Stars And Their Cars

[scottyrocks]

My Dad bought an XR7 new in '68. I wonder if ol' Arnie had anything to do with it.

 

[1967Cougar390]

My Dad bought an XR7 new in '68. I wonder if ol' Arnie had anything to do with it.

Very cool. My father was a General Contractor and he built Coral Gables Lincoln Mercury in Florida. He completed the dealership in late 1965 shortly before the Cougar ad campaign was released. My grandfather purchased a new 1967 Cougar from that dealership as soon as they were available for purchase. That Cougar became the hand me down car within my family. I had five older brothers so by the time I started driving it was well beyond nice. I was able to get my current 1967 many years later and enjoy the memories of my grandfather while creating new ones with my family.

 

[scottyrocks]

Very cool. My father was a General Contractor and he built Coral Gables Lincoln Mercury in Florida. He completed the dealership in late 1965 shortly before the Cougar ad campaign was released. My grandfather purchased a new 1967 Cougar from that dealership as soon as they were available for purchase. That Cougar became the hand me down car within my family. I had five older brothers so by the time I started driving it was well beyond nice. I was able to get my current 1967 many years later and enjoy the memories of my grandfather while creating new ones with my family.

I was 8 years old when my Dad got his, and heck, I wanted it when I was old enough to drive, although I knew there was not even a snowball's chance in h*ll of that happening. Inevitably, he traded it in for a new '73 Chevy.

 

[Fading Fast]

View attachment 106129 View attachment 106130 View attachment 106131 Here is Arnold Palmer in a 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7.

Steven

I always forget about the Cougar as the Mustang steals all the limelight, but it was a formidable pony car in its own right.

 

[1967Cougar390]

I always forget about the Cougar as the Mustang steals all the limelight, but it was a formidable pony car in its own right.

You are correct. Ford made sure that the spotlight stayed on the Mustang. Ford ended Mercury’s racing Trans AM Team Cougar after one season because it came 2 points shy of beating the Mustang for the Championship. This “in house” poster probably made the decision easier for Ford brass when Mercury picked at taking on Carol Shelby.

Steven

 

[Benzadmiral]

Not an off-pitch or boring scene in it. And a perfect car for the role - the automobile equivalent of Norma Desmond.

When watching the film last month, I noticed that her monogram, ND, is visible on the rear door -- at least on the driver's side.

 

[Fading Fast]

When watching the film last month, I noticed that her monogram, ND, is visible on the rear door -- at least on the driver's side.

Yes, I've noticed that too. And I've seen that in car museums and at antique car shows. Seems to have been a thing back in that day.

 

[Benzadmiral]

My Dad bought an XR7 new in '68. I wonder if ol' Arnie had anything to do with it.

I remember sitting in an XR7 sometime in 1967 or so, on a dealer's lot. In those days, at least around here, the dealers usually left the cars unlocked. Dad, my brother, and I would visit the car lots and we boys would sit in the cars. We were clean and never left a hint we'd been there, but it was fun. The XR7, I recall, had Jaguar-like toggle switches all over the instrument panel, something that would panic the Naderites today.

We also visited with a Lincoln Continental limousine, a '65 I think, dark olive green with a black vinyl top and a black leather interior -- except for the two bucket jump seats in the rear, which were tan. I've never seen pics of an LC limo in the years since.

 

[Fading Fast]

I remember sitting in an XR7 sometime in 1967 or so, on a dealer's lot. In those days, at least around here, the dealers usually left the cars unlocked. Dad, my brother, and I would visit the car lots and we boys would sit in the cars. We were clean and never left a hint we'd been there, but it was fun.....

I remember that type of trust, too, in my working-class hometown in the '60s into the early '70s, but things quickly went down hill from there.

Many here will quickly pull up articles and other evidence of bad things that happened pre the late '60s if I say, "those were better times."

I have no disagreement with facts - bad things / bad actors / bad behaviors have always been with us. What changed, IMHO, is that many more not-small areas of trust / of better behavior / of civility (by mutual consent) did seem to exist before the late '60s than after.

....The XR7, I recall, had Jaguar-like toggle switches all over the instrument panel, something that would panic the Naderites today....

I bought a '67 Impala SS in 1980 that, too, was a Naderite horror show, but one heck of a fun car. Sharp edges, protruding metal things and only a waist seatbelt made a small accident quite dangerous (fortunately, I never had one) - and we are better for the safer cars today (period, full stop) - but since those old cars exist, I'm glad I got to experience their more palpable and tactile fun than today's (smarter and safer but more boring) cars.

 

[scottyrocks]

I remember sitting in an XR7 sometime in 1967 or so, on a dealer's lot. In those days, at least around here, the dealers usually left the cars unlocked. Dad, my brother, and I would visit the car lots and we boys would sit in the cars. We were clean and never left a hint we'd been there, but it was fun. The XR7, I recall, had Jaguar-like toggle switches all over the instrument panel, something that would panic the Naderites today.

Yes, toggles were replaced by rockers later on.

I remember, even as a kid, being able to sit in the driver's seat of any car in the showroom. I still can in certain dealerships. That's where I tend to shop.

I was so careful back then - treated everything with kid gloves and respect. Still do.

 

[1967Cougar390]

I remember sitting in an XR7 sometime in 1967 or so, on a dealer's lot. In those days, at least around here, the dealers usually left the cars unlocked. Dad, my brother, and I would visit the car lots and we boys would sit in the cars. We were clean and never left a hint we'd been there, but it was fun. The XR7, I recall, had Jaguar-like toggle switches all over the instrument panel, something that would panic the Naderites today.

We also visited with a Lincoln Continental limousine, a '65 I think, dark olive green with a black vinyl top and a black leather interior -- except for the two bucket jump seats in the rear, which were tan. I've never seen pics of an LC limo in the years since.

Lincoln and Mercury not much better in my book. I drive a Lincoln Mark LT truck. My brothers that are twins came home from the hospital after they were born in a black 1965 Lincoln and I came home in a sea foam green 1967 Lincoln. You are right about the toggle switches on the Cougar XR7 dashboards. We currently have 3 1968 Cougars like that. Cars back in the day might not been as safe as today’s models but they had plenty of style.
Steven

 

[HadleyH1]

As a matter of curiosity, this news from 3 years ago....I wonder how did it go.



"Janice Joplin bought the car in 1968 and had a friend paint the custom mural on it. It was more than just a piece of art to the legendary singer, however — Janis Joplin actually drove the Porsche regularly until her death in 1970.
The custom-made car is expected to fetch up to $400,000 at auction, but high-interest items often go far above the expected selling price."


Totally crazy lol


https://www.inquisitr.com/2424080/j...rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-headed-to-auction/


this car.

 

[HadleyH1]

ok I found it

A 1964 Porsche 356 that once belonged to the rock singer Janis Joplin sold at auction Thursday night for $1.76 million.

December 11, 2015:
http://money.cnn.com/2015/12/10/luxury/janis-joplin-porsche-auction/index.html

 

[HadleyH1]

Love it!

 

[HadleyH1]

The Star Wars actor Ewan McGregor, who played jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi , packed his family into the Type 2 to chill out in California ...

 

[3fingers]

As a matter of curiosity, this news from 3 years ago....I wonder how did it go.



"Janice Joplin bought the car in 1968 and had a friend paint the custom mural on it. It was more than just a piece of art to the legendary singer, however — Janis Joplin actually drove the Porsche regularly until her death in 1970.
The custom-made car is expected to fetch up to $400,000 at auction, but high-interest items often go far above the expected selling price."


Totally crazy lol


https://www.inquisitr.com/2424080/j...rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-headed-to-auction/


this car.

Hmm. I would have thought Janis would have had something else.

Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?

 

[HadleyH1]

Hmm. I would have thought Janis would have had something else.

Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?

Janis...

 

[Fading Fast]

ok I found it

A 1964 Porsche 356 that once belonged to the rock singer Janis Joplin sold at auction Thursday night for $1.76 million.

December 11, 2015:
http://money.cnn.com/2015/12/10/luxury/janis-joplin-porsche-auction/index.html

ok I found it

A 1964 Porsche 356 that once belonged to the rock singer Janis Joplin sold at auction Thursday night for $1.76 million.

December 11, 2015:
http://money.cnn.com/2015/12/10/luxury/janis-joplin-porsche-auction/index.html

Usually, my mind would go into vapor lock over the price, but after seeing Paul Newman's Rolex sell for $17.75 million last year, nothing in the attached-to-stars collectable market surprises me anymore. Heck, for ~$16 million less than the watch, you get the entire car - seems like a steal .

The Newman watch story: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/paul-newman-rolex-daytona-auction-most-expensive-watch-ever

 

[3fingers]

Usually, my mind would go into vapor lock over the price, but after seeing Paul Newman's Rolex sell for $17.75 million last year, nothing in the attached-to-stars collectable market surprises me anymore. Heck, for ~$16 million less than the watch, you get the entire car - seems like a steal .

The Newman watch story: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/paul-newman-rolex-daytona-auction-most-expensive-watch-ever

This is America and people are free to spend their money on anything they wish to. Having said that, I'm having trouble deciding if I think 17,000,000 for a used wristwatch is foolish or obscene.

 

[Fading Fast]

This is America and people are free to spend their money on anything they wish to. Having said that, I'm having trouble deciding if I think 17,000,000 for a used wristwatch is foolish or obscene.

I'm with you on the freedom aspect - you earn your money honestly, you pay your taxes (which for people buying $17 million watches, means +/- 50% of their income is taxed away*) and you get to spend what is left however you want (as long as what you buy is legal).

I'm just amazed that the watch got anywhere near that price. Since it's a standard Rolex model from that time, the extra ~$16 million of value (above what similar non-Newman-owned models sell for) is because Paul Newman owned it.

Wow. That seems a very fragile concept to base a very high valuation on. There's a lot of room between $1 million and $17 million for "the market" to decide that Newman's ownership isn't that cool.



* Yes, I know there are exception to this, but the top 1% pay something like 40-50% of all income tax - my point isn't the exact number, my point is the "often denounced" 1% pay a large amount of absolute taxes