Car Spot: 69 Cougar

A story about getting a second chance at owning a dream car

How often have you said, “I wish I still had that car?”. For me, it’s a 1970 AMX that blew its engine while I was driving it back home to Green Bay. I was in way over my head with that car and now could not afford one. But Bob and Chris Piso got a second chance now owning this pristine 1969 Mercury Cougar I spotted at a car show this past summer in Green Bay.

Bob owned one as a kid and was hot to get another one. In 2016, Bob cruised Craigslist one afternoon, and he spied a 1969 Mercury Cougar in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The car is pricey and partially disassembled, but according to the owner, is almost rust-free. Knowing the kids need school clothes, the house payment is coming up and that everyone enjoys eating, he puts his dream on the back burner. A week later he mentions the car to his wife Chris who always said her dad’s favorite car was the Cougar with sequential tail lights. “Well go buy the damn thing” rang in his ears and off he went to get his dream car.

RELATED Spot: When a Mustang’s not a Mustang.

Now for the hard part. A total of 11 mouse nests were found and removed. They had done damage. In addition to the rodent problem, there were also lots of electrical items that needed addressing, components missing from the AC system, damage to the sunroof, and an unbelievable amount of mangling caused by unskilled backyard mechanics. But he did it and shining in the summer Wisconsin sun looks like it just came off the assembly line.

What you see before you is a piece of history and one of the most unusual, heavily optioned base coupes you’ll ever find. Rolling off the Ford assembly line at the Dearborn Michigan plant on May 1st, 1969 this cat was shipped to Redwood Lincoln Mercury in San Francisco CA. Because the car was ordered with so many high-end options, we can only assume it was driven as a premier demonstrator vehicle by the dealership. Some lucky soul purchased it from them and drove it until it was sold again and moved to Massachusetts. In 2004 the car was brought to Waukesha Wisconsin by the previous owner who Bob and Chris purchased it from in 2016.

This is not just any 1969 Cougar it is the only one out of 66,351 produced in 1969 w/Sun roof, 4V Carb & Auto trans painted BLACK from the factory, 351 Windsor, 4 Barrel (121 Produced) paired with a Ford Select-Shift FMX Automatic (120 Produced) 9″ Differential, 2.75:1 Ratio, and Sports Special “D” Package, (1 of 204 Produced). This package was offered on 1969 standard hardtops only. Four “Sports Special Value Packages” were available; A, B, C, & D, but the “D” package had it all. It included turbine wheel covers, F70 x 14 belted WSW tires, a mid-body paint stripe in black, red, or white, distinctive curb moldings (with bright die-cast simulated scoops and bright & black ribs extending to the rear wheel opening) and a remote-control L-side mirror. The “Performance Handling Package” consisted of heavy-duty springs, heavy-duty shocks, a larger stabilizer bar, and wide-rim 6″ wheels. To round it out, the “Décor Group Interior Package” boasted custom seat upholstery, custom door panels & rear quarter panels, door-mounted courtesy lights, rear armrests, padded windshield pillars & roof rails and a 3 spoke rim-blow wood-tone steering wheel.

So what is it worth now? This might be a tough one. Hagerty considers this a base model even with all the extras and even in Concours condition is in the low $20s but this one is closer to but not quite the same as the Eliminator high-performance model which would go for about twice the value. Doesn’t make any difference because, with all the effort Bob and Chris put into it, it’s not for sale.

Thanks for stopping by and reading about my latest find. Come back next Friday for another one of my spots along with some of its history and have a great weekend.