The profile car, a '70 standard convertible, is a pretty recent acquisition compared with his four-speed XR-7 convertible project car, which Charles acquired in 1985.

Originally Dark Ivy Green Metallic and now Maroon Metallic, the standard has a Medium Ginger interior and is equipped with air conditioning, power steering and power disc brakes.

Charles, who lives in Darnestown, Md., got a good look at the ragtop while it was advertised for sale at the Carlisle All-Ford Show in early June 2000. Within a few days after the show, he bought the cat from fellow Delmarva member Charles "Chip" Markell, who had owned the car since buying it from the original owner in 1977. (Coincidentally, the buyer and seller are both named "Charles III" and the current owner also used to be called "Chip" as a youngster.)

In the 23 years he owned the car, Chip only put about 25,000 miles on it. Still sporting the original 351 Cleveland two-barrel engine, FMX transmission and 9-inch, 3.00 open rear end, Charles reported that the car now has 101,300 miles on the odometer. It's the third Cougar he has owned.

Charles said he caught the "Cougar bug" from his father, who owned a 1967 XR-7 when Charles was a kid.

"I always loved that car and dreamed that it would be mine," Charles said. "I got my wish when it was given to me as a high school graduation gift in 1983. By that time it had deteriorated a lot though, with high miles and serious rust."

Sadly, that 67 XR-7 didn't last long for its young driver. In 1985, still hooked on Cougars, Charles found a 1970 XR-7 convertible four-speed with a 351C-4V. Although it also came equipped with high miles and rust, Charles drove the convertible a few years before he pulled it off the road for a restoration project. Charles said he kept the car for 10 years without touching it. The biggest lesson he has learned since becoming a Cougar lover? "Things take a lot longer than expected! One has to be very patient.

"Finally I found the CLASSIC-COUGARS list, which led me to the Delmarva Club," said Charles. "This [and some much needed garage space!] have spurred me back into the restoration project. But since it will be a multiyear effort, I wanted to have one I could drive in the meantime. So I found this unmodified 1970 convertible. It will serve as a guide to help me restore my four-speed."

Charles has been busy with his new weekend cruiser: To date, he has replaced the bumpers with rechromed ones, added a new license plate bracket and battery tray and painted engine compartment. He also replaced belts and hoses, added a new starter and battery, and had the radiator rebuilt. And he did some more miscellaneous engine compartment detailing.

Charles is president of a small company, Stress Indicators, which promotes and manufactures products that his father has invented—most notably the Smartbolt, a bolt that has an indicator in the head that tells you if the bolt is loose or tight by means of a color change.

When he's not working or playing with his Cougars, Charles said he enjoys sailing his boat, which is kept on the Chesapeake Bay, flying ultralight aircraft, playing basketball and football and spending time with his wife, Smriti, and toddler Rohan.

Charles has some future plans for his cruiser, including replacing door hinges and repainting the grille and surrounding area. To make it suit his taste, he said he will probably add new wheels and tires (probably styled steel wheels or Magnum 500s). And to make the car more comfortable for his height, he plans to modify the position of the front seats. To give the cat a little added power, he wants to swap the intake manifold and carburetor for a 4V setup.

As for his dream car, Charles said he loves all the rare and performance Cougars, including the GT-E, 428 Eliminator and 67 GT four-speed, but a four-speed 428 Ram Air XR-7 would be the ultimate. Of course, it would have to be a convertible and a 1970 with the protruding grille, so he can feel the wind in his hair and bang his head once in a while when he's working on the engine!