67' Cougar project - Original Pony Car

**SVTnSD** · 12-15-2011, 12:33 AM

Winters here in South Dakota are long, so I bought a winter project. Its a 67' Cougar from eastern Iowa.
This is my "third" 67/ 68 Cougar and its my third black 67/ 68 Cougar. I like black cats, they're just sinister looking from the front and still a pony car.

A little about Cougar's.. They are considered the cousin to the Mustang, they are the same floor pan size and unibody design. 1967 was the first year of the Cougar and it was also Motor Trend's car of the year.
This means that many parts used on classic Mustangs can also be used on these old Coog's.

This car was obtained by the former owner when the previous owner died. Thats about all I know about it.

From the looks of it, someone tried to restore the car some ten or so years ago. A crappy lacquer paint job, shoddy welding throughout the unibody, a rusted out trunk, bad subframe supports and an electrical nightmare are featured in this car. I'm sure there is more that I'm missing. Maybe its was the love affair with body bondo that someone had with the car. This all makes me wonder if I shouldn't just turn it into a parts car for Ebay lovers.

The good? The white interior with an original Onyx black exterior looks striking. The bench seat, original and unmolested 289 with C4 trans work well, the drum brakes have been serviced, a new fuel tank, master cylinder and a great set of tires are a few more pluses.

Plans are to get it streetable and drive it for a while and put it on ebay.

Oh, that's not my house or garage in the pics!

**BlownFiveLiter** · 12-15-2011, 02:18 PM

Yikes, have a little rust! The Cougars are bad ass looking cars, I definitely agree. This one is going to be quite a bit of work though. It's still savable, but you're looking at (from what I can tell) new trunk and floor panels, and after seeing the engine compartment, I'd be afraid to see the inside of the cowl. I know repop ones are available, but it'll start adding up and you have to wonder if it's worth saving?

**aar0s** · 12-15-2011, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlownFiveLiter

Yikes, have a little rust! The Cougars are bad ass looking cars, I definitely agree. This one is going to be quite a bit of work though. It's still savable, but you're looking at (from what I can tell) new trunk and floor panels, and after seeing the engine compartment, I'd be afraid to see the inside of the cowl. I know repop ones are available, but it'll start adding up and you have to wonder if it's worth saving?

It does send a shiver up my spine too, but ive seen your work and what you can do, I think your up to the challenge.
There is a guy here in town that got his dad's old Cougar, pea green and looks brand new. Im sure if you get under it it's a rust bucket. nice car though.

**SVTnSD** · 12-16-2011, 06:59 AM

I agree, after looking around with a rubber mallet I found extensive rust damage throughout the front frame and floor pan sections. After looking at what it would take to get it streetable, the cost is around $1500 in sheet metal parts. Looking under the dash, the previous owner or two ago really did a number on the electrical system. There is a lot of shoddy welding from previous owners and its extensive.

All this considered, my heart sunk when I listed the car for sale. The next day it sold to a guy who had one as his first car. He plans to do a rotisserie restoration.

Maybe I'll have another Cougar some day.

**BlownFiveLiter** · 12-16-2011, 11:40 AM

Yeah, that one looks like it would have been quite a bit of work. I would've loved the progress thread that would have taken us through the restoration process (tell the new owner to register!!!!!), but you already have the Mustang project going and this one may have ended up being just as much work, if not more. I looked at picking up a 66 or 67 (don't remember) Fairlane GTA I saw on eBay last year, but my logical side kicked in and as cheap as it was, there was a reason for that. I think it was $2,500, but I'm sure it needed at least that much in floor pans, fenders, quarters, etc. Parts for Fairlanes aren't as easy to come by as Mustangs either, so I would've had my hands full with that one. Would've been a fun car though. 390 and a 4 speed. Someday I'll have one and you'll get that Cougar...

**SVTnSD** · 12-17-2011, 08:25 AM

I agree.. Have since been looking for another Cougar but cannot find any black ones out there. I'm really looking for a "nice day" driver and I can do some work on.

Any GTA car is a good catch !

What do you think about this car?

1967 Plymouth Barracuda

**aar0s** · 12-17-2011, 03:18 PM

Not bad, hard to tell from CL pics but if its as good as it looks there then 5G wouldnt be bad.

**SVTnSD** · 12-17-2011, 05:49 PM

from the looks of it, the car has been sitting for a while and likely it has a lot more wrong with it than the owner describes

12-15-2011, 12:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
SVTnSD OPC Staff Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 114	67' Cougar project Winters here in South Dakota are long, so I bought a winter project. Its a 67' Cougar from eastern Iowa. This is my "third" 67/ 68 Cougar and its my third black 67/ 68 Cougar. I like black cats, they're just sinister looking from the front and still a pony car. A little about Cougar's.. They are considered the cousin to the Mustang, they are the same floor pan size and unibody design. 1967 was the first year of the Cougar and it was also Motor Trend's car of the year. This means that many parts used on classic Mustangs can also be used on these old Coog's. This car was obtained by the former owner when the previous owner died. Thats about all I know about it. From the looks of it, someone tried to restore the car some ten or so years ago. A crappy lacquer paint job, shoddy welding throughout the unibody, a rusted out trunk, bad subframe supports and an electrical nightmare are featured in this car. I'm sure there is more that I'm missing. Maybe its was the love affair with body bondo that someone had with the car. This all makes me wonder if I shouldn't just turn it into a parts car for Ebay lovers. The good? The white interior with an original Onyx black exterior looks striking. The bench seat, original and unmolested 289 with C4 trans work well, the drum brakes have been serviced, a new fuel tank, master cylinder and a great set of tires are a few more pluses. Plans are to get it streetable and drive it for a while and put it on ebay. Oh, that's not my house or garage in the pics! Last edited by SVTnSD; 12-15-2011 at 12:37 AM.

12-15-2011, 02:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
BlownFiveLiter OPC Staff Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago 'burbs Posts: 587	Yikes, have a little rust! The Cougars are bad ass looking cars, I definitely agree. This one is going to be quite a bit of work though. It's still savable, but you're looking at (from what I can tell) new trunk and floor panels, and after seeing the engine compartment, I'd be afraid to see the inside of the cowl. I know repop ones are available, but it'll start adding up and you have to wonder if it's worth saving? __________________ Matt 1995 Mustang GT Mustang's Mods Vortech V2SQ \| TFS Twisted Wedge heads \| TFS 51402000 (stage 1) cam \| Typhoon intake 70mm throttle body \| SCT BA-2400 MAF \| Siemens 60lb. injectors \| Dual 255lph fuel pumps TwEECer RT \| MAC off road X-pipe \| Flowmaster 2 chamber mufflers Cobra front brakes \| 2000 Cobra R wheels \| 96-98 export taillights

12-16-2011, 11:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
BlownFiveLiter OPC Staff Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago 'burbs Posts: 587	Yeah, that one looks like it would have been quite a bit of work. I would've loved the progress thread that would have taken us through the restoration process (tell the new owner to register!!!!!), but you already have the Mustang project going and this one may have ended up being just as much work, if not more. I looked at picking up a 66 or 67 (don't remember) Fairlane GTA I saw on eBay last year, but my logical side kicked in and as cheap as it was, there was a reason for that. I think it was $2,500, but I'm sure it needed at least that much in floor pans, fenders, quarters, etc. Parts for Fairlanes aren't as easy to come by as Mustangs either, so I would've had my hands full with that one. Would've been a fun car though. 390 and a 4 speed. Someday I'll have one and you'll get that Cougar... __________________ Matt 1995 Mustang GT Mustang's Mods Vortech V2SQ \| TFS Twisted Wedge heads \| TFS 51402000 (stage 1) cam \| Typhoon intake 70mm throttle body \| SCT BA-2400 MAF \| Siemens 60lb. injectors \| Dual 255lph fuel pumps TwEECer RT \| MAC off road X-pipe \| Flowmaster 2 chamber mufflers Cobra front brakes \| 2000 Cobra R wheels \| 96-98 export taillights

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12-16-2011, 06:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
SVTnSD OPC Staff Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 114	I agree, after looking around with a rubber mallet I found extensive rust damage throughout the front frame and floor pan sections. After looking at what it would take to get it streetable, the cost is around $1500 in sheet metal parts. Looking under the dash, the previous owner or two ago really did a number on the electrical system. There is a lot of shoddy welding from previous owners and its extensive. All this considered, my heart sunk when I listed the car for sale. The next day it sold to a guy who had one as his first car. He plans to do a rotisserie restoration. Maybe I'll have another Cougar some day.

12-17-2011, 08:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
SVTnSD OPC Staff Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 114	I agree.. Have since been looking for another Cougar but cannot find any black ones out there. I'm really looking for a "nice day" driver and I can do some work on. Any GTA car is a good catch ! What do you think about this car? 1967 Plymouth Barracuda

12-17-2011, 03:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
aar0s OPC Staff Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 602	Not bad, hard to tell from CL pics but if its as good as it looks there then 5G wouldnt be bad.

12-17-2011, 05:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
SVTnSD OPC Staff Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 114	from the looks of it, the car has been sitting for a while and likely it has a lot more wrong with it than the owner describes