Tag Archives: Electric

Thundertang – Mercury Cougar

Ever ones to spot a niche market by 1967 Ford Motor Company saw a gap between their face lifted Mustang and Thunderbird models and planted the Mercury Cougar right between the two, in much the same way as General Motors the same year planted the Pontiac Firebird above the Chevrolet Camaro in it’s line up.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Mercury’s first generation “pony car” was only available as a two door hard top in either base as seen here or XR7 variations.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The Cougars platform was derived from the some one as the ’67 Mustang, but with a 3″ longer wheel base covered in an all new body.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

A 200hp 4.7 litre / 289 cui Windsor V8 powered the base version of the Cougar, though a GT option offered a 335hp 6.4 litre / 390 cui FE motor.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

With it’s headlights hidden behind the front grill and tail lights, sequential as per contemporary Thunderbird the electric shaver styling front and rear of the Cougar completely disguises it’s Mustang underpinnings.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Among the cars accolades Motor Trend named the Mercury Cougar as Car of the Year 1967, and the sale of 150,893 units in 1967 contributed substantially to the Lincoln Mercury divisions place in the market.

Gwinny seen here was purchased new from a dealer Chicago Il in January 1967 and shipped to the UK by the original owners nephew in March 2011 making her a one family car with 50,000 miles on the clock, both the 289 motor and exhaust have been replaced.

Thanks for joining me on this “Thundertang” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Hollywood to Withywood – Ford Mustang GT 35th Anniversary

In 1999 Ford upgraded the fourth generation Mustang with a minor, more aggressive, face lift know as ‘New Edge’.

Ford Mustang GT, Redhill Village Hall

Being the 35th Anniversary of Mustang production all 1999 Mustangs left the factory with 35th Anniversary wing / fender badges.

02 Ford Mustang GT_2614sc

There were also 4,628 US$ 2,695 Option Code 54Y 35th Anniversary Limited Edition models all powered by the GT 4.6 litre / 280 cui V8 of which 515 were white, 1,259 in silver, 1,299 in black and 1,555 in Performance Red.

Ford Mustang GT, Redhill Village Hall

Official documentation on today’s featured Mustang GT show’s it was purchased in 2000 by the First Entertainment Credit Union, an organisation that was originally founded to serve employees and former employees of Warner Brothers, for the first registered keeper in Hollywood.

Ford Mustang GT, Redhill Village Hall

It was my great privilege to be allowed to drive this car for a couple of miles on Bank Holiday Sunday from Redhill Village Hall south of Bristol to it’s current home near Withywood.

Ford Mustang GT, Redhill Village Hall

As it appears the vehicle is currently fitted with a non cat exhaust, not required of a personal import of this age, the consequent sound it emits was music my ears.

Ford Mustang GT, Redhill Village Hall

So long as left hand drive is not too alien to the driver the car is surprisingly easy to drive, the pedals are taught and the gear change is slick, with the tremendous torque of the V8 it will pull effortlessly in any gear from 1,000 rpm.

Ford Mustang GT, Redhill Village Hall,

The steering is typically vague as per many US vehicles I have driven be they blue oval or bow tie, but apart from that this car is great fun to drive, as it should be with less than 40,000 miles on the clock.

Ford Mustang GT, Redhill Village Hall,

Seating is infinitely more comfortable than my Euro box and I’m sure I could spend a couple of hours emptying the fuel tank and get out afterwards completely relaxed.

Ford Mustang GT, Redhill Village Hall,

The car is fitted with a Ford Mach Sound System which includes radio/cd and compact cassette, as initimated earlier, for the purposes of the test the hi fi was completely superfluous.

Ford Mustang GT, Redhill Village Hall,

The current owner reckons he gets around 22 mpg which given the weight of this Electric Green beast is not too bad.

Ford Mustang GT, Redhill Village Hall,

When I had finished backing the car into the owners drive I was left wishing I did not need a vehicle capable of carrying 4 passengers or a couple of hay bales, as this car would never cease to put a smile on my face.

Ford Mustang GT, Redhill Village Hall,

Alternatively I wish I could afford a second car for cruises, the occasional spit and shine event, bring what you brung and or a bit of track day fun all of which this car could be suited to without much in the way of additional work.

My thanks to Nick, who is currently offering this car for sale, for further details get in touch in the comments box below or see the new GALPOT classified ads page.

To hear this great car in action check out this youtube link.

Thanks for joining me on this “Hollywood to Withywood” edition of “Getting’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again for a look at a Speciale Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share