Big block Mustangs, including Shelby Mustangs, are well known as great collector cars, these days. Their Mercury counterparts, however, tend to be less well known and, while not cheap, bring in less cash. This GT-E was the ultimate Cougar in 1968, and perhaps ever. Most of these had a 428, which is no slouch, but the earliest units has this 427 – Ford’s ultimate engine.
This car has some obvious needs, but it looks like an honest used car, as opposed to an over-restored collector. These can hit $60K+ in great shape, so it’ll be interesting to see where this lands. The current $37K bid is well over most Cougar prices, save for 428 and uber-rare Boss 302 Eliminators.
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Roseville, CA
$37,200 with 22 bids and reserve not met
Ad text:
1968 Cougar GT-E with the legendary 427 sideoiler engine which was developed for use in Ford’s NASCAR racing program. Only 357 were made with this engine. This vehicle is extremely rare and hard to find! A fully restored version of this vehicle sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction in January 2011 for $181,500! Click here for more info
Vehicle Options:
The GT-E option cost more than $1,300 (almost half of the cost of the regular car) and was possibly the most radical performance package offered by that time. This vehicle was ordered with the following features;
C-6 Merc-O-Matic Transmission
3.50 Traction-Lok Rear Differential
FR70x14 Wide Oval Radial Tires
Console
Power Disc Brakes
Power Steering
Tilt-Away Steering Wheel
AM/FM Radio
Styled Steel Wheels
Included in the pictures is the Marti Deluxe Report showing all the data on this vehicle.
Vehicle History:
This Cougar is an original California car and we estimate that it sat inside an old garage for over 20+ years. The odometer is showing 02672 and the family that owned the car said it is 102k miles. This is a one family owned vehicle, which was passed down to a family member whom we acquired it from. We have the original owner’s manual with the original identification information in it.
There are matching numbers on everything except the engine block. From everything we could research, the short block was replaced at the dealer in 1968. We have pictures of all the numbers on the vehicle, and will try to get any others if requested.
We have verified the authenticity of this vehicle and it’s numbers with the GT-E Registry. They were pretty excited to hear about it!
Vehicle Condition:
The vehicle has no rust except for a small area behind the right rear wheel, and minor surface rust on the top. This Cougar was originally Cardinal Red but had a poor orange paint job done at some point in the past. The underside appears to have all original suspension components and the frame rails appear to have never been scraped or damaged. The vehicle now has a newer fuel tank and sending unit to make it run. The original tank/sending-unit need major cleaning/repair and will be given the buyer for restoration purposes. Some gaskets were replaced in the carburetor so the engine would run, but the carburetor will need a complete overhaul.
As you can tell, except for the leather on the seats and the paint, the vehicle is actually very nice, complete, and a perfect candidate for restoration. Although this car could be cleaned up fairly easily and made into a nice driver, we expect that it will be completely restored because of its rarity and value.
Summary:
Own a piece of Cougar history with this one of a kind and extremely rare 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E barn find. It’s waiting to find a new home and be fully restored to it’s past glory.
Terms of Sale:
This vehicle is sold “As Is” with all faults and there are no returns or exchanges.
Payment Methods – We accept Cash, Certified & Cashier’s Checks or Wire Transfers, in US Dollars only.
Deposits – A minimum $1000 US deposit must be made within 48 hours of auction close. Paypal accepted for deposit. All deposits are non-refundable.
Payment of Balance – Payment in full must be received within 7 business days from auction close.
Taxes/Duties – Buyer is responsible for all fees, taxes, & duties associated with registering and/or importing/exporting this vehicle at/to it’s final destination.
Inspection:
Serious buyers are welcome to a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) during our regular business hours of Mon-Fri 8am-5:00pm. Please contact us to make these arrangements.
Shipping:
Buyer is responsible to arrange and pay for any/all shipping charges. We will gladly accommodate your transporter on your behalf. We are not responsible for any damages incurred after leaving our facility.