1967 Mercury Cougar - Only the Beginning

It May Not be Finished, But There's Already Plenty to Like About Cameron Benoit's 1967 Cougar

Without a doubt, Cameron Benoit is the kind of young automotive enthusiast we hold in high regard. On a budget, resourceful, and able to spin his own wrenches, Cameron is passionate about classic cars—Mercury Cougars, in particular—and enjoys making a good thing even better. Take this 1967 Cougar, for example, which he bought from the second owner in completely stock condition. It's a beauty, but its "as purchased" 289 two-barrel and C4 automatic sure left something to be desired. Limited funds required Cameron to pick and choose his modifications carefully, but the results thus far reflect the kind of good decisions not always associated with youthful passion.

We should rewind a bit and acknowledge that Cameron didn't exactly stumble into the classic-car hobby—he was born into it. Cameron's dad, John, is the owner of Cascade Classics, a restoration shop outside Seattle, which specializes in Cougars and Mustangs.

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The story surrounding his present car began in 2012, when then 21-year-old Cameron somewhat begrudgingly sold a blue 1967 Cougar he'd spent several years building. "I was at the Goodguys Nationals in Puyallup, Washington, with my car, when a gentleman from Canada walked up to me and asked if it was for sale. I said, ‘Not really, but for the right price I'd let it go.' I threw out a number and two weeks later he came down and picked up the car!" By the fall of 2012, Cameron bought another '67 he found on Craigslist. It turned out to be a two-owner car that had been purchased not long before from an estate sale. Even better for a Cougar guy like Cameron, it was a rare factory silver car with a recent repaint. Needless to say, he scored.

With the pink slip in his name, Cameron began to formulate a plan for modification, all the while respecting factory appearances. Costs appeared daunting until Cameron found some patience and began to think outside the box. There was no need to tear the car completely apart. Instead, the modifications could be piecemealed together over time, and the car could be driven during the process. Cameron touched base with local shops, networked with fellow enthusiasts, and hunted the Internet to turn up some smokin' deals that helped the budget-oriented build. "As the car sits now, about 70 percent of the parts were from other people's abandoned projects," Cameron says. "They bought the stuff, never got around to doing the car, and eventually sold the parts." The Total Control coilover front suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, 351 Windsor, and even the five-speed are all from other stillborn efforts—purchased at a greatly reduced price.

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Of course, to get your way with some items, you simply have to pay, and two upgrades to the Cougar have reflected Cameron's specific desires. One is the wheel/tire combination, which simultaneously bring the car into the 21st century while keeping things subtle. Year One's 17x8-inch aluminum Magnum wheels shod in BFG G-Force rubber do the trick, interpreting the classic Magnum 500 in a distinctly modern way. The second must-have for Cameron was a decent set of seats, which he created by having repop Cougar upholstery modified and installed on a pair of 3-series BMW buckets. While items like these surely aren't cheap, Cameron's extensive detail work was virtually free. The Cougar's elaborate grille is a great example—he completely disassembled, stripped, painted, and reassembled it to look like new.

Clearly, Cameron and the hobby are miles ahead of where we were at Cameron's age more than two decades ago, when we'd have spent our wad on a nasty big-horsepower engine and left the suspension and brakes woefully alone. Says the sage Cameron, "It's not easy to afford a vintage car in your early 20s, but if you take your time and maximize your resources, you can build something badass for half the price of buying new." Not only is that practical advice for the 20-something crowd, it's a point of view that even us older enthusiasts would do well to consider!

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Tech Notes
Who: Cameron Benoit
What: 1967 Mercury Cougar
Where: Edgewood, WA

Engine: Cameron's dad had a stock but rebuilt 1969 351 Windsor from a parts car, which Cameron scooped up on the cheap. It's not radical by any means, but it makes for good fun when combined with rear gears and a five-speed. The factory 290hp rating was improved by installing a Comp Xtreme Energy hydraulic cam, Edelbrock Performer intake, and 600-cfm Holley.

Exhaust: Cameron hasn't ponied up for headers quite yet, instead sticking with the stock manifolds. The rest of the exhaust is made up of a Magnaflow X-pipe, Spintech mufflers, and 2.5-inch tailpipes.
Transmission: Reflective of their emphasis on luxury, a majority of early Cougars were fitted with automatic transmissions. Cameron's '67 was no different, but rather than being content with the C4 slushbox, he opted for a T5 from a 1991 Mustang GT. The whole thing comes together with a Ford Racing clutch and flywheel, Steeda shifter, and Modern Driveline hydraulic clutch conversion

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Rearend: Basic and bulletproof is the name of the game here; the 9-inch assembly was an easy swap for the factory 8-inch and is fitted with 3.89 gears and a Trac-Lok dif.

Suspension: The Total Control front suspension is one of Cameron's second-hand buys and consists of tubular upper and lower control arms, VariShock adjustable coilovers, and heavy-duty strut rods. For the moment, the rear suspension remains stock.

Brakes: Manual four-wheel discs are a combination of Baer 13-inch, twin piston fronts, and Right Stuff 11.5-inch single piston rears. A factory-appearing master cylinder from Scott Drake is specifically designed for aftermarket four-wheel disc brakes, and a Baer proportioning valve dials it all in.
Wheels/Tires: Year One's 17x8-inch aluminum Magnum wheels really set off the factory silver paint and keep with a subtly factory vibe. They're wrapped in BF Goodrich G-Force KDWs, 225/45ZR17s in front, 245/45ZR17 in the rear.
Interior: The factory black cabin is largely original, reflecting the good care lavished by the original owner. Cameron installed new carpet and had BMW 3-series seats upholstered in matching Cougar threads. A removable console, custom handle for the Steeda shifter, and Lecarra steering wheel round out the simple and effective mods.
Exterior: Other than the 17-inch Magnums, the exterior of the Cougar is stock, right down to the Sheffield Silver paint and black vinyl top. According to the production-number gurus at Marti Auto Works (MartiAuto.com), just 1,359 of the 150,000-plus 1967 Cougars built were sprayed in silver. In other words, less than 1 percent of production. It's remarkable when you consider that silver has been one of the most popular new-car colors for several decades now. One recent source stated that 18 percent of all new cars worldwide are silver.

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