SP Rides: A Cougar On The Prowl
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Andrew Partika
Age: 58
Occupation: Aircraft Mechanic
Hobbies: Restoring Cars
Year, Make, Model: 1970 Mercury Cougar
Color: 2012 Lexus Dark Green Metallic
Engine: 5.0 Coyote Aluminator, Tremec TKO 600 5-speed, Fab 9 rear end, Currie Enterprise Differential with Detroit Locker
Exterior:
Custom canvas roof by Bob Arkus Uustom Upholstery, matching striping, custom fiberglass hood, all new chromed bumpers and details
Interior:
Grant steering wheel, repainted dash, new shifter, original seats, Double-Din receiver, ICE: 3” subwoofers in custom enclosure by Scott Kamalii from Preczion
Suspension: All modern suspension, rod and custom front suspension, power rack and pinion, front and rear coilovers, Chris Alston 4-link front and rear suspension
Wheels/Brakes/Tires: Boze Alloys custom wheels with 17 by 11 front and 18 by 12 rear, Wilwood disc brakes, Toyo Proxes R888 275/40ZR17 305/35ZR13 Rear
For its time, this 1970 Mercury Cougar was quite the machine with plenty of power and performance to offer. Fast forward forty-seven years to 2017, and Andrew Partika has melded the gorgeous exterior with modern advancements for a truly incredible mixed plate of automotive goodness.
Partika is an aircraft mechanic who just so happens to be a muscle car enthusiast. Over the years, he’d listen and learn, work through trial and error, and eventually, he’s become someone that not only builds his own cars but also his friends’ cars. His first car was a 1967 Mustang (which overheated the first night he bought it) but he also happened to own a Mercury Cougar that prompted him to return to his roots.
He’s built a lot of muscle cars, but for this ride, Partika desired to be different; he wanted more than just basic, he wanted the total package. Partika yenned for a classic with modern underpinnings. His ride would be computer controlled, have a modern engine, drivetrain and suspension, as well as all the bells and whistles like upgraded brakes and a kick-butt stereo system.
This particular 1970 Mercury Cougar sat, covered and protected, in an older gentleman’s garage for over twenty-five years due to some hapless fender bender. Towed out of retirement and shipped to Hawaii, Partika tore the entire car down to the frame and mounted on his rotisserie. Every nut and bolt was pulled and then sent off to be sandblasted while the body was prepped and repainted. The end result yielded an exterior coated beautifully in a shade of 2012 Lexus Metallica Green.
Its handmade fiberglass hood screams muscle, as well. To accent the exterior, custom-ordered Boze Alloys are set at 17 by 11 for the front and a meaty 18 by 12 for the rear.
As the car continued to come together, with the wheels in place, this Cougar was taken off the rotisserie and the internal work began. Assembly was prioritized with the hydraulics and fuel lines, followed by the wiring harness, relays, ECU, and finally the engine installed into the car. Already known for impressive numbers (335HP in the top model), Partika chose a modern engine that has oodles of glorious potential should he choose to upgrade. The 5.0 Coyote Aluminator was installed alongside a Tremec TKO 600 5-speed. A Fab 9 rear end was also included along with a Currie Enterprise Differential with a Detroit Locker.
Its new interior is clean and functional and bears most of the original equipment alongside upgraded goodies like the gauges and double-din receiver. Although he has new seats to be installed, the originals are still in good repair, and the sounds are taken to extremes. It’s not every day that you find a classic car with a full custom sound system. Three 8-inch subwoofers are molded into the trunk with plexiglass and beautiful fab work to match the green exterior.
The first crank for this car was a little nerve wracking, but it only took one turn of the key. Within moments, this melding of the old and the new roared to life as an example of the skill and craftsmanship that a true auto enthusiast can bring to bear.
Despite the anxiety of turning the engine, Partika shared that, for him, it’s all part of the excitement in any car project. “I just like the journey — from the start to the finish. Good motor, good power, good interior, A/C, and a nice sound system,” he said. Luckily for Partika, he’s had the journey along with all the bells and whistles in this stunning Cougar
