Nobody was out back, so we went around front and rang the bell.  Royce Peterson answered the door and invited us inside.  We had never met before, but we were treated like long lost friends.  Royce is a Cougar person.  He took us through the house, past the old Cat and popped the garage door.  This is not a large shop with a lift or room for the RV.  But we stopped in our tracks when we looked inside.

Greeting us were two immaculate 1968 Cougars.  The green one on the left is a 1968 XR-7 hardtop GT-E 427, dual 4V, C6 automatic--a Restomod.  To the right, a maroon 1968 XR-7 hardtop CJ428, C6 automatic--a restoration.  The less than pristine blue car behind us is a recent acquisition--an original 1968 XR-7 hardtop GT-E 427, 4V, C6--awaiting Royce's special brand of attention.  Apparently, Mr. Peterson enjoys a little frame twisting torque and horsepower.

The left side of the garage displayed a sturdy workbench, sixty gallon air compressor, an FE head standing on the floor and a good-sized tool chest.  Above the tool chest, a shelf holds NOS 1968 grille assemblies and taillight parts, and other NOS stuff.  If you look closely, you can see a pedal car his father built to resemble a 1915 Model T.  Royce started his automotive enthusiasm at the age of three, peddling the car and honing his driving skills.  It has spherical tie rod ends for the steering components and pedal mechanism that were lying around the Braniff Airways hanger where his father worked. The wheels came from a baby stroller. 

Hmmm . . I wondered what was beyond the door under the pedal car.  Royce said to feel at home and look around.  Let's see, a parts washer in front of me, an engine stand to my right and more parts on the shelving.  I do believe the blue GT-E will see life soon.

The right wall in the back room has a bookstand with manuals galore.  You can never be too careful in southern California, what with earthquakes just around the corner.  Royce has anchored the book stand with a an NOS 427 Tunnel Wedge manifold that was powder coated, with a pair of C5AF-9510-BU carbs rated at 780 CFM each. Royce told me, "These carbs would typically come with a Tunnel Wedge intake if you purchased the parts as a kit from your Lincoln Mercury dealer."  I just stood there and stared, visualizing what tire shredding power they would create.

I came back to reality and walked back to the main garage.  Mounted on the back wall was an interesting box with 63 small drawers.  Royce explained, "My paternal grandfather made the parts drawer setup as a high school shop project, using scraps of wood and tin cans for materials. It was later present in his Chevrolet dealership in Eagle Bend, Minnesota, which he lost control of in 1923. Chevrolet itself almost ceased to exist due to a recall of the entire production for that year due to faulty engine design."  If you look closely, you can see the some of the screws and washers his grandfather mounted outside of the drawers to indicate the contents.  I pulled one drawer open.  The metal drawer was full of chrome remote control mirror bezels.

As I walked out of the garage, I noticed a handy sink with yet another door to its left.  Royce saw me looking and nodded, "Go ahead, open it."  I have not laughed so hard from surprise in years.  Every garage should have a small door beside the sink.

As the three of us walked out of the garage Royce quietly asked, "Want to go for a ride in the GT-E?"  Well, shoot, since it was already out of the garage anyway . . .   Steve went first, and his reaction when he returned is an obvious endorsement.   As I strapped in, we idled from the neighborhood.  Royce tapped the throttle as we entered the on ramp to 405.  I was strapped in a rocket ship, a rocket ship that was trying its best to rotate the world as the rear tires alternated between traction and fogging for mosquitoes.   The only person having more fun on earth at that exact moment was Royce, behind the wheel.

But, just to set the record straight, Royce is not always a tire shredder.  He also has an appreciation for the slower things in life and owns a nearly original 1915 Ford Touring.

Many people come to Southern California to experience Disneyland.  We experienced a better place, with fascinating displays, surprises behind every door and several E Ticket rides.  As they might say at southern California's other big attraction, it was Supercalifragalisticexpealidocious!
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