My first car is the 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 that I bought in January 1982 when I was 17 and a junior in high school — and still own today.
I bought it for $1,700 in San Luis Obispo, Calif., while living in Morro Bay, then moved to Phoenix, Ariz., shortly after.
The only reason I still have it is when I was 23 and starting to make some money, all my buddies were selling their high school cars to buy new trucks. I instead bought a house, which forced me to keep my car as my only means of transportation for years to follow.
I started restoring it after paying off the mortgage of my second house at 38. I’m happy with my choice. This car survived my teenage abuse, 20-age abuse, girlfriends, marriage, divorce, two (too) many hundred thousand miles... a true street survivor.
— Dave Bash, Grants Pass