1968 Mercury Cougar GT 390 4-speed 1 of 186 black w/ red interior

Description

Please read the whole description.This is a very rare 1968 Mercury Cougar GT that came new from the factory with the S Code 390 4V engine and toploader 4-speed manual transmission, along with a 9" rearend and 3.25 non-posi rearend, tilt away wheel, and a console.Over the years, the car rusted and was probably parted out for a Mustang restoration. I was starting to put it back together but have more projects than I have space for. I'll give you the good and the bad.I bought it without a title and spent hundreds of dollars getting a clear and correct Indiana title. I also spent around $400 to get the full Marti Report that includes new data tag, window sticker, etc...I have the electronic report already but the full report takes four months and I only ordered it about six weeks ago so it will be a bit before I get the rest and hard copy.It looks like they made 186 GT 4-speed cars in 1968, so this one is rare. It's Onyx black with no vinyl top and dark red interior.The door panels are decent but the passenger side has some sagging in the passenger side panel. I purchased nice original armrests for it in the correct color because they were missing. The tilt away wheel was replaced over the years with a non-tilt wheel but I bought another column at a swap meet this fall for $600 and it is included.The kick panels and rear seat side panels look pretty good.The rear seat is the wrong color and will need reupholstered anyway.The front seats also need reupholstered and the drivers seat was incorrect so I bought two correct 1968 cougar bucket seats that are also included.GT emblems are present and good.The clutch, brake, and gas pedals are still present thankfully. The engine and the transmission are not. The glass is all good but the rear window is not installed and needs a gasket.The body is unfortunate and needs a FULL restoration or rebody.The floors are rusted and the passenger side torque box as well.The passenger side shock tower has rust through at the bottom.The disc brakes are still present.The original rearend is still present.The passenger side quarter panel is pretty decent, as is the passenger side door. The roof and cowl are good. The passenger side front fender is decent and I bought a new fender extension for it.The drivers side door has a rust hole, the front fender has a dent, and the rear quarter is rusted.There is no hood, trunklid, or tail lights.The good news is everything needed is reproduced. Torque boxes, floors, even a quarter panel and not unreasonably priced.If it wasn't a big block four speed car and so rare, it wouldn't be worth the effort. But it's the right colors, the right options, and very rare. It has a clear title, a Marti Report, and it's cheaper than the sum of it's parts. I thought I'd offer it once before I part it out (won't be until November).