1968 Cougar XR7-G 390 4v 4 Speed

[propayne]

Not my car, just making the forum aware of a very rare G that just came on the market.

Asking price is 84K.

- Phillip

https://forum.classiccougarcommunity.com/t/1968-xr7-g-s-code-390-4v-4-speed-54k-original-miles/36949

[Coralsnake]

Thats good stuff

[Mikelj5S230]

That's a neat car, the E has been on my bucket list for a while, but a G might be almost as good.

[propayne]

A 4 speed Cougar is a rarity in-and-of-itself and only 14 S code 390 4 speed XR7-Gs were produced. Hard to imagine there is a more original one that is this nice out there, but maybe one will turn up.

No manual tranny W code GT-Es from the factory.

- Phillip

[Coralsnake]

Phillip

Was the 427 available in a XR7 G ?

[propayne]

No, only the GT-E got the 427 which towards the end of production gave way to the 428 Cobra Jet. Mercury did make the 4 speed manual available with the Cobra Jet GT-Es.

It really is all confusing - in a nutshell the GT-E and the XR7-G both evolved out of the XR-7S show car which is mentioned in Shelby American paperwork in late '67 - also referred to as the "European Cougar".

Then with all of the changes with the relationship with Ford and the formation of Shelby Automotive Mercury decided at some point to offer two high end Cougars in 1968 - the GT-E which only came with the 427 and the Cobra Jet and which they would produce in-house and the XR7-G with G conversions vended out to Smith. Presumably because the G had so many unique parts it would have slowed down a regular production line?

One would think having a single high performance/luxury GT Shelby-like Cougar would have been a better idea and certainly less confusing.

You could get any engine in the G except the 289 (all Gs started out as XR-7s which had the F code 302 as the base engine) and the 427 but all Gs came with dual exhaust and the competition handling package.

- Phillip

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Another wise buyer who didn't check the sunroof option.
I like the car. I'd love it in a darker color with black interior though. Are any still riding on the original Rader wheels?

[propayne]

Yes, a few Gs weren't subject to the recall. Below is a pic of one. Original owner had it for a long time.

The Rader wheel fiasco is fascinating -
Shelby American was involved as early as the Spring of 1967 with developing a luxury/performance Cougar for Mercury referred to in notes as the XR-7S and/or the "European Cougar".

Hertz was aware of this and in an August 7, 1967 memo requested that 200 units be built for them to rent as a part of their Sports Car Club fleet. Hertz wanted a real wire wheel and Shelby American expressed concern about whether or not that was possible. The solution/compromise ultimately being the Rader Spoked Wheel made by TransAmerican Products Ltd. out of CA.

Smith experienced problems with the wheels at the get-go while building the XR7-G prototypes and let Shelby know about it.

Despite this, Shelby via Don Coleman ok'd a purchase order for 5,000 wheels, 5,000 hubs and 25,000 nuts. An interesting note in the memo approving the purchase order states that the "wheels are to be built from rims already supplied to the vendor".

As we know the wheels were recalled in late April-early May. The issue was still unresolved and in a memo dated March 26, 1969 Smith and Ford were set to take legal action against TransAmerican with Smith wanting reimbursement for expenses incurred repairing, removing and replacing Rader wheels and for all of the wheels stored at Smith to be picked up. Smith notes in a memo that they "had no voice in the selection of the source, no control over the quality of the product received, and operated at all times in accordance with the instructions from Shelby".

What a mess! But I appreciate that an effort was made to give the Gs a unique and custom wheel.

- Phillip

[Coralsnake]

Smith got the short end of the stick so often, its no wonder they told Ford to pack their stuff up and leave....

[propayne]

For sure - they bid on the job based on the specs provided and as is so often the case, while performing the job the specs changed and from then on it is very difficult to get reimbursed.

In the case of the Cougars, Smith expected the cars as received were ready to be modified and sent on for sale but in truth many had issues on arrival that Smith got stuck dealing with before their task of converting them into XR7-Gs  could even begin.

One result being that Smith gets the reputation of having quality issues.

Also, please let me take the opportunity to give a HUGE thanks to '68/'69/'70 Shelby Registrar Vincent Liska for sharing with me all of the great documents that I am able to quote from.

- Phillip

[propayne]

Also, in getting back to this G for sale and the Rader wheels - according to it's Marti this 4 speed G was produced on May 6 and it says on the original window sticker that as part of the G package the car has "Styled Wheels w/spoke design" which is referring to the Rader wheel.

Soon after May 6 G window stickers were changed to read "Styled Steel Wheels" so this G may have come originally with the Raders.

- Phillip

[98SVT - was 06GT]

I love the dark green. Rader Wheels were known in SoCal as the bottom of the heap. A lot of them were being cast in Mexico. Barris used them because they'd give them to him free for any tv or movie car he was building.
The time line is interesting. Just as Hertz is wanting 200 cars Ford is putting the padlock on Shelby American.
Tom McIntyre still has his. He's put American's on it. https://youtu.be/x8Jh5QI8N_8?t=527

[propayne]

For those interested, I take a fairly deep dive into the history of the Rader Wheel company on this thread.

https://forum.classiccougarcommunity.com/t/xr7-g-rader-wheel-history/2781

- Phillip

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Phillip,
What you stumbled across TAP was one of the first conglomerates of speed equip. Today when you look at those individual old brands like Holley, Mallory, Hooker, American, etc you'll find they are all under one roof like "Driven Performance Brands". When you dig deeper you'll find some giant investment fund as the owners. They are stockholder driven - not product quality or customer satisfaction driven.
Evolving out of early wheel ventures tied to Dick Rader Jr. and Mickey Thompson's Wheel Corp of America, Trans American Products evolved from Mickey Thompson's Wheel Corp of America and Dick Rader Jr.'s wheel operations following financial and business transitions. They took over production and distribution (using MT & Rader trademarks).
the Rader family departed the company in 1966, leading to quality control issues, declining sales, and eventual bankruptcy by 1974.
MT started his Wheel Corp of America in 1963. As the manager of Lion's drag strip and a Bville racer he would not have stood for any junk that could effect safety. I got my drivers license in 1966 by the time I was looking for a set of wheels in 1967 the word was out - don't buy Rader.

[propayne]

^^^ That tracks with the research I have done on the company.

Thanks for your insight as someone who was there.

- Phillip