1968 Mecury Cougar XR7-G For Sale!

One of the 619 built.

The 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G also known as ONE OF MERCURY’S COOLEST CATS: THE ‘SHELBYIZED’ ’68 COUGAR XR7-G.

Please Google this Cougar, it was a very unique history as well as well equipped Cougar for its time. It is a one year production car of which 619 were ever produced.

Here is some info from a web site for performance Fords. “The Cougar XR7-G started life as the high-option XR-7 as produced in the Dearborn Assembly Plant in late 1967 through early 1968. The idea behind this model was to provide a "status" car similar to the Shelby Mustangs being sold and raced by Ford and to bring enthusiast traffic into the Mercury showrooms. Dan Gurney was much more concerned with building and driving race cars than in developing a special production car carrying his already overused name or initials, so the job to package the XR7-G fell to none other than Ford’s old buddy, Carroll Shelby.”

So what exactly made this special edition Cougar different?
The XR7-G package included:
o    Special XR7-G badges on the right headlamp door, both roof pillars and the trunk latch cover
o    Lucas Fog Lamps mounted in a custom front valance
o    A unique fiberglass hood scoop
o    Racing-style hood pins with cables
o    A third, extra-loud horn
o    Bullet-shaped remote adjustable racing mirror
o    Specially wrapped steering wheel with a gold ‘running cat’ in the center button
o    Leather-covered console with switches.  The console included a standard AM radio  and Rally Clock
o    Special shift knob made of real wood with an inlaid gold ‘running cat’
o    Gold dash logo reading ‘Cougar XR7-G’
o    Leather-covered door pulls on both door panels
o    Spoked wheels made by Rader Wheel Company. (These were recalled early in production and replaced by styled steel wheels. Either wheel used a unique hubcap which included the XR7-G logo
o    Dual exhaust system with special ‘pipe in a pipe’ slash tips and chrome-trimmed rear valance cutout
The Mercury Cougar XR7-G hit the showrooms in March of 1968. The only promotions were a full-page ad that appeared in the April 26, 1968, issue of Life magazine and a television commercial which was also part of a corporate announcement that a power-operated sunroof was now available on any 1968 Cougar.

My Notes from the Present Owner.

I purchased this car in Feb 2020 before all the virus issues etc. It was going to be (still might be) my first classic car that my father and I wanted before he passed away. I thought it would be fun but due to new medical issues with family members, my life is changing from a car-giver to a full time care-giver. This cat needs to run instead of being locked up in the garage, waiting to see if I will get back to it.

It is located near Petersburg, IL, about 24 miles northwest of Springfield, IL. You can contact me at egorny@gis2gps.com

My time to work on the car is very limited, but here is some of the things I did to it as I can.

Replaced the thermostat value, new fluids etc. It didn’t work when I got it.

New Battery – tested system, works fine.

Installed an actual relay for the horns ( which didn’t work that well when I got it). All three horns now work. The reason was that the horn wiring was actually positive through the horn button (Ford design) and the draw with the three horns (part of the XR7-G package – 2 Ford horns and one Delco horn) caused them to be weak sounding.

Had the front seats foam cushions installed on the bottoms and seat back. They also replaced some of the springs (feel pretty nice now).

Had the interior panel for the sun roof reupholstered and installed – when I got it, the frame was in the trunk.

He mentions that the roof works intermediate at times, it is the power button on the console, I sprayed contact cleaner into it and it will work. Probably should be taken out and cleaned or replaced.

New gas tank was installed before I got it, I noticed as well.

Car starts right up and runs well. Took it on a 70 mile trip one way to get the seats done, cruises very nice as well as being a head turner.

The paint is a very nice 10 footer, but does have some cracks in it. I feel that it wasn’t prepped right from the last repaint. I was planning to get it repainted after getting all the bugs out.

Right now I plan to do little things on it when possible. No real major issues. AC unit does cycle at times, needs a charge or replaced.

So that is my story. Life throws things at you and you just have to adjust. Just hate seeing this sit in a garage. It does have a clear ILLINOIS title and can be sold anytime a good offer comes up.

Asking $34,500 for it. This is the present Hagerty Price Guide on the Cougar – XR7-G is pictured below. (July 19, 2020). If you notice, it says add 15% for AC. All the plumbing is there for the AC.

Another often used site for classic car evaluation is NADA. Here is the latest infor from them. (July 19, 2020).

 

Previous Notes from the person I purchased the car from.
 
This 1968 Mercury Cougar was built on June 22, 1968 and is one of 619 models equipped with the Dan Gurney-inspired XR7-G package, which included a fiberglass hood scoop, styled steel wheels, a power sunroof, and vinyl roof covering. Power is from a 302ci V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission, and the car was repainted black under previous ownership. The seller has added approximately 2k miles over the last decade, and work during his ownership included installing a Pertronix electronic ignition system and replacing the exhaust, power steering control unit, wheels, and center caps. This Cougar XR7-G is now offered with an Elite Marti report and a clean Florida title in the seller’s name.

Final assembly of the XR7-G was completed by A.O. Smith of Detroit, Michigan, and specific equipment included a revised front valance with integrated fog lights, a dual-inlet fiberglass hood scoop, racing-style hood pins, bullet-shaped side mirrors, a vinyl roof, sequential rear turn signals, and dual chrome-trimmed exhaust outlets. This example was finished in Onyx (A) from the factory and was reportedly repainted under previous ownership. The seller notes cracking and other blemishes in the paint, as well as rust bubbling on the quarter panels around the rear windows. 

Replacement 14” styled steel wheels feature XR7-G center caps and wear Cooper tires that were installed in 2018 according to the seller. Equipment includes a heavy-duty suspension, front disc brakes, and power steering, and work performed under current ownership is said to have included the installation of replacement lower control arms, power steering control joint, and steering rag joint. The front fog lights are not functional per the seller.

Originally trimmed in Dark Ivy Gold leather, the interior has been reupholstered in black. Factory equipment includes front bucket seats, a power sunroof, an AM/FM radio, and woodgrain trim. Under current ownership a replacement console tray and a dashboard-mounted Dan Gurney signature plate have been installed. The sunroof works intermittently according to the seller, while the tilt-away steering column, air-conditioning, and clock are inoperable.

The steering wheel features a gold Cougar logo and an aftermarket cover and fronts a five-digit odometer that shows 19k miles, approximately 2k of which were added by the seller. 

The F-code 302ci V8 is paired with a three-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission and produced 210 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque when new. A four barrel carburetor, a Flowmaster exhaust system, and a Petronix electronic ignition system have been added under current ownership.

The Elite Marti report lists a build date of June 22, 1968 and shows production statistics, factory colors and options, and original delivery to Al Castrucci Lincoln Mercury in Cincinnati, Ohio. The car was featured on the cover of the National Parts Depot Cougar parts catalog second edition as shown in the gallery.

 

Pictures from the person I purchased the car from.
They are from Feb 2020. Not much has changed.
I will try to add newer ones if I have the time.

It has been garage kept since the purchase.
Click on the picture for a larger picture.

       

Pictures of problem areas - taken by the seller I purchased the car from