Other classic cars
- Thread starter James Vette
- Start date
Roscobbc
Moderator
Mercury Cougar........billed as Mecury's 'luxury' alternative to the Mustang. Slightly longer wheelbase, same (or similar) engine options......guy across the road from me many years ago had an ultra desireable 390 GT spec one of these in lime green. The real trick would be to own the even rarer GT-E 427 powered car or slightly later 428 Cobra jet engined version (both were only available in handfuls and worth $100K's worth today...............)
www.streetmusclemag.com
Rare Rides: The 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E 428 Cobra Jet
In this edition of "Rare Rides," Rob takes a look at the 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E 428 Cobra Jet. It's an underappreciated relative of the Mustang, but rare.
www.streetmusclemag.com
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Roscobbc
Moderator
Quite a controversial car this one..........lots of questions as to whether this was what it was supposed to be - including the CJ428 engine. Nassau do you know Lou - lives in Billericay - was/is a market trader dealing in flowers/plants etc also dealt with many yanks of the years? - going back to late 70's - early 80's he had a red big block Cougar rag top with red leather interior......beautiful car.......it was supposed to have a CJ428 engine and auto box (and was all badged-up as such).......he had some engine issues with the car and when it was stripped down he realised that it had a 'cooking' 390 engine......someone had 'lifted' the original engine at some point. This wasn't uncommon then where the apparent value of the car was low and the engine could have found service in a race car, or worse still a stock car, or later-on a Cobra replica. Haven't seen Lou for a few years......must remember to ask him about the Bond car when I next see him......it seems very co-incidental to me.
Nassau65
CCCUK Member
No, don’t know that chap, but you’re quite correct re the engine thingy. We had a 1970 Ford XL convertible with a 428ci motor in it. Somebody wanted it just for the motor. It was back in the day when it was worth not much. Real lovely car nice power options and hideaways. I wouldn’t sell it to him because of what he wanted to do to the car. I remember he was well annoyed. Kept it myself for about a year. Fitted 6/7 in comfort.
Roscobbc
Moderator
I find it odd that many Vette's would get 'robbed' for their engines - both here and in the USA - not sure whether it was the supposed 'prestige' of saying your engine came out of a Corvette or ignorance as the Vette engines were frequently 'cooking' engines and the same power rating as used in many passenger cars.....
Nassau65
CCCUK Member
I think it has always been the prestige of saying “it’s got a corvette motor in it.”lots of non corvette motors got the Corvette scripted aluminium valve covers put on them for the same reason.
Corvette has always been THE car in the US. It’s a home grown icon that everybody loves and can relate to.
James Vette
CCCUK Member
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
And what`s more you can actually see them , not the piddling little gimmicky LED Christmas Tree light indicators on some modern cars !!!
Nassau65
CCCUK Member
So true. If you hit that up the ass, you would have to be Mr Magoo.
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Very true and how is it that the larger the new car , the smaller the indicators get ?? Especially the front ones that are about as much use as a wet candle !!
Roscobbc
Moderator
And the stupidity of respective front side light on same side switching-off.......supposedly to aid recognition by other road users.
Mercury sequencial indictors, like certain year TBirds were aleays illegal in uk - obviously being red but the sequential operation wasn't covered by regs.........seemed that Audi got away with it. Wonder if with modern 'switchback' leds the Merc/TBird (Shelby) lights could be configured to give amber and red functions with existing lens?
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Sticking with the theme of rear lights on this thread , what do you think to my latest mod for a 
UK MOT compliant high level brake light ? Will it catch on ? 
It`s ex British Railways red aspect tail lamp . No power supply needed , just a well trimmed wick and fill up with parafin .
UK MOT compliant high level brake light ? Will it catch on ? It`s ex British Railways red aspect tail lamp . No power supply needed , just a well trimmed wick and fill up with parafin .
antijam
CCCUK Member
Sticking with the theme of rear lights on this thread , what do you think to my latest mod for a View attachment 21960UK MOT compliant high level brake light ? Will it catch on ?
It`s ex British Railways red aspect tail lamp . No power supply needed , just a well trimmed wick and fill up with parafin .
Excellent! Here's another safety mod I'm thinking of incorporating in my C3......
Nassau65
CCCUK Member
Being a fan of bright metallic blue, my 65 is in Nassau blue poly, and we have a 928 in Minerva blue, this 88 C4 convertible caught my eye. Especially as it has a matching blue interior like my 65.
According to statistics the C4 corvette in blue was the hardest to sell once used. Don’t know why, it certainly looks good in this picture
According to statistics the C4 corvette in blue was the hardest to sell once used. Don’t know why, it certainly looks good in this picture