Mercury Rising: Wes Adkins Builds an 800-Horse ’68 Cougar

Wes Adkins, owner of Wild Wes Paintworks in Dover, OH, used this 1968 Mercury Cougar as his daily driver for almost seven years. But as you’d expect from a guy named Wild Wes, he had something radically different planned for the Cougar.

“I always had a vision of the car set for a Trans Am/Road Race theme,” Adkins said. “That’s kind of the direction I was aiming for but with the modern technology and suspension and fuel injection. And (I envisioned it) with the luxury of a Pro Touring car.”

The Cougar will make its debut at the 2013 SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV. The car is powered by a 427-cubic-inch Ford Windsor with twin superchargers that Adkins says will make 800 horsepower without breaking a sweat. A Detroit Speed suspension will ensure the Cougar will handle like—well, a cougar; some cool body modifications and killer paint job will help the car stand out among all the SEMA show cars.

Watch the video above for a sneak peek and an exclusive interview with Adkins.