She is a 1969 Cougar XR7 Convertible.

I purchased my 1969 Cougar XR7 Convertible in May of 1999.
My 1969 Cougar XR7 Convertible was originally purchased with a 351 Windsor 2v (2 barrel with stock headers) and air conditioning. It was 250HP stock.
I am the third owner, and the first male owner.
This 1969 Cougar XR7 Convertible was purchased in Santa Monica and still has the front license plate frame from the dealer.
I had previously owned a 1973 Cougar XR7 Convertible. I was an auto mechanic to get through college and since then I have very much enjoyed putting that experience to use working on this classic American muscle car.

I had custom frame rails made with box steel, designed and installed by Doug the owner of Dukes garage in Pacific Beach. This has essentially created a full frame chassis. I had custom rear leaf springs designed and installed at National spring in El Cajon (this raised the rear end about three inches from stock) giving her a perfect look, I have also added an anti sway bar and high quality shocks and struts. This adds an incredible amount of stability and much improved handling.

My 1969 Cougar XR7 Convertible has an Edelbrock performer manifold, a Holey 600 (with 4150 adapter plate for the secondary’s, a 50cc accelerator pump, a 9.5 high flow power valve and a quick change secondary spring kit), a crane cams HI6 electronic ignition, a PS92 fireball coil, an Accel billet race distributor (2007), 9mm plug wires from Accel with a lifetime warranty (and the required adapter for the distributor to run those wires, a Schneider cam (designed to eliminate floating valves and add just a hint of a lope), with the cam I replaced the rods and lifters, an oxygen sensor (to fine tune the fuel/air delivery, a K&N high flow air cleaner and a clear fuel filter at the carburetor,

The transmission is the stock FMX rebuilt and beefed up by JSA Automotive in Santee last year at a cost of almost $3000. It has a separate transmission cooler. The torque converter is heavy duty and the drive shaft is balanced.

This 1969 Cougar XR7 Convertible has the best stereo I dare use without worrying about theft. There is a set of ADS AL4 component speakers up front (hidden behind a realistic speaker grill), a small amp under the passenger seat and a two post stereo deck with an adapter for a CD or MP3 player.

The power top hydraulics were replaced in 2000, the vacuum operated headlight doors work, for the sequential signal lights I had a new controller box made and installed.

I have spent many hours’ fine tuning the run-ability of this car. I have achieved 17 MPG highway (being very gentle). She now has in the neighborhood of 320HP and has never lost a street race to a Mustang or Corvette. I have recently put down an 02 Roush racing mustang and a new Chrysler Hemi Charger (the Charger was pissed).

Recently I have replaced the rear brakes, added a full three row radiator (at a cost of $350) and I have started the interior work with a lot of parts from EBay.

I have kept most of the stock parts that I have replaced and as well as quite a few replacement parts on hand. I also have the original 5 volume set of shop manuals for the car.

I am sure I have left a lot of things out, this, is a work in progress. To me the modifications in some areas make her much better than stock. She is a lot of fun and my own little piece of American history.

Specs:

Units Built: 4,024

Original Price: $3,595

Current Average retail (NADA): $24,610

Estimated 1969 Cougar XR7 Convertibles left on the planet: 322 (8%)

I Love My 1969 Cougar XR7 Convertible and I Love Classic American Muscle cars.