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Topic: '85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles (Read 1971 times) previous topic - next topic

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Linky: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercury-Cougar-Cougar-1985-Mercury-XR7-Cougar-7-300-Orig-Miles-Turbo-5-Speed_W0QQitemZ150289653266QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150289653266&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C65%3A10%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

Not in bad shape...some things could be a little cleaner, but overall...sssssssmokin'.

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #1 –
Nice, but why are the strut towers grey? Did Ford not paint them on pre-87 models, or was that car painted at some point? There appears to be overspray on the K-member as well...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #2 –
my strut towers were the same way, and mine's an '88. had some kind of rubber foamy type stuff covering them, too.
1979 Ford Fairmont
[/B]
5.0L/4R70W/8.8"/5-lug/3" Exhuast

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #3 –
Strange... mine are body-colored, same as my  87 TC parts car was. I'm sure I've seen photos of rusted strut towers posted on this forum that were body-colored, as well. Must have depended on the mood the paint shop guy was in that day...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #4 –
It looks to me like a lot of the grey primer is just showing through. I think that was typical on some of the darker-colored cars. You'd expect the upline XR7 to be a little better...however, if basecoat/clearcoat paint was specified (the door tag isn't shown, incredibly, in all the oversized photos in this auction so we can't verify that), it may have been a cost-saving procedure to save as much basecoat as possible. It was fairly expensive back then.

The engine bay on my '86 (Oxford White) had incredibly thin paint, and that was an acrylic enamel color. It took about an hour to remove the white and get to the grey primer, using nothing but lacquer thinner.

Ford paint jobs, on the outside of the vehicle, are usually fine. But they lose points big time on all the small details (engine bay, inside the trunk perimeter, underside of hood and trunk lid, etc.). My brother's '97 T/A has relatively INCREDIBLE paint in this respect; GM really paid attention to the details. Our cars were pretty good, most of the time...Mustangs are generally poor in this regard.

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #5 –
I can certainly relate to that - the inside edges of my front fenders (the edges that face the hood when it's closed) were not painted. At all. A thin layer of primer was all that was there. Amazingly enough, they were not rusted, either.

Here's the thread I was talking about that shows plenty o' painted (but rusty!) strut towers...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #6 –
Quote
Ford paint jobs, on the outside of the vehicle, are usually fine. But they lose points big time on all the small details (engine bay, inside the trunk perimeter, underside of hood and trunk lid, etc.).


Some things have not changed....I'm not particularly happy with a few choice spots on the strut towers of my Mustang.....

Quote
Here's the thread I was talking about that shows plenty o' painted (but rusty!) strut towers...


Invisible link :hick:

Some things look fantastic about the car while others......
The bumpers come to mind.  The close up shot of the taillight and the one a few down show faded paint on the bumper on the part that should be factory color.  It's a far cry from a match.  A notable rust spot on the bottom front on the inside of the driver's door surrounded by perfect paint....I'm guessing re-paint on this car.

It probably does have the low mileage claimed (the underside is testament to that), but it looks like it sat neglected for a long period of time after being cared for in the manner one would care for the average train station car.  A lot of dirt and stains in weird places for a 7300 mile car.  Note the area of very thin fabric on the left side sun visor as well.  Why?
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #7 –
Quote from: V8Demon;234595
Some things have not changed....I'm not particularly happy with a few choice spots on he strut towers of my Mustang.....



Invisible link :hick:

Some things look fantastic about the car while others......
The bumpers come to mind.  The close up shot of the taillight and the one a few down show faded paint on the bumper on the part that should be factory color.  It's a far cry from a match.  A notable rust spot on the bottom front on the inside of the driver's door surrounded by perfect paint....I'm guessing re-paint on this car.

It probably does have the low mileage claimed (the underside is testament to that), but it looks like it sat neglected for a long period of time after being cared for in the manner one would care for the average train station car.  A lot of dirt and stains in weird places for a 7300 mile car.  Note the area of very thin fabric on the left side sun visor as well.  Why?


I was thinking the same thing. certain things don't match, or look consistant with the rest of the car. and then again, everybody has those strange things that happen to there car that others don't have a problem with.
I'm leaning towards a repaint or touch up myself.
someone also bent the bottom lip on the rocker.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #8 –
I'm wondering whether that car may have been a Community College Special, a car that was donated by Ford for aspiring young mechanics. One thing is certain: It's spent all of those 7300 miles outdoors. Another thing is certain: I'd still love to have it :hick:

Now I've gotta go looking for that missing link I posted but it disappeared earlier....
*EDIT* Found it: http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=16198&highlight=framerail+repair
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #9 –
What ever became of that project
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #10 –
Beautious!
:cougarsmily:~Karen~

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #11 –
Quote from: EricCoolCats;234588
It looks to me like a lot of the grey primer is just showing through. I think that was typical on some of the darker-colored cars. You'd expect the upline XR7 to be a little better...however, if basecoat/clearcoat paint was specified (the door tag isn't shown, incredibly, in all the oversized photos in this auction so we can't verify that), it may have been a cost-saving procedure to save as much basecoat as possible. It was fairly expensive back then.

My engine compartment is very similar to this one with lots of gray primer showing also. Black in '85 wasn't a clearcoat finish so it appears that they may have all been painted this way without much coverage under hood.

This car would benefit with some cleaning, polishing & detailing. Not to mention re-installing the fog lamps, how hard is that?
Without that WOW factor of it being super clean & shiny and looking like a 7k mile car should, I'm going to bet that it doesn't meet his reserve.

I'm going to stick my neck out though on the paint, I think it is original. :shakeass:

Nice car, I hope it finds a good home.

Brent
:cougarsmily:
1985 Mercury Cougar XR-7 - 5-speed 
One of 1,246 built

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #12 –
Quote from: daminc;234616
What ever became of that project


I thought he finished replacing the rails but i could be wrong. even his K member is painted (thats what she said). Almost everything under my hood is gray, not that you can see it though all the grime, but everything I have cleaned is grey.

The car looks amazing. I feel like I know what a fresh, new interior in our cars looked like back in the day.
1986 Cougar LS

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #13 –
Did 85s not come with the covers over the gas tanks?
1986 Cougar LS

'85 XR7 - 7300 (yes, HUNDRED) Miles

Reply #14 –
Quote from: cougar86_89;234799
Did 85s not come with the covers over the gas tanks?

Mine looks the same, there is just a rectangular plastic "shield" on the very front of the tank.
Does your '86 have a full cover?

Brent
:cougarsmily:
1985 Mercury Cougar XR-7 - 5-speed 
One of 1,246 built