1968 Mercury cougar XR7-G - Shelby

Mercury Cougar 1968 Description

1968 Cougar XR7-G, Hertz version, Marti Report, on G registry, it is the Shelby Mustang of Mercury, 390 4-barrel, Sunroof. This was purchased from E&J wrecking yard in Dec 1974 as a theft recovery by Oakland Police. It currently has clear California title - NOT salvage. It was missing the carb, fog lights, third horn, and door mirror. I have a pair of 1971 fog lights and a 390 S code Holley carb that can go with the car. It has 68,612 on the odometer and has not been on the road since 1974. The cougar is ready for restoration. The XR7-G console with leather armrest and plastic storage box underneath is original. Also includes the original wood shift knob. The under the bumpers valances that are unique to the XR7-G are original. The XR7-G was the tribute car to Dan Gurney for his racing victories with the Ford GT-40 and the Mercury Cougar. Only 188 Hertz XR7-G cougars were made and this is one of them. If you plan on fixing up a cougar, buy this one as it has the collector value. Highly desirable Cardinal red with dark red interior. Jim Email me to see car if in SF bay area or for more photos. I have over 30 photos. This car is currently listed locally and I reserve the right to cancel this listing. I will include over $1000.00 in NEW replacement XR7-G unique parts if this goes for full price. NEW parts include Shelby pipe-in-pipe exhaust tips, no longer available horseshoe exhaust trim rings, XR7-G emblems - interior (3) and exterior (4), and replica door mirror.

UPDATED

..The Good This is a true/ Marti report verified, limited edition Hertz Rent-a-Racer car that only 188 were made, and this is one of them. This cougar is on the XR7-G registry for Cougar Club of America. Copy of Marti Report is attached and note the door tag does not say Mercury but instead says "Special Performance Vehicle – Ford", just like the Shelby Mustang as they were modified/ finished on the same assembly line. Since it is a Hertz car it was fully optioned with tilt steering wheel, A/C, PS, power disc brakes, S-code (4 barrel) 390 engine, fog lights and sunroof. Highly desirable T-code, cardinal red exterior, and 6D-code, dark red leather interior. This cougar is a California car, San Francisco Bay Area, first purchased in Vallejo, CA, recovered in Oakland, last purchased in Hayward, CA, and currently located in San Jose. This cougar was on the road for 6 years and has 68612 on the odometer. Has clear California title – NOT salvage. The cougar has the XR7-G unique parts consisting of both front and rear original valances below the bumpers, original wooden shift knob with running cat insert, original center console with leather armrest and plastic storage box underneath, sunroof motor and related parts and many of the original emblems. ..The Bad This cougar was purchased from E&J wrecking yard in Dec 1974 as a theft recovery by the Oakland Police. It was missing the carb, fog lights, third horn, and door mounted mirror. The trunk lid was pried open, likely by the Police and the driver front fender was damaged with tear at seam. Both bumpers and both taillights were damaged. The passenger door was dented in. The cougar was up on blocks without the wheels and tires. It was scheduled for the crusher. Fortunately my father was in the auto repair business with a re-sale license and was able to convince the yard owner to sell the cougar. I recently found the original bill of sale from 1974. (In the 70s, both bumpers and taillights, the passenger door, and front fender were replaced.) ..The Ugly From 1974 to present, this cougar was sitting on concrete in a lean-to and then outside on gravel. Later it was relocated to concrete pads. A) The cougar trunks from that time frame are now known to leak and the trunk floor needs replacement, photos attached. A Grade-A trunk floor is available in my shed with the correct date code and is included in the sale. The trunk floor rails are solid as they were galvanized. B) Two weekends ago, a local mustang enthusiast came to look at the cougar. He spent over 2 hours poking and prodding. He located a soft spot in the passenger rear floor and a spot on the driver front floor. The solution would be to purchase a complete new floor pan or two half floor pans from a cougar or mustang vendor and allow the body shop to TIG weld repair the pieces as they select. C) the enthusiast also found a sizeable hole in the top of the transmission case where a mouse nest was located. There was a corresponding small hole in the firewall that would require patch repair. D) He located a spot of corrosion on the driver side inter fender at the top that would require effort, photo attached, and the driver side inter fender has a dent where it attaches to the radiator/ front panel. E) I have seen other cougar owners replace the floor on S-codes which are desirable cougars, but this cougar is even more collectable, as it is an S-code, XR7-G and a Hertz Rent-A-Racer cougar besides being code T - Cardinal red. If you are planning to fix up a cougar, buy this one as it has the collector value. ..History and some answers to questionsI never tried the sunroof as I was interested in getting the motor and trans rebuilt and running during my summers off from college. The car ran and I drove it from the lean-to to the gravel area that was prepared for the cougar. I then got a job offer from a company in LA and the cougar languished at my parents’ house until 2013 when moved to San Jose. I used a come-a-long from Harbor-Freight and hand winched the cougar onto the trailer. I do not have time for this project and time to sell. The console base needs replacement but the XR7-G unique parts are there. For the last few years, I cover the cougar with tarps prior to rains and uncover following the storm to allow the car to dry quickly and minimize more corrosion. I do not know of other corrosion holes/damage but most restoration body shops have a person who can TIG weld sheet metal or know of a welder they call in for the work. This cougar is restorable and I do not plan to part-the-car-out by selling the car parts individually. The original wooden running cat shift knob needs refurbishment and is included in the sale. ..Since I am a cougarholic, over the multiple decades, I have collected many parts including for the body, engine and transmission and I have a pair of 1971 fog lights, a 390 S code Holley carb, and dark red XR7 door panels that are available. Over $1,000 in new XR7-G unique parts and the previous parts would be included if the cougar goes for full price and include Shelby Pipe-in-Pipe exhaust tips, Horseshoe exhaust trim rings (no longer available new), XR7-G emblems qty 3 interior and qty 4 exterior, knock-off-made wooden shift handle, and replica door mounted mirror. I do not have the original style mirror that adjusts from inside the car. An original style mirror is currently offered on Ebay for approximately $350.00. I do not have the third horn.
..Took more photos to help answer questions. Trunk floor driver's and passenger side, will need replacement as stated previously. Photo of cowl VIN serial number including original wood shift knob and black thumb button, knob needs refinishing/ varnishing and note on the Marti report the tag does not say Mercury but Ford Special Performance Vehicle. Two engine bay photos, no A/C compressor but base is there. Photo of driver inter fender top with corrosion spot as discussed previously.

XR7-G History

The XR7-G was the tribute car to Dan Gurney for his racing victories with the Ford GT-40 at Le-Mans and the Mercury Cougar in the Trans-Am series. Only 188 Hertz XR7-G “Rent-A-Racer” cougars were made and this is one of them.The Cougar Club of America website has the registry section with a detailed history of the XR7-G cougars and the unique Rent-A-Racer Hertz program.