1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E 427/390 HP
 

A very rare 'Mountain Cat'

Only 354 were built.

The high cost and rarity of the car, prevented many owners from putting
them on the track.

Available with C- 6 Automatic Transmission 'only',

http://www.americancarcollector.com/...38b4cd8d_L.jpg

Re: 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E 427/390 HP
 

I used to work on one of them when I had the gas station. Triple black, beautiful car.

Re: 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E 427/390 HP
 

Yes, beautiful cars.

427 engines, 390 HP and Hydraulic camshaft, and C-6 Automatic transmission only.

1968 NHRA Class

Super Stock......SS/EA
Stock..................C/SA

Re: 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E 427/390 HP
 

Paul,
There were two of these Cougars in the Roanoke, VA area back in the day. One of them is still here and Jack Roush purchased the other one. His daughter handled the purchase of the car without engine or trans. She told the seller that daddy had lots of engines and transmissions.
regards, Roland

Re: 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E 427/390 HP
 

Paul, they weren't "side-oilers" they were hydraulic lifter motors.

Re: 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E 427/390 HP
 

Billy,

Correct,,,,,,,my error,,,,,,,,,,,'Hydraulic Camshaft'

And 'C-6' automatic transmission only.

Biggest complaint, they wouldn't 'rev' when running C/SA.

Still, a beautiful car.

Re: 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E 427/390 HP
 

We had one in the mid 80's for about 2 years. We did a total restoration and put a set of headers and a 4.56 gear, 3000 stall conv and slicks. Went high 12's. Wish I still had it. Sold it to a guy in Texas for $18,000, thought we made a killing.



Bret Velde

Re: 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E 427/390 HP
 

Actually, they were both. The "side oiler" designation refers to how the crankshaft recieved its oil pressure. The older top oiler 427s used a similar oil gallery routing like the 390-428s,where the crank recieved oil after the cam and lifters, the side oiler block has an external bulge down the drivers side of the block, which contains an oil passage that feeds the crank first. Also the earlier 427 blocks were solid lifter, with no passages to feed the lifters (FEs feed the rocker shafts via passages from #2&4 cam bearings, up thru the block and heads, to the shafts). Starting with the 68 Cougar GTE, and subsequent service blocks, the oil passages for hydraulic lifters were drilled.I have a 427 FE in my bracket Fairmont, with a 1971 service block, which is both a side oiler, and drilled for hydraulic lifters.

Re: 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E 427/390 HP
 

Very heavy cars at 3616 lbs., and with a 390 HP rating, had a
9.27 Wt/Hp 1968 NHRA Class = C/SA when they first came out.

Can only recall seeing one at the Drag Strip.
and by 1970/1971 they were running in E/SA.

12.90's is what I remember.

Re: 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E 427/390 HP
 

Paul I recall Muscle Car mag. had a 428 cj powered one on the cover a couple years ago. I believe from the article about 30 or less had the 428 engine.