1968 4 Speed Cobra Jet Cougar

[propayne]

This Cougar has been the talk of the Cougar Community lately - thought some here might find it interesting.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Mercury-Cougar-428-Cobra-Jet-Ram-Air-4spd-/153215437714

Up for Auction is an EXTREMELY RARE 1968.5 R-Code Ram Air 428 Cobra Jet, 4spd, 4:30 Traction Lok, Factory Staggered Shock drag car.

According to Cougar experts and the Kevin Marti book "Cougar by the Numbers", this is one of only 64 R-Code 428 Cobra Jet Ram Air 4spd Cougars made in 1968.  This specific car also has the super high 4:30 rear axle ratio 9" that was later called the "Drag Pack" option in 1969.  Eleven are known to still exist and this is the only 4:30 rear axle car known.  These 64 4spd cars were the ONLY 1968 Cougars produced with the factory staggered shock conversion similar to what was done with Boss 429 Mustangs. The conversion required an entirely different trunk floor and spare tire location.  This is also a disc brake delete car as all 428CJ cars came standard with heavy duty suspension and disc brakes and this may be the only one built in this configuration. Drum brakes were considered lighter and create less drag for racing. 

Because these cars are so rare, there has only been ONE of the 64 1968 R-Code 4spd cars produced that has publicly sold within the last three years at the Owlshead Auction in 2015.  This was a dark green "survivor" GTE with original paint and interior, both showing patina and wear and two body shop repairs. A buyer paid $228,000 for the car. Noted Cougar experts have stated that this car now being sold on ebay in this listing could be a $200,000 plus car if restored properly and is one of the "Holy grail" of collectible Cougars and Ford Muscle Cars.     

The history of this car is as follows:

Bought new from Spitzer Motors in Elyria Ohio on 6-10-68. (See Marti-Report) The Spitzers are a drag racing family and still make dragsters today. This car was raced from the time it was new, but that racing history is unknown.  There is a chance this car may be the Nemesis drag car out of Canada, but that has not been confirmed and is a long shot. The Nemesis drag car was painted black. This car was painted black over its original red paint and this is evident and visable under the current paint.  This car was then sold to Danny Stanley from Kentucky and at the time he bought it, the car was black with ET mag wheels. One of the vintage photos shows the black Nemesis drag car with ET mags on the front and steel wheels on the rear.  Danny Stanley raced this car for years as a black car and then sold it to a couple that painted it silver with black accents. The car was then sold to a man in Fenton Michigan who owned it from 1983-1984 when it was then sold to a Cougar Club member named Debra Sudlow. From 1984 through 1988 Ms. Sudlow restored this Cougar back to factory condition and it was shown at the 1988 Cougar Nationals. (two photos on this listing show this exact car at the 1988 Cougar Nationals). Sometime between 1992 through 1999 the car was sold to the 6th owner who lived in South Carolina and he installed the wing and front spoiler and made some racing modifications. In 2000 the car was sold to a man named Sherwood Strong that brought it back to Sarasota Florida. He rebuilt the engine, put the Weld Dragstar wheels with racing slicks, MSD, Traction Bars and an aluminum radiator and cooling fans. He drove it a few times and it "scared the crap out of him" so he parked it next to his house for years. That is where most of the current damage occurred.  The car was rescued by the current owner in September of 2018. The car has 46k original miles and the title confirms the mileage as original.   

Copies of the Marti-Report as well as the "personalized" Marti Report are posted in the listing photographs.  I have decoded the car and found the following

The 428CJ engine that is in the car is date coded 9B6 (2-6-1969) so it is an early 1969 Cobra Jet engine and not original to this car. Heads are dated 9B4 so the engine appears to have all come from the same vehicle and the engine is NOT assembled from parts.  The original February 1969 intake and a factory service correct Cobra Jet Holley are with the car and an aftermarket intake and carb are on the car. The engine has an 8 quart racing oil pan but the original oil pan and widage tray are with the car.  The engine also has original Cobra Jet aluminum valve covers, but the original Chrome stamped steel valve covers are also with the car. The engine was supposedly rebuilt less than 500 miles ago, it does turn but there has been no attempt to start it. It did look brand new under the valve covers when checking the date codes.

Trans is a Rug AZ from a 1970 Boss 429 or 1970 428CJ and also not original to the car.  It has a Hurst shifter installed now, but an original shifter handle is with the car.  Rear Axle is the correct 9" with the tapered ends, 31 spline and a correct "N" rear chunk with a correct traction lok of unknown gear ratio. 

Although this is not the original engine or transmission, a complete 1969 Cobra Jet engine has a value of between $6,000 and $8,000.  The Rug AZ Toploader also has a value of around $2,000. Trading these towards a date coded 1968 428CJ will not be difficult. 

The original door tag, buck tag and dash VIN tag are still mounted on the car with the factory fasteners and look to have never been disturbed.  The factory VIN stamp is still in place on the driver's side apron with the engine Stamp blank which is correct for this car. The passenger fender has not been removed to see if there are other VIN stamps present. All VIN numbers match each other and the free and clear Florida title.

The car has extensive rust on the roof under the vinyl top and will need a full roof replacement. Front frame rails look very nice as do the braced wrap around shock towers. There is the typical rust spots where the upper aprons overlap in front of and behind the shock towers. Aprons otherwise look very nice. The hood is rusted but the original and VERY rare hand laid fiberglass correct R-Code 1968.5 scoop is still present. I have been offered $2,000 for this part alone as these were a 1968 Cougar R code only item. 

Car will need full floors and both torque boxes. Rear toque boxes will not need replacing.  The rear trunk area is very solid all around the staggered shock panels and they will need no rust repair or attention. There is rust through above the driver's side rear spring shackle. Dash hats have not been inspected but I would assume they leak as well. Quarter panels and wheelhouses also seem surprisingly solid but the quarters are rusted badly at the top under the vinyl top.  The decklid and hood are not repairable but easy to replace. Doors have the typical rust spot at the front lower corner.  Fenders are solid and straight. Grille, bumpers and lower valances are good. Grille is very nice.  There is a complete and solid 1968 Cougar parts car that has been disassembled available near me for $1,500.

It is missing the original radiator, shroud, distributor, air cleaner, fan and exhaust manifolds. Car also comes with three original Styled Steel Wheels and an original shifter.

Over 75 photographs of the car can be seen at the link below.

http://s21.photobucket.com/user/TenHemi/library/1968%20Cougar%20R-Code?sort=3&page=1

Car is being sold with a starting bid of $1,000 and an absolute NO RESERVE.  Inspections are welcome.  If there is something specific you would like a photo of just send an email asking.  I will answer all questions and will be glad to talk to serious buyers by phone. I have a free and clear Florida title for the car.  I can store the car indoors for about a month for no charge while shipping is arranged as long as the car is paid in full within the 7 days required.

[427heaven]

Good Luck on your sale. I hope it brings all the money for a complete restoration, instead of another car used to cannibalize parts for their other projects. 

[propayne]

Not my car and I have no affiliation with the seller.

- Phillip

[papa scoops]

extensive roof rust. what do you call the hood? paint chipped? phred

[Wedgeman]

Scoops. it will ...BUFF OUT !!.....

[propayne]

Coming soon from NPD via Dynacorn.



- Phillip

[2112]

Too bad they stored the car in salt water.   

[Bob Gaines]

Too bad they stored the car in salt water.   

It would be totally gone if salt water . I think more likely spent some time at the bottom of a lake or pond .  

[deathsled]

Tough crowd. But not unjustifiably so. She sure is rough.

[427heaven]

When I look at that car it brings back memories of all the Cougars that gave their lives for mustangs. I have parted many that were better condition. I don't think any cougars are cracking 100k these days but maybe I be smokin crk.

[silverton_ford]

I don't think any cougars are cracking 100k these days but maybe I be smokin crk.

The 427 and 428CJ Cougars are breaking 100k easily.   

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1968-MERCURY-COUGAR-GT-E-427-2-DOOR-COUPE-96087

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2015/07/13/rare-cat-spotted-in-maine-a-1968-mercury-cougar-xr-7-gt-e-with-a-428-cobra-jet-and-a-four-speed/

[CSX4781]

Coming soon from NPD via Dynacorn.



- Phillip

Phillip,
   You need that car to park beside your XR7-G......

Dave

[propayne]

Hey Dave!

It would be an awesome Cougar all done.

Apparently it was still in decent shape in the late '90s, but the last owner left it outside in his yard in Florida - so most of that rot probably happened since then.

- Phillip

[Bigfoot]

I don't think any cougars are cracking 100k these days but maybe I be smokin crk.

The 427 and 428CJ Cougars are breaking 100k easily.   

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1968-MERCURY-COUGAR-GT-E-427-2-DOOR-COUPE-96087

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2015/07/13/rare-cat-spotted-in-maine-a-1968-mercury-cougar-xr-7-gt-e-with-a-428-cobra-jet-and-a-four-speed/

Not easily and not by a long shot.
Those are outliers...

[557]

The trunk....