Cars Inwards Yards: 1967 Mercury Cougar
Green without envy. Jack stands held the 1967 Cougar’s olfactory organ high in addition to prevented its wheels from sinking into the earth. That was my starting fourth dimension clue that mortal withal cared for the car. I saw the Mercury inwards John Thomas’ yard. His home, located downwards a seldom traveled route inwards N Alabama is 1 that passersby rarely brand a habit of stopping at to inquire almost onetime vehicles. But, I’m non 1 to go past times upwardly an onetime machine inwards the weeds. I needed a closer look.
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| Distinctive tail lights on the classy 1967 Mercury Cougar. |
Knock-knock
John Thomas knew that the fourth dimension to honour the Cougar a novel domicile had long since passed. I met Thomas, a certified province gentleman, subsequently making friends amongst his 2 large hunting dogs. The dogs slowed my approach to the forepart porch in addition to made a lot of noise. Thomas hollered at the dogs every bit he peered through the cover door. We talked cars, family, in addition to gardening. He gave me permission to await at the Mercury. Yes, the machine was for sale.
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| Cougar interior consummate in addition to loaded amongst options. |
Walk around
Raising the Cougar off the footing is a mutual tool used inwards outdoor automotive preservation. Moving the steel belly of a machine every bit far away from the wet inwards the dirt is ever a skilful idea. It’s said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Bricks on the other hand, flora scattered across the car, failed every bit adequate back upwardly for the withering tarp used to shield the ’67 Mercury Cougar.
The fender, in addition to cowl expanse were damaged when a tree limb sledge-hammered the bricks into the Inverness Green Mercury. The busted-up windshield adding insult to injury. Keeping H2O out in addition to away from a classic machine is mandatory when it lives nether the stars.
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| A skilful looking color combo amongst the greenish in addition to white. |
Too skilful to endure true
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 dynamic visual combination of white top, greenish paint, white interior, in addition to 5-spoke Cragar mags. Most of the pigment looked shiny in addition to withal clung to the body. I could easily imagine how skilful this machine looked a few decades ago. The tag to a higher identify the bring upwardly bumper dated 1991. A fourth dimension when Thomas’ immature adult woman drove the machine to high school.
The years since those high schoolhouse glory years had non been sort to the metallic on the flanks in addition to belly of the Mercury. Rust in addition to varmints had set-up store inwards the trunk.
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| 1991 is the twelvemonth on the license plate. |
Was it worth buying?
It’s been 5 years since I took these photos in addition to balked at Thomas’ little bespeak price. Too much operate for a run-of-the-mill Cougar, I thought. I dug the photos upwardly final calendar week in addition to gave him a call. Thomas didn’t recollect me
“I sold the machine to a neighbor,” Thomas said. “He’s gonna restore it. What is it y'all want?”
I ended the out-of-the-blue telephone phone band subsequently a few of my follow-up questions were brushed off. I gauge I only wanted to know that mortal saved the car. Whether it was to endure restored or harvested for parts.
I dropped the ball but I tin give the sack slumber a fiddling easier now.
Jody Potter
— Junkyard Life
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| A 289-V8 engine amongst 2-barrel carburetor nether the hood of the ’67 Cougar. |
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| 1967 Cougar showing 37,699 miles, but in all probability rolled over once. |
Source: Cougar Club of America, Marti Auto Works
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| Bricks were used to concur tarp on top of the Cougar. |
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| Can y'all spot the hidden Cougar? Mercury built to a greater extent than than 150,00 inwards 1967. |
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| Style inwards spades - hideaway headlights on the starting fourth dimension gen Cougar. |
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| Old cars inwards yards tend to get together debris within over time. |
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| Back topographic point is total of the same – trash in addition to diverse junk. |
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| Protecting the vinyl top, notorious for trapping moisture, was a top priority. |
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| A cement mixer in addition to diverse equipment surroundings the one-time draw solid unit of measurement car. |
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| How the ’67 Cougar looked when I starting fourth dimension saw it. |
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| Mustang genetics are evident but Cougars were sold every bit an upscale man’s car. This 1 wears aftermarket Cragar 5-spoke wheels. |
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| Paint looked skilful from 50-feet away, but rust visible on hood where greenish peeled off. Pans, cancer nether the vinyl in addition to quarter panel in addition to torso issues scared me away. |
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| Look unopen at whatever possible projection machine y'all find. You may uncovering a diamond inwards the rough. |
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