noooooo!
Ford's "almost" Vette Competitor
Thread Starter
1969/1971/2021 Coupes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,212
Likes: 80
From: Port Huron MI
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Ford's "almost" Vette Competitor
On display at the Detroit Autorama this year was Ford's version of what was to be the Vette competitor. Didn't say what happened to the idea to go into production. I thought I read or saw somewhere that the two seat T-Bird was considered to be the Vette competitor. Maybe Ford "thought" that would do the trick. Ooooooops
The unreadable sign says;
This is a hand made automobile - the only one like it in the world. It was the result of efforts at Ford Motor Company to build a two-seat "Gran Tourismo" sports car that could compete with the popular Chevrolet Corvette. Both designs first featured fastback rear windows in 1963.
Built on a tubular frame by Carroll Shelby, the fiberglass body was built by Ken Spencer and Ray Behmer of Ford's Design Center. The car was to be powered by a 260 high perfromance V8 engine and to be capable of speeds up to 170 miles per hour. Design features include an integrated roll bar, full instrumentation, pop-up headlights, wire wheels and an automatic air pressure release panel at the back.
The Cougar II prototype debuted in New York on September 13, 1963 and was featured with other concept cars in Ford's exhibit at the 1964 New York Worlds Fair.
The unreadable sign says;
This is a hand made automobile - the only one like it in the world. It was the result of efforts at Ford Motor Company to build a two-seat "Gran Tourismo" sports car that could compete with the popular Chevrolet Corvette. Both designs first featured fastback rear windows in 1963.
Built on a tubular frame by Carroll Shelby, the fiberglass body was built by Ken Spencer and Ray Behmer of Ford's Design Center. The car was to be powered by a 260 high perfromance V8 engine and to be capable of speeds up to 170 miles per hour. Design features include an integrated roll bar, full instrumentation, pop-up headlights, wire wheels and an automatic air pressure release panel at the back.
The Cougar II prototype debuted in New York on September 13, 1963 and was featured with other concept cars in Ford's exhibit at the 1964 New York Worlds Fair.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 5
From: Sacramento California
This car appeared for 63, the 63 Corvette had a split rear window, so they must have had some real insight to copy a car that wouldn't be produced for another year (64)
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,314
Likes: 1,585
From: Western NY
Exactly!!
It's easy to say today, in 2011, that the Cougar show car isn't too stylish, but I'm sure that in '63, it was quite the "looker".....
BTW, think the "aero-jellybean", look alike sedans of today are all that stylish?
I had one of those, great car. Had the 273 HP V8 and 4 speed. It would run away from the 283 chevys and a lot of the 327s. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
Not that I like them but the 55,56,57 Tbird was a very tough car for corvette to deal with then, and if you judge by sales they kicked the corvettes butt BIG time! And the birds that had the 312ci and Paxton superchargers, well they just ran well!!! But after that nothing was offered till the Cobra, and it was probaly more the type car that Duntov wanted all along!