I hope to get a look inside & under the hood later this week. I need to get the keys from the owner to open it up. As suggested, seeing if the engine is free is the first step. If it is not free, I wouldn't want to mess with it. If its free it will get a very close inspection before I make a decision. I realllly don't need another project, but this one is talking to me.
If I do get it, the plan would be to get it running & driving. Just what it needs, keep it stock. If it behaves, it would get paint. Bad thing about red (like this car) is it is usually the most expensive paint to buy. Last pint of basecoat I bought in red was $150, & it will take a whole lot more than a pint to do this car. Maaco's $400 paint job would be an option but the originality & condition of this car deserves much better. From there, it would be driven while I try to sell it, maybe even make a little $$ or at least break even.
Hopefully I'll have some pictures of it for you in a few days, work & weather permitting.
I really like the red interior, but then I do have a thing for interior colors other than basic black...... My 79 for & 70 Rebel are pictured.
New guy here, just joined. I'm not really a T Bird Cougar guy, I have a 1979 F150 Ranger Lariat, 1968 AMC AMX, 1970 Rebel Machine, & 1971 Javelin AMX. So, a car & truck guy, just not a T Bird Cougar guy. But.........
A guy I work with had a tree cut down, asked if I wanted the wood. Sure I'll take it. I went to his place to pick up the wood & in the driveway is a 1988 Cougar XR7. I give it a quick look over & am stunned by the nice condition. I ask my co worker what the deal is. He bought it new in 1988, drove it as a toy, always garaged it, never in snow or salt. In 2002 it wouldn't start, so he left it in his garage. It sat untouched for the next 11 years, until his wife told him to get it out of the garage. He pushed it out, where it has sat on a concrete driveway, in a fairly sheltered area, to the present day. He thinks it has less than 50,000 miles. He suspects the fuel pump is the reason it wouldn't start, but never tried to get it fixed, he had other things to drive.
It is absolutely rust free, it is amazing underneath. Lower control arm still has a part # stenciled on it in white. I haven't got inside it, but the interior looks super clean. Only flaw is a little sun fading on the outside edge of the drivers seat. Wheels are excellent, no corrosion & flaking clearcoat like aluminum wheels get here in the rust belt. Paint is badly faded, needs redone. Not a scratch or dent on it, only bad spot I could find is a chip smaller than a pencil in diameter. Rear quarter lips are mint, amazing condition for a rust belt car.
Its red with a red velour interior. 302, Power driver's seat, premium sound are the options that I noticed.
So, he wants to sell it, & gave me what seems to be a reasonable price. Its a risk though, if I can get it to run. Who knows what could be wrong with it, & how much $$ it will take. Plus I already have enough projects to last me well into the future. But, it is talking to me.... Low miles, original owner, sharp color scheme......
So, my question: What is something like this worth as is? What would it be worth running & driving? Running & driving with nice paint? Please let me know your thoughts. I'm going to try & get inside it & under the hood next week & will get some pictures too. Thanks, Scott
