000.00 by itself.
DRIVETRAIN. Guy I bought the Cougar from told me he had rebuilt the engine not long before I bought the car and here is what HE SAID the car had: " 393 Stroker Motor on 351 Windsor block; SCAT 393 stroker kit with forged crank, rods, flt-top pistons; new balancer; World Products Windsor Sr. Lite aluminum heads; Comp roller tip rockers; Carter hi-volume fuel pump; Ford Toploader 4 speed trans; Centerforce Dual Friction clutch; Ford 9 inch rear with Auburn 3:55/1 gears and Traction Lock"; relying on what HE said;
Engine: Parts I have changed/added to Engine to get the GT-E appearance: Weiand low rise aluminum intake; Holley 600 polished carb with electric choke; jet coated the headers; new Cougar valve covers (a dealer option); high-flow water pump; new starter; and most recently a new Ford distributor with Petronix Blaster ingnition, Blaster Coil, and Petronix plug wires (June 2018);[I have a Holley 650 double pumper elec. choke & new Petronix Flamethrower Billet Distributor (see photo below) BUT the Cobra Jet air cleaner will not fit properly with these parts]; NEW GAS TANK installed with new sending unit; engine needs Supreme fuel for octane & timing set;
Note: I have the Cougar set up to be a cruiser, a good driver car, not a drag race car or a car to be taken out & punished.
Transmission: Ford 4 speed Toploader - we rebuilt the trans & shifts great; Centerforce clutch is good; Installed new Hurst Competition Plus shifter with new shifter rods;
Exhaust: jet coated the headers, installed 3 inch header dumps with cutouts, and 2.5 inch Magnaflow exhaust with Y pipe, and correct 1968 GT-E polished exhaust splitters;
Rear End - Ford 9 inch with Auburn 3:55/1 rear gears and Traction lock (per prior Owner); drives good;
Brakes & Steering - power steering; Installed new front Coil Springs, shocks, shock mount towers, shock mount brace bar; Front Disc Brakes, Rear Drum Brakes; Nov. 2017 did $3,500 in work on improving steering & braking, including rebuilt Power Brake Booster & Master Cylinder; new brake hoses & calipers, steering/suspension bushings/mounts, front end alignment, and New Power Steering slave cylinder installed; Cougar steers, rides, & stops well;
Paint & Body - solid body; body work and new quality paint job in 2017 - correct '68 Mercury August Green & Argent colorswith correct CJ428 hood scoop; NEW Mercury & Cougar emblems; correct GT-E emblems, body mouldings, & front grille bar; NEW driver side mirror; chrome bumpers are good (one blemish on top of rear bumper); recently pressurewashed the undercarriage [see photos below]; paint looks great - minor scratch below hood scoop, slight rock scratch;
Interior - 1968 Mercury "Ivy Gold" factory color with the "Standard" model Cougar interior; 2017 installed NEW parts: Front & Rear seat covers, with foam padding; headliner; Black dashpad; kick panels; rear package tray shelf; floor Carpet set; seatbelts; sill plates; front doo armrests; walking Cougar floormats; Rear View mirror; Original Parts: front door & rear side panels; dashboard & gauges; all interior lights work; metal on dashboard has slight pitting and a dash rechrome would enhance to show car quality; factory Cougar 4 speed console repainted;
Trunk - solid, not rusted - new rear seat divider board; new trunk mat & spare tire cover; new cardboard inserts around compartment; trunk lock is a little loose (I have a new Trunk lock that goes with the car); no jack.
Electrical & Gauges - New Turn Signal switch; new Ignition switch; Front headlight doors open & close correctly; Rear Sequential turn signal/tail lights work; Front Turn Signals work [have new Front Turn signal housings - see photos below]; Speedometer works with new able and speedo gear at transmission - mileage not accurate; Factory Oil & Temp disconnected - installed a new Oil & Temp gauge set mounted under Dash by the Driver's door; heater & fan motor work; windshield wipers work; fuel gauge not functioning - we installed new fuel sending unit with the new Fuel Tank, but there is apparently a resister behind the dash Fuel gauge that must also be replaced); radio does not work;
Tires & Wheels - November 2017 installed new Specialty Wheels correct 15x6.5" 1968 Cougar rims, wheel cap centers, & lug nuts, with new Coker reproduction Firestone Wide Oval radial tires; new wheels balanced & front end alignment performed;
Recent Work: - August 2018 - new Champion 4 core Aluminum radiator with new radiator hoses installed, & new thermostat core; tune up with new plugs, oil & filter change;
OTHER PARTS- see photo below - I am including with the sale of this Cougar several additional parts: some original paperwork I got with the car; a really nice XR7 dashboard (in case someone wants to turn it into an XR7 interior);new Petronix Billet Aluminum Distributor; Holley 650 double pumper elec. choke; small extra parts; walking Cougar; several engine compartment decals; new Gas cap; new Regulator; new Front Turn Signal complete housings; new Distributor cap;
VEHICLE SOLD "AS-IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY AS A USED VEHICLE, except for warranty of good Title. This vehicle is 50 years old and sold "AS-IS" !
INSPECTIONS. Vehicle is sold "AS IS" Without Warranty by Seller. I have tried to describe the vehicle fairly, BUT I always encourage a Buyer to Test Drive or get an inspection of the vehicle. Seller will assist Buyer with a Test Drive or Inspection at Buyer's cost. Vehicle Sold "As Is" means that once Buyer received the vehicle, Buyer can not contact me and tell me you don't like how the car looks, or you don't like how the car drives, or you thought the car would run better, or you thought the car was faster, or you thought the paint was nicer, or anything etc.
PICKUP/DELIVERY. Buyer responsible for all costs associated with Pickup of vehicle or arranging transport of vehicle. Vehicle must be picked up by Buyer or Transporter within 30 days of sale. Seller will keep vehicle garaged and insured until vehicle is actually picked up by the Buyer or Buyer's Transporter.
TITLE & PAYMENT - I own personally and have the Title in hand. Title not delivered until Seller paid in full.
PAYMENT. Non-Refundable Deposit of $1,000.00 via PayPal wihtin 24 hours of Sale/Close of Auction. Balance due and payable within 20 days of Sale/Close of Auction. If the Non-Refundable Deposit is not made within 24 hours of Sale, Buyer Reserves the right to re-list the vehicle for Sale and/or offer the vehicle to the next highest bidder.
Vehicle is advertised for sale locally and the Seller reserves the right to end the auction at any time prior to the "Reserve" price being met.
"Serious Bidders", again "Serious Bidders", may message me with any questions. You can also check my Ebay feedback. Thanks.