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A friend at work tells me her father is going to sell the old family home, but needs to get rid of an old car in the garage. It was her brothers, but he was injured back in 1981 and couldn't drive anymore. She tells me that her father thinks it needs too much work to be worth anybody in the family keeping it, but she kinds likes it. She's asking me if I know the value, so she can evaluate if its worth fixing up or not. The car is a 1971 Mercury Cougar convertible that's been stored inside since it was parked in 1981. I start asking questions she doesn't have answer for, so she contacts family where the car is located. Then the details start coming... it has a 429 and a 4 speed transmission. Another car guy at work tells me Fords have a lot of information you can get online with the vin number. So we get that and discover its a plain jane Cougar with a 429 Cobra Jet and ram air! She has a picture and its a real pretty metallic blue with white bucket seats. Parking lot dings, but no big dents, and in a dry part of the country so no cancer type rust. So I'm telling her don't hesitate, buy it from your Dad and enjoy it! As long as there's no major problems with the car its likely to increase in value, so call it a family heirloom, investment, or just a fun toy The only thing that could make this story more fun is if the car were a performance Oldsmobile!
Well, for my friends sake I hope its worth a ton of money. It does have the J in the vin, which I believe was the code for 429 CJ ram air. Here's one like it, but fully restored
If it is a true factory 429 she needs to get it or don't let it go for cheap. This is a car that would be worth putting a lot of cash into, if it needs it.
Yes that Cat is worth BIG BUCKS !!!!
Have her get on www.mercurycougar.net , with the vin and door tag info to make sure this Cougar gets documented with the Cougar Club of America.
I have a decoder book that can break down that Cougar to what it really is.
If you PM me with the VIN and door tag info I'll break it down best I can for you (her).
I am no expert but my father-in law was telling me just the other day while we were b.s-ing about cars that those engines alone are worth a lot of money. Cool story
John,
There is an almost complete four door Cutlass for sale on this forum near Eugene - it is calling for you!
Hi Rob
That's Slater up in Eugene. I believe he's planning to build a circle track car out of it. But I agree, there's a lot of nice parts on that car. If it were back in the rust belt someone might be restoring it!
Yes that Cat is worth BIG BUCKS !!!!
Have her get on www.mercurycougar.net , with the vin and door tag info to make sure this Cougar gets documented with the Cougar Club of America.
I have a decoder book that can break down that Cougar to what it really is.
If you PM me with the VIN and door tag info I'll break it down best I can for you (her).
Hi John
I have the vin at work, but remember that it has the J in it. The reference I checked said that keyed out the 429 cobra jet with ram air. When my friend gets it to her house I'll take some pictures to share with you guys. I'll get the door tag then too. The pictures I've seen and information I have so far makes me believe its the same as the one listed on the russoandsteel advertizement. She doesn't know much about cars, but is interested in learning. I'll be sure and share the details on the Cougar Club of America with her.
John
It's RARE, very few made, there was one at Purestock a couple of years ago, and some of the racers were questioning it's validity....the owner had docs. I believe that it later ended up in one of the musclecar mags.
My friend got the car shipped down here. It's got a few dents, but no rust. Eastern Washington is really dry and it was garaged since the early 1980's. Here's a few pic's as I'm helping her get it to a restoration shop for evaluation. It's missing the ram air cleaner and has the wrong carb/intake but hopefully the rest of the drivetrain is original.
I've read a few references. They made either 17 or 18 of this setup for car shows and publicity. As I said before, the only thing that would make this better is if it were an Oldsmobile
That is one rare sleeper, no badges. Owner may want to consider some type of theft insurance before it is roaded or sent to any shop, if possible. Show her how to start research and registration on Merc and Cougar sites. Full info could show it as a one of one when broken down as to colors and options or lack thereof. Was her brother the original owner?
Thanks for the follow-up on a car many would give much to own. (including me) I believe in drivers, but this one maybe a car that turns out to be too valuable, and in its current condition could even pay for a couple of nice drivers.
Great story and what a nice restoration. It is good she came across you John. There are folks out there that would have scammed her since she knew very little about that car. Those of us who have dealt with you know what kind of moral character you are and it was very fortunate for her.
Great story and what a nice restoration. It is good she came across you John. There are folks out there that would have scammed her since she knew very little about that car. Those of us who have dealt with you know what kind of moral character you are and it was very fortunate for her.
Thank you for the complement. Its been fun watching her cars restoration and I'm really glad to see how nice it turned out. John
That is a cool story, and an even cooler car! The restoration turned out VERY well!! I hope the lady gets many years of fun and turned heads out of it!!
Awesome car. One thing I noticed on the front shocks is the nuts are not tight enough and the washers are upside down looking at the pic.
Eric,
You may be right, but . . .
On old BMWs (one of our other "habits"), the shock washers are supposed to be installed cupped-side-out --- which surprised me. Could the same be true for some Ford products?
Hi All. Well, just an update on my friends car. She had it restored and took it to car shows for a few summers. But it was in a storage facility with corrugated metal walls. This last September when the fires swept through the valley enough radiant heat transferred through to ignite her car. Super rare car... but its burned so badly it would be just about impossible to restore again. Here's a few photos.
The heat was enough to melt one of the wheels off. Didn't realize how much dust was on my camera lens. This was facing into the sun, where the dash used to be.
Damn, that's a shame. Hopefully she had good ins. on it. That 429 would probably run again. I took a 350 out of a 76 Cutlass that was about in the same shape.
Changed a few gaskets along with a used intake, carb and valve covers, dropped it in a 79 Chevy pickup back in the day. Starter was still good too. Rooma zoom zoom.
Ughthats terrible john. Tell your friend sorry thathappened. Hopefully she was able toget away w out injury. In the end its only a car, albeit recently restored and rare too.
The only thing that could make this story more fun is if the car were a performance Oldsmobile! 
