1968 Mercury Cougar Fastback

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

I want to give credit to the builder. I may have sketched, gave ideas and final decisions, but an excellent customizer with 40 years experience did the work. He is incredibly talented and deserves the credit for turning concepts into reality. Ideas are easy. Making it is hard. When I intended to do this I talked to him and only him, as I had that much confidence seeing other cars he has had in publications and being known for '49-51 chop top Mercurys. I was fortunate that Jody Sauls, Custom Cars, was a few minutes away in Clinton, SC. I only took this project on because I knew he would do all the customizing, body and paint.

[@THE-BUNKEN-DRUM]

Hats off to all involved. That car is absolutely stunning.

[@thirdworldassassin]

wow cougar fastback is rare

[@williammatthews2948]

It is an interesting build.

[@fernandosoares8336]

If you are ever interested in selling, please let me know.

[@josephhobbs3009]

I always thought Mercury should have made a factory Fastback out of a cougar especially after the Mustang came out with one I thought it was guaranteed! Until Ford said no from what I understand! Very good looking car nice word to the Builder and you have a great idea thank you for the video

[@Mike-rk8px]

At first I thought to myself “I never knew Mercury made a fatback Cougar, this must have been a prototype”. It’s impossible to tell this from a factory built car it’s so perfect. What a gorgeous car!

[@Floridaredwing25]

Fatback lol!

[@Mike-rk8px]

@@Floridaredwing25 Whoops...I didn’t notice the typo. It’s odd because I was careful to type “fastback”.

[@markreisen7038]

It's a FASTBACK, not a FATBACK, no such animal...

[@DarylCook63]

Hey, Fatback works too! 👍

[@neverendingmods]

The body work\paint guy did an incredible job. You honestly can't tell it's a one off owner creation. Very well done.

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

Thanks for the comment. I drive it several days a week and the most common comment is "I didn't know that Mercury made a Cougar fastback"

[@jaimeguerrero4614]

Mercury should've definitely built a fastback. Beautiful.

[@TOBYH]

I AGREE 100%, THEY WOULD HAVE SOLD TONS OF THEM! BEAUTIFUL.

[@johnkolinoff8591]

Yeah no shit that's sweet.

[@beauxr.benoit1374]

Mercury probably wanted to, and Ford probably didn't let them. It is a similar case to GM and the Corvette. You can build anything as long as it doesn't upset the Company's Halo car. It is also probably the reason the Thunderbird was a sports car for only it's first three years.

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

🙋‍♂️👍😎💚💚💚

[@rogerc.roberts4705]

Noting the problem of not being able toget a good view out of the back, side to side, from the driver's seat of the Mustang and Fairlanes of the same year, Mercury did the right thing by not offering a fastbavk Cougar.

[@RegulerShowTV]

That’s a crazy amount of work to get it done, let alone body worked, painted, & put back together. That’s awesome, love it.

[@RobertBohnen]

Been a Ford guy all my life. Grandpa had a brand new '67. When we weren't camping that weekend, Dad always took us on day-trips around the Greater Los Angeles area in Grandpa's Cougar. I spent many miles on the center console and my sister rode on the hump in the back seat. Beautiful car!! I love it!❤

[@bluejack644]

Those tail lights are among the coolest ever made.

[@jimmycline4778]

And head lights

[@markreisen7038]

Same ones that were used on the 64-66 Thunderbirds and the Shelby Gt 350 and 500 Mustangs.

[@timnelson5782]

Those were awesome taillights and way cool along with the sequential light system was a Ford/Mercury design!! This has been copied numerous times on custom cars using sequential tail lights!!!

[@sewlow58]

@@markreisen7038 The '68 Mustang 'California Special' & 'High Country Special' limited editions had 'em too.

[@randykmlwa]

That is absolutely stunning. Mercury was quite short sighted when they didn't come out with this.

[@gt-37guy6]

I'm sitting here shaking my head....wow...you or whoever did the fabrication body and paint on this is a master builder! It really does combine the best Mustang and Cougar features.....crazy cool sir~

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

Thanks for the kind words. I sketched the concept and parts list and took to a local who builds show cars. He is amazing at metal working and doing this art for a long time. You can take him a toy model and he will build the car. Ironically one if his staples is doing '49-51 Mercury chop top custom cars. Once I decided I wanted to do this, I sought him out....I didn't have to talk to anyone else.

[@jamesjohnroe3741]

Was it kiwis customs?

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

@@jamesjohnroe3741 No sir. Jody Sauls at Custom Cars in Clinton, SC

[@ffelton]

Would’ve been great to hear you mention some of these details /backstory in your vid. You teased us with this stunning car walkaround but didn’t mention much in the way of what it took to accomplish. How long did it take to build? Who /where did it occur? Assume you started with a Cougar? Did you use a Mustang FB donor?

[@genoqueen6370]

Amazing Fastback Cougar. Still can't beat the Cougar Coupe 😎

[@nwflboy007powell8]

I'm not a Ford, Lincoln, Mercury kinda guy , but I've always loved the Cougar - this one should've been built! It's awesome! Great job on building a dream.

[@northcackalacky4694]

I've always liked the 67/68 Cougar over any Mustang.

[@curthooper2501]

Agreed. I’m not really a Ford or Mercury guy either but damn! That car is gorgeous!

[@philsocks3386]

Who cares what kind of guy you are, it's not about you, must be Mopar guy.

[@01trsmar]

@@philsocks3386 ..Mopar guys are the best..I feel bad for other guys as they drive inferior products and dont know it(brainwashed sheep)...I bet you wear a mask while driving alone in your car confused about your gender! I dont know why you bashed Mopar guys,so I just stated the fact about every Ford/GM guy around! Import guys all wear dresses,GM/Ford guys ram them from behind!!

[@nognomesgarage]

That’s one badass Cougar, I didn’t realize that body style of Cougar could possibly look any better, I guess I was wrong. Thanks for building that and sharing.

[@FakeItalianoII]

MAN !!! What a beautiful job !!! Congratulations to the builder !!!!!!!

[@bjarteblakk4946]

Hello i am 70 years old and had so many cars , This is the most beautiful car i ever seen , this is a show winner my man , thanks from Norway

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

Hello to Norway! Thanks for the kind words. When it was just a sketch, I was concerned, but I am happy the way it turned out.

[@genekrafft948]

I'm not usually into these kind of modifications, but this is done so nicely, couldn't even remember what the original Cougar looked like.

[@troymcdougall6170]

That is one of the most beautiful muscle cars I have ever seen in my life! Stunning! Color, rims, chrome, everything!!

[@rogergoodman8665]

The guy who did the metalwork is phenomenal. Very nice work, I think the only I noticed was the A pillar graft ever so slightly. Its beautiful.

[@marktullo35]

I had a '68 Cougar back in High School...absolutely loved that car. This is an amazing transformation!

[@house_church]

One of a kind instant classic. Way to go.

[@tiki_trash]

I thought it was factory at first. Nice job.

[@devilsson6660]

Nice car, but there's one about a half hr from my house

[@excavatoree]

I know of only one other: (Still in progress) kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y53MmaibhdNogZI

[@devilsson6660]

@excavatoree the one around here has been in primer for a few years but other than paint it's finished, he said at one time 30gs will buy it, I just found 8 more by googling 67 mustang cougar

[@jpalberthoward9]

It screams YESSSSS!!!!! from the second you set eyes on it. It makes you wonder why the styling dept at Ford didn't think of this. I'm not usually a big advocate of doing things like this to classic old cars, but this is so beautifully done and well thought out, and it looks so right that all you can say is "Hats off"! Very nicely done.

[@lancasterritzyescargotdine2602]

There's a good reason Ford's styling dept.didn't consider it. They did not want any part of the Cougar to look like a "me, too, Mustang" as the Firebird/Camaro and 'Cuda/Challenger alliances. For that they get an "A"!

[@ErikDB6]

That’s one of the best looking cars I have seen. He took an already beautiful car and made it a classic. Simply stunning work.

[@garryquiggins8183]

It's neat, collectible, and vintage but will never be a classic. Auburns and Duesenbergs examples of classics.

[@Monaco-BuilditFixitDriveitEver]

What exactly is the definition of “classic”that you are using?

[@Monaco-BuilditFixitDriveitEver]

I guess there is “classy” and “classic.” Those two are deferent in my book. Hmmm..

[@Monaco-BuilditFixitDriveitEver]

“different “

[@wesleywilson1175]

As the owner of a 1967 Cougar this is the best looking custom i have ever seen. Looks like a lot of man hours in the metal work beautiful.

[@davidthomits544]

that fastback look is unbelievable

[@the80srocked]

As an owner of a 1967 Mustang fastback and someone who also loves Cougars I say well done. Sweet car.

[@Houndini]

I was getting ready to say in my 63 years I never seen a couger fastback. Now I understand. What little I can tell look like great metal work. A 427 sonic Holman Moody low mileage original engine a show stopper.

[@karloshandezcay9206]

Gorgeous machine, i was 15 , a neighbor took me to a ride to the store, i was so impressed 😮 special how the rear lights , see them flashing moving sideways 😂 , 😮 OMG. Love AT first sight.., thanks for sharing,. Memory lane.1970s.

[@trlprk]

Almost all custom cars that I’ve seen that combine two different styles look weird at best and horrible at worst. This one is the most natural looking custom I’ve ever seen. It’s really beautiful

[@RedondoBeach2]

Your car looks like it's speeding when it's standing still. Well done. Beautiful car.

[@ShelbyGuy1]

Very tastefully done! The workmanship is spectacular! 👀👍👍👀

[@PawnShopRockers]

She is a "Real Dream" come to life. Super well done! My son and I are working on a 68 Galaxie 500 with the 302 and 3 speed FMX Auto. I hope to make it something a little more special than what she is now. Neat to see great examples of ingenuity. Best of all she is a real driver!

[@RalphSampson...]

I usually hate these type custom builds but, this is fantastic.

[@neil-ko5ff]

Built cougars and mustangs for 30 years this is by far the nicest one I’ve ever seen

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

Thanks for compliment. Check out my other videos for more Mustangs

[@montegustafson5142]

Incredibly beautiful from every angle - something very hard to achieve! GM tried to accomplish this with the Pontiac Fiero (remember that one?) and succeeded more/less, but this Cougar is terrific.

[@HAL-dm1eh]

People criticize the larger wheels on classic cars, but the original designers had those in mind and all the original sketches included large wheels. It was the bean counters who put the smaller wheels on them.

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

Great perspective, and I tend to see that in the sketches too. I had the 14" style steel wheels on and they were lost in the Cougar's giant wheel wells. Also I wanted different offset front to rear, because the Cougar's rear wheel arches stick out further then the front. To me, without staggered offset the front wheels stick out too far compared to the front. I gave this a lot of thought before selecting the wheels that I put on it. In a nod to Mercury, I used the factory centers on the aftermarket wheels.

[@JohnWhite-xc3md]

Really beautiful. I like that you kept it fairly understated. It looks like a factory built car with classic aftermarket wheels like anyone would do back in the day. Really nice. Hope you put some Webbers on that 289!

[@philb9373]

Extremely well designed and built automobile, my hats off to the very talented builder!

[@danoschannel9543]

That's EXACTLY what Ford/Mercury should have done. Even though I'm a GM guy, I've always loved the Cougars and that's the best looking one I've ever seen. Hats off to the builder. Very nice job! 👍

[@brianball6670]

I am north of 60 years old. As a kid, I loved the Mustang (especially '67 & "68) and the Cougar of the same ere. My Dad's best friend had a Cougar. This is amazing. You mention the tail lights. One of the little things I love about my 2012 Mustang (bought well used a couple of years ago) is the sequential tail signal lights. (featured from 2010 on) They remind me of my Dad's friend's car.

[@2trdmustanggtfordf1hdsgsfa80]

I saw this in person last year, the execution of this conversion is incredible. Great car!

[@michaelcerkez3895]

Back in 1980 I had the same year Cougar, loved that car, my other favorite was a 1968 Mustang. You combined them together, nice job.

[@phildem414]

What a beauty! The missing link between mustang and cougar !

[@monsieurcommissaire1628]

That's gorgeous. Amazing work. I'm very impressed by the styling. It looks like a great deal of skill and effort went into this. Honestly, if I were told that this was a lost factory prototype, I would believe it.

[@mescko]

I've never cared for notchbacks, though I've always preferred the Cougar over the Mustang. It is too bad the Cougar never had both body styles. I love fastbacks, and this proves that the Cougar is worthy of the style. Man is this gorgeous!

[@powerstrokethunder]

Absolutely beautiful ride my friend. Almost looks like it would’ve come off the FoMoCo assembly line.

[@patd5146]

Stunning and perfectly proportioned. Awesome

[@howardcameron1541]

Awesome build and great paint color

[@spidernad1]

Brilliant idea. I’m surprised no one ever did this before but credit to you for thinking of it first. I think if I did this I would have done the 2+2 with Mustang Fastback front windows and the upper vents in the quarters, no rear side windows. Basically the whole Mustang Fastback setup but Cougar everything else. Anyway fantastic idea and beautiful one of a kind car. Bravo

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

Thanks for the kind comments. There are at least one photoshop version and one real one just like you describe. The challenge is the wheelbase of the Cougar is 3" longer, so the roof line slope ends 3" before the end of the trunk lid. I guess I went thru a lot of work just to make it end right at the end of the trunk. Those look cool too.

[@spidernad1]

@@vintagemobilehome2685 That’s right, I forgot the Cougar is longer than the Mustang. In that case you probably did the best possible way. Again, amazing and unique car you’ve created. 👍🏻

[@kyleolin3566]

I love it. So tastefully done. It looks like the fastback could be stock. Paint is on point. Wheels are not overdone. 10/10

[@marcallen7233]

👍 As a longtime owner of a 1968 Cougar XR7 I was amazed by this fantastic fastback modification! It looks like it came from the factory it is so well done, and that blue paint is stunning!

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

As someone who also appreciates the Mercury Cougar, I thank you for your comment. I was trying for something different while honoring what was.

[@marcallen7233]

You nailed it. I have American Racing torque thrust on mine too. Mine is white ( originally maroon) with a maroon leather interior.

[@sgtpeper1]

Simply unbelievable! Sweet ride man!!!

[@frankbrowning328]

Absolutely gorgeous!!! Looks like something that Mercury would have made back then. Even the color looks like something that would have come form the factory back then

[@terrallputnam7979]

This is a real head turner. You see old mustangs everywhere. Even fastbacks look good but this is a one of a kind! I always liked this bodystyle of Cougar but I am not a notchback fan! This checks all the boxes! Great Work!!!

[@themidnighttavern6784]

Yeah, fastback over notchback all day long. That's one of the main reasons why I contend the current mustangs look much better than the current challengers. The challenger has a big booty, it looks like a truck from the side in terms of proportions. Whereas the mustang has that sexy look where the roof goes almost all the way to the taillights.

[@Aegis43]

Well, your builder did an insane job. It looks 100% factory. Hard to believe it exists.

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

Thanks for the kind comment

[@thejourney7395]

Beautiful!!! Looks like it came from the factory like that. Great work!

[@ronaldelliott4373]

This is shocking to any car guy at first sight. My first thought was, what’s the VIN # ? I quickly realized this was the product of a very creative mind. The execution is Top Shelf. Thanks for sharing this.

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

As a car guy since the cradle, I really appreciate the comment, especially since I generally don't appreciate mods! Because if that, I tried to make it look factory. Ok, went a little out there on the wheels🙂

[@robw7205]

That's actually a pretty good look for that model. The work looks factory 👍

[@charlescherry1733]

Great custom - kudos to the person with the vision and the people who made that vision real!

[@johnhenry5197]

I had a number of Cougars back when of which my '68 XR-7 was my favorite. This done up as a fastback looks fantastic!

[@ScorpioIsland]

That is a stunning car. Executed magically. Every crease and curve is simoly perfect and the paint complements sublimely. Wow

[@ScorpioIsland]

You said it best: combines the best of both

[@terryandrews7271]

I am a Chevrolet man, But if you don't like that beautiful car right there then you cannot be considered a gear head❤❤❤👍👍👍

[@thegee-tahguy4877]

I hope you keep this in your family forever. One rarely gets their money back for customization. Beautiful unrealized car by Mercury for sure. Bravo!

[@25kmgb]

What a stunning custom. Looks like it could have been a factor one off show car.

[@814Taylor]

Interesting build and beautiful car. I had a 67 Cougar with a 289 and loved that car. I've always felt that the Mercury Cougar was a muscle car and family driver all in one

[@frankensteincreations4740]

Awesome build! Never even thought about doing this… looks different, and different is what I love! 👍

[@paulbeaman]

I remember as a teenager parting out a 68 cougar coupe for my 67 mustang. This is the first fastback cougar I’ve ever seen. Awesome car! Nice combination of Mustang and Shelby with the Mercury heft to it. Beautiful car.

[@rocmiller3]

Outstanding work! I always liked the cougars front and rear taillight. Also; the interior in those cars were exceptional

[@Anne6621]

WOW , back in 1971 i had a 68 cougar and i remember going to a few body shops asking them to add a mustang fast back and they all turned me away , Nice nice car Sir

[@tho464]

Not a Cougar guy but this changes everything. I would love to own this bad boy.

[@johndigiallonardo3727]

That is beautiful! Nice work! They definitely should have built that one!

[@RAF71chingachgook]

Very well done. Looks very sophisticated. BTW I was a Ford designer/stylist for 35 years. I just retired. This car you've done is brilliant!

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

I appreciate the compliment from an expert.

[@trjnsd6874]

Beautiful! Reminds me of an Avanti. Mercury missed out - should have done this. Congratulations, sir!

[@durandjohnson1321]

I was around in '68... this the first Merc.cougar fastback I've ever seen!!

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

This is customized. None were factory built. This is custom. Hope you like it

[@RitzyTrailerII]

THAT is nothing short of MAGNIFICENT!!

[@k.ferguson2982]

Love it! Always been a Ford guy. First car at 18, was a '68 Mustang GT coupe, 390 4spd. Later came to own a custom '67 Cougar 289 4spd ragtop. Kinda miss 'em both... This car's beautifully done. Thanks for the look. 👍

[@polandharr]

Wow, you killed it! It is drop-dead gorgeous!

[@nealdavid1820]

Excellent work. I owned a 67 Cougar and actually had similar ideas in the 70’s. Beautifully done. Bravo 😊

[@emmettwalsh6901]

The beauty is in the simplicity! I love everything about this car. Great job!

[@terryhunsicker3708]

Tastefully done. It turned out beautiful. I owned a 1970 XR7 . I can only imagine how that car would've looked had mercury made a fastback.

[@joelabbe6185]

What a beautiful machine!!! Most tastefully done roof mod I've ever seen. I wouldn't change a thing!

[@johna.4334]

With the exception of the wheels yes, a beautiful machine.

[@bioswalesbioswales3004]

Stay proud of this piece of art. Some hard time went into it and you deserve every bit of the reward!

[@rodnokken7759]

Thank you for your work. I always thought the Cougar styling superior to the Mustang, anyway.

[@steelrolex]

Very, very nice design and beautiful colour 😀👍

[@peterbiesbroek]

Really beautiful car, well re-designed. Magnificent color too. Nice job..!

[@captretired159]

i could feel my heart rate go up when i saw this piece of art.

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

Thank you. You can imagine the anticipation to see if it would come out as envisioned on sketches (which it did)

[@ditzydoo4378]

Thank you for sharing. That is an extremely beautiful car. Lovely colour choice. Ford missed a trick in not doing this during that era when the fastback anything was so sought out.

[@wdrankin400]

That is a beautiful job and great color choice. The deck lid must have been a challenge but looks great. As a bodyman I can appreciate all the different aspects of this custom job and it looks like a factory designed Cougar concept.

[@vintagemobilehome2685]

Thank you. Indeed the deck lid was one of the greater challenges, especially from a style perspective. The Cougar has a 3" longer wheelbase than the Mustang where the distance from the wheel opening to the rear of the door is 3" more. I chose to keep the fastback ending at the end of the deck lid. This required extending the roof and my decision to retain a modified 1/4 window opening.

[@MiToAndy01]

Absolute stunner. I bet if they’d made this right from the factory it would’ve dented Mustang sales considerably back in the day.

[@Atomwaffen-y3s]

No. It wouldn’t have.

[@redmr2na]

@@Atomwaffen-y3s It definitely would have. I would bought this 10 to 1 over a douchy Mustang. Mustangs are for kids, Cougars are for adult men and women.

[@cruzmalibu4361]

That makes no sense. Mustangs and Cougars are essentially the same car and were built side by side in the same factory…

[@plap.]

​​​​@@cruzmalibu4361 and you too Adam Waffen blah blah blah. yes the og pony car sold and still sells well. yes they shared parts but they were not the same, they were never meant to be. The cougar was over half a foot longer was way more comfortable with its own way better interior. It was better looking all the way around from grill and concealed headlights, taillights and sculpting of body lines. Also was designed to fill a gap between mustang being sporty and T-bird personal luxury not exactly to compete with mustang just to be better than it, and it was. On top of this look at the actual numbers when cougar appears. Mustang had a three year head start and was cheaper also with three body style variants. Cougar with no fast back and some of these drawbacks was still selling a third of the mustangs numbers from it's beginning. Cougar was already putting a hurting on mustang sales and most definitely would have been causing major damage to sales if this beautiful car was produced. Just a reality check for you. As it was for example in 68 it was the difference of 300k units sold that could have been almost half a million if the Cougar didn't exist. So in conclusion it is an absolute yes that there would have been major damage to mustang sales if a fast back existed, because there was already damage being done

[@cruzmalibu4361]

@@plap. …I hope you feel better now, blah, blah, blah 😳🫠

[@thomasgray7128]

Wow this car is unbelievable!! Love the color and the shape!! The wheels were made for that ride!! I was born in “66” I’ve always wanted a “71” chevelle

[@redrumcoke2363]

That shape is absolutely stunning. You did a great thing there.

[@lonwaslien104]

Very nice! I’m glad they didn’t ruin it with 20” wheels and other crazy stuff 👍

[@ML-dl1cp]

holy heck, that's gorgeous. Mercury missed the boat never producing this body style.

[@randyoberholtz7490]

Nice job!!!! Just excellent!!!! I also liked the cougar over the mustang...

[@sammyrothrock6981]

Wow a real beautiful car ! Fabrication is excellent! The car Detroit never built but, should have!

[@tommdschohns8718]

I own a 67 mustang fastback and i love this cougar conversion. Awesome car.

[@chrisjeffries2322]

Super nice car and color. Thank you, for the share.

[@davidoverfield597]

Well done! Beautiful car. Great job!!!

[@Wildbill980]

Having owned a 67 cougar, that is one sexy beast for sure. Well done

[@lmoran9767]

Best looking Cougar I’ve ever seen!

[@garyhoward2490]

Super cool car! At first glance, at the picture from the rear...I thought, Wow... a Riviera, with Cougar tailights.......but no...hold on!! Lol! Beautiful car, well done! 👍👍

[@gary9426]

Fantastic! This is an awesome ride...Ford dropped the ball big time on this. I love everything about this vehicle..the stance, the color, the wheels. Great job, sir!

[@RecoveryRoomRestorations]

looks awesome!! Im glad you had the idea to make what Mercury did not!!