Rusty Relics - Pick Two!

Kileen Pitt Kileen Pitt Sep 28, 2022 Trucks Muscle Classic Found
Rusty Relics - Pick Two!

Apparently, we are not the only ones interested in Finding Old Cars. Over the past few weeks there have been some interesting submissions to FindingOldCars.com, from an iconic Dodge Power Wagon to a 1967 Mercury Cougar symbolic of American Muscle. Treasures from all over the U.S. are being submitted including vehicles from North Carolina, Georgia, Indiana and New York.

Dodge Power Wagon

The Dodge Power Wagon is probably best known from the model released shortly after World War II. The Power Wagon was the first four-wheel drive vehicle to be offered to the American public in 1946 and was based on the military spec 3/4-ton truck. Originally Dodge used a model number of WDX and then later in 1957 it became the WM-300, the term Power Wagon was actually a generic term for a civilian four-wheel drive vehicle. These vehicles were popular after World War II as America went back to work.

Image provided by Bring-a-Trailer 1949 Dodge Power Wagon

Over the past three years there have been 102 Power Wagons sold at auctions across the country, according to the Hagerty Price Guide. The lowest sale of $1,760 and the highest sale price of $410,000 for a highly modified and restored vehicle sold on Bring-a-Trailer. The current Power Wagon "finds" posted on FindingOldCars.com will be available at the upcoming Passion for the Drive: The Cars of Jim Taylor  auction conducted by the Broad Arrow Group on October 14th - 15th.

Image provided by Speed Digital - 1948 Dodge Power Wagon

Mercury Cougar

Cougar is a term used jokingly in our modern culture but Mercury was serious about the Cougar being a performance icon for the company. The Mercury Cougar is not quite at the $410,000 mark of the Power Wagon mentioned above but in September 2022 Mecum Auctions sold a 1970 Mercury Cougar for over $100,000! The most recent $100,000 plus Cougar is one of nine that have sold in excess of $100,000 in the past three years.

1970 Mercury Cougar BOSS 302 - Image provided by Mecum Auctions

The 1967 Mercury Cougar was named "Car of the Year", by Motor Trend magazine and was the most successful model launch in company history. Only 150,893 were produced in 1967 and of those only 27,221 were the XR-7 luxury model. In 1968   the XR7-G, named for Mercury road racer Dan Gurney, came with all sorts of performance add-ons, including a hood scoop, Lucas fog lamps, and hood pins. There were many comfort and performance options available for the Cougar, including a power driver's seat that could be swiveled for ease of entry/egress.

1968 Mercury Cougar| Overview, Specs, Performance, OEM Data
Mercury was serious about the Cougar being the performance icon for the company. The XR7-G, named for Mercury road racer Dan Gurney, came with all sorts of performance add-ons, including a hood scoop, Lucas fog lamps, and hood pins.
1967 Mercury Cougar - Picture provided by FindingOldCars.com

The Hagerty Valuation Tool has the 1967 Mercury Cougar ranging in price from $12,800 to $37,000 depending on condition. Is the "find" above the vehicle waiting to be restored and then sold as the next $100,000+ restoration?

FindingOldCars.com is a group of enthusiasts that enjoys the hunt, restoration, preservation, and in some cases pure beauty of rusty relics left to be found by the next generation of car lovers. We welcome your submissions of cars in your neck of the woods, which in some cases are deep in the woods.