1986 CMC Tiffany Classic (Mercury Cougar)

A rare gold 1986 CMC Tiffany Classic arriving at and leaving Peninsula Cars & Coffee at Promenade on the Peninsula, organized by the Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance. Built by Florida-based Classic Motor Carriages (CMC), the Tiffany Classic was based on a Mercury Cougar and features fiberglass bodywork inspired by cars of the 1930s.

Before you hate on this car or any other neoclassic cars of the era (Clenet, Zimmer, etc.), remember that the desire for a combination of vintage styling with modern comfort and practicality is something that resonates with many car enthusiasts even today. A full-body conversion like this couldn't have been cheap, and being based on a humble Mercury meant that the cost to keep it running was probably much lower compared to that of contemporary European luxury cars. All the bells and whistles are certainly over the top (apparently the desire to attract attention is nothing new!), but I won't deny the car's overall design is pretty cool in an exaggerated old-money sort of way, combining the shiny glamour and generous proportions of pre-war luxury cars with performance and features expected of modern cars in the '80s. Yes, this was a product representing a very specific market at a particular point in time, and now most people see it as just an old car made to look like an even older car. This car was listed for sale when I saw it two years ago, and apparently it's still listed for sale now with the price reduced from around $30,000 to just under $20,000 - a clear sign that it struggles to find a place in today's automotive society despite being in excellent condition. It's certainly not for everyone, but if I were a valet driver and this car pulled up during my shift, I'd gladly leave it parked out front for all to see.

Would you choose this car over a stock 1986 Mercury Cougar? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!