The 1968 model year didn’t bring substantial cosmetic changes to the Mercury lineup, but the carmaker operated multiple upgrades under the hood.
The Cougar was now targeting a more varied customer range. It offered decent engines to people not entirely interested in performance—such as the standard 302 with 210 horsepower—but also monster units to get the adrenaline rushing through your veins.
The 302 could also be had with a four-barrel carburetor and 230 horsepower, and Mercury eventually introduced a 289 as the base unit, this time with 195 horsepower.
The 390 Marauder remained the big star of the show, and it could be had with 280 and 325 horsepower. Mercury wanted more power in the Cougar lineup, so they also launched a 428 throughout the year, upgrading the power limit to 335 horsepower.
The icing on the Cougar cake was the 427 big-block option, available on the high-performance GT-E and producing 390 horsepower.
The Cougar in these photos was born with – and still has – a 302ci unit that still starts, runs, and drives. eBay seller Books On The Boulevard says the engine works for short drives but makes a lot of smoke, so it’ll probably need a rebuild.
The Cougar was born in Los Angeles and was part of the same family for years. It was first owned by the father, later donated to the daughter, and eventually transferred to her sister. It became a semi-daily driver in 1989, but the car has never been restored, so what you see in the photos is an unaltered configuration that is still 99% original.
The body looks good but will require occasional attention, and the undersides will need a patch. However, inspect the car in person or order a third-party inspection and check what happens under it thoroughly.
The interior also looks good and sports original headrests on the front seats. The dashboard is no longer original. The car also comes with air conditioning, and the upholstery is better than most people would expect.
Overall, it’s hard to find something to hate on this Cougar if you’re looking for a mostly original project to restore. The car is in good shape for a 56-year-old unrestored and barely altered Cougar, so I don’t expect it to remain available for long if the price is fair.
The owner posted this Cougar on eBay with a $15,000 price tag, but they also enabled the Make Offer option to let interested buyers submit other offers. The auction site claims 19 people added the car to their watchlists, but it’s unclear if anyone is involved in acquisition talks. Meanwhile, you can see it in person in Gig Harbor, Washington, and you’ll probably need transportation to take it home despite the running engine.