Since last summer I have spent hours and hour checking eBay, Craigslist, German site Mobile.de and Swedish site Blocket.se as well as local markets to find a reasonably priced car for my next project. As mentioned in my earlier posts, Destiny only needs regular maintenance from now on. Though in my mind I preferred Mustangs (in order to have yet another Bullit or GT-350 clone) I kept my eyes open for Camaros, Firebirds and Cougars from '67 to '68. Of course a classic Chevy would do, but knowing what they are worth and knowing the limitations with the size of my shop I kept the focus on pony-size cars also keeping in mind that the clue in the next project was supposed to have a little bit angrier approach than just a nice looking cruiser.
The European market these days seem quiet when it comes to unrestored cars. Should you be interested in finding a well-restored car, it would not be hard to find one in Sweden, if you are willing to pay what it takes.
I found a '67 Cougar, a newly imported survivor in local sale. I spent a couple of nights planning and projecting what it would become in my hands, and made a decision to buy it. But someone else was quicker and bought it before.
I kept on calculating the costs for importing a car from US and for having it shipped, customs paid and taxed and faced the rough fact that any car doubles its price when doing so. US looks like it is running out of reasonably priced collectibles. Requesting 10 k$ for a project fastback without the engine in not unusual.
So, after approving the fact that obtaining the project would cost more than what I originally had expected led me browsing the Internet day after day and finally bidding (via an agent) for a couple of Mustangs. One was sold locally, the other went too high with price, the third one was pulled out before the bidding time ended and so on.
I was really getting frustrated for the hobby until a friend of mine called me on Thursday (Destiny's 49th Anniversary, BTW) and told that he had found the car I had been looking. And the good new on top of that , it was on sale within less than 10 kilometres from my house.
And here she is, VIN 5F09A******
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| The front is missing some details |
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| In the dark it was hard to tell the color |
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| The missing fender is included |
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| The original paint on cowl side panel seems like Silver Blue |
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| New tires on '67 rims |
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| '65 Mustang Snowback |
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| The left rear fender is in need for replacement again. |
So, this cars has a lot of work to be done
- rust to be fixed
- broken windshield
- torn upholstery
- wrong rims
- drum brakes, no power brakes
But it also has a lot of potential
- engine said to be a 302 block, rotating (never fired up this side of Atlantic, though)
- 4 speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter
- all sheet metal needed included
- passenger side fender included
- all the hard-to-find expensive fastback specific parts are there
- rear window with defrost panel (can't wait to see the D.S.O. of this one)
- NPD export service in Ocala, FL waiting for an order for missing parts
The car has now been towed in and today afternoon I'll be able to see it in warm shop, hoisted up and with good lighting. Should the car be what it is said to be I'll buy it !
