Thanks for allowing me to post here. I hope that this post isn't in the wrong spot or incorrect in nature to the nature of the forum. I'm very experienced in the ways of forums, but I believe this is my first post here. (Edit: Posted here in 2014...thanks for the help back then, too! I now have lots more information about the car.)
As a long story short type deal, my Dad and I bought what we thought was a 1969 Cougar Eliminator way back sometime between the years of '96, '98, something around there. I know that we had it when I was in High School and I drove it before then, back when my Dad still had his 600+hp '66 Charger. We'd go cruising together. Anyway, we got it way back then, in the infancy of the Internet. Didn't have much to go on back then, but Dad said it was a 428CJ paired to a C6 with a shift kit. Being a kid/teenager, all I knew is that it was incredibly fast in a straight line, and burying the go pedal at 30mph, it would shift into first, and according to my Dad's choice phrase, it'd "s**t-and-get", chirp into second and by the time you could let off after that, you're already at 70+.
Here are some pictures of the car back when we had it, including one with me that I picked to be one of my High School graduation pictures. These are the only five that I have of the car:
I've been literally talking to Phil for years about this car, I've written Jalopnik staff and had an article posted by Jason Torchinsky himself asking the Internet for help. From that article, I was put in touch with some madmen genius's that found the owner of the car. Sadly, that guy sold it and didn't keep records of where it went. After that, I continued looking for the car. If you read the article, it'll give a little on how it all came about. Basically, I joined the military, Mom/Dad sold the car, end of story.
Anyway, somehow I found out who currently has the dang thing and he has agreed more or less to sell it to me, but we don't have a price set. We've only talked over Facebook messenger, he provided his phone number but hasn't answered my calls.
My question to you fine Cougar enthusiasts that know much more than I -- what would even be a good starting block at this point? I know what we originally paid for the car, I know what Mom and Dad sold it for and I even know what this guy bought it for, but he also part traded stuff too, so that's not really legitimate in figuring it out. The sentimental reasons are there, but I have a limited budget and you know - stuff like that. I don't want to let my emotions get the best of me and I pay $20k for a $9,000 car, right? I'd be willing to trade my immaculate '91 GT with 35k original miles for it, even knowing the Cougar needs some work.
Gotta show pictures of the Fox I'm willing to trade:
Running the Cougar VIN and door tag, it comes out to a 351-2v car with an FMX. I can tell you that the car definitely had/has a 4bbl on it when we had it, and having a 302 Fox Body Mustang that has some work done to it, the Cougar would have destroyed that Mustang from a red light. I don't think a 351 would be that much faster than a Fox, but maybe... I know engine swaps are prevalent in older muscle cars and anything can happen, yet without being in person with the car being able to mechanically look and verify it is what it is at this time, I can give you no idea if it's legitimately numbers matching, or if it's a different engine, trans, etc. I find it interesting that it appeared to have factory hood pins according to what I remember and comparing that memory to pictures online of factory cars. I don't recall it having a clock on the passenger side. I have no updated pictures of the interior. The car was originally white, but this paint looked factory and perfect, never could tell it was repainted. The front air dam, rear wing, hood pins, wheel arch chrome - it all just looked so factory. Dad and I put the stripes on it, both side and hood.
When they sold it, Mom said it had 32,000 miles. This guy said he bought it and never drove it. I'd guess at most, 40,000.
It pains me to post these next pictures, as I had so many teenage evenings with Dad, washing, waxing, polishing and maintaining this thing, hopefully all my hard work all those years are under the dust and dirt and grime.
Does anyone find it interesting that there's a Mustang sticker on there for the tire information?
Any help would be appreciated, even if it's to say stay away and forget about it, or that the Fox is a better car/investment/toy. Who knows. Thanks again in advance. Disclaimer, I do not yet have a Marti report, because I have no idea if the engine in the car is the engine that it came with from the factory. I'd rather know first, right? Or should I just get one regardless?
Thanks again, everyone!
