I once knew a Gran Coupe...

[RusTy/SE]

...that a good friend had...

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[RusTy/SE]

...was a 2 tag car that had been painted this scheme in the early/mid seventies and was from the Miami area when my friend bought it while he was in the Air Force...

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[RusTy/SE]

...door panel...

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[RusTy/SE]

...driver side...

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[RusTy/SE]

...the houndstooth vinyl top was the weird thing on this GC as it's identical to the pattern that some Ford/Mercury products could be ordered with in the late 60's early 70's. I do remember that the fender tag and broadcast sheet both called for a solid black vinyl top though...

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[RusTy/SE]

...seats were original though as we found the broadcast sheet inside the plastic seat back on the driver's side. Last i heard it was sold in the Madison, WI area as that was one of his last assignments before he left the Air Force. I've seen production numbers somewhere in the 330's for a 70 Gran Coupe with a 383-4sp. Add in the AM FM stereo, Rimblow, PW, PB, Air, Luggage rack, cloth and vinyl seats, and FC7 paint and yip, someone's got themselves one of the more highly optioned Gran Coupes out there.

Russ  

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[Rev-It-Up]

Nice looking car Russ!  Who's car was it?

[RusTy/SE]

David Simmons. It went with him to various AF assignments in North Dakota, Florida, Nevada, etc. For a short time he asked me to be it's caretaker while it was in a storage unit in Montgomery. The scenario went something like this:

Dave: Hey Russ, i'll send you the money and you have the work performed on it so that when i get back to Mtgy i can drive and enjoy it.

Russ: Consider it done. (YYYYEEEEEHHHHAAAAAA)

For a couple of months before Dave returned (from Alaska) it was brought back to driving shape and driven by me to keep the juices flowing. Very fun time. Verrrry stiff clutch, lol.
Dave now has one or two Harleys. His main one has something like $20K poured into it and is very nice. Last time he came by he let me sit on it while it was idling - there's got to be a different word for whatever it is that those things do when running but not moving - it was my first time on one and my driveway was vibrating!!!! Consider me impressed!! These days he's more interested in Sturgis than Carlisle but if i ever hit a lottery, i'll get him that triple black 4sp Hemicuda he's always wanted .

Russ  

[4Cruizn]

Definitely a strange looking top!  I know you could get a mod top but never saw anything like that??  

I saw put a HEMI in the car he has now and that should get his interest back!      

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Boy,
  there sure were a few mods. to that car. It looks good though.

Russ,
  How long ago since it was under your care? Just hoping this isn't rusting away somewhere for 20 years.

  Mike

[RusTy/SE]

4cruzin i have seen one 70 Cougar with the same top and the original owner said he ordered it that way. To see it in person it had the same look and texture as what's left on my RTSE

MEKrunner he let it go about 10 years ago to a fellow who had plans on putting it back original so i think it'll have a happier ending than some. Dave's Gran Coupe is the reason i bought my RTSE. I thought they would make a nice pair cruising down the road as they were similarly optioned...

Russ