Being able to make the most out of what you have. Modifying something to make it more fun and unlocking some kind of hidden appeal. There exists very few rear wheel drive, two-door cars that are still within the reach of someone looking for a running car that can provide cheap thrills. It appears that the lesser of the MN12 chassis still flies under the radar.

Yes, the questionable green-on-green color scheme is a throwback to malaise domestic market. But if you’re willing to look past the color and aerodynamic treatment that quietly echoes the old fox-body Cougar’s design you will find an interesting package: The same IRS found in it’s chassis mate the Lincoln Mark VIII. This time in iron instead of the Lincoln’s aluminum construction. The 4R70W 4-speed automatic, which is a huge step forward for reliability from the old AODs that the previous 5.0L cars were saddled with. As well as a 205hp SOHC V8 that is one of the better-sounding engines after maybe the 5.0L HO itself.

There are junkyards full of PI-headed Panther cars for those looking for more power, however living in a world where Toyota has been churning out a 14-second v6 Camry for at least a decade it seems a moot point. That being the case, why would you even bother with this car? Because there is an element of cool that cut springs, Flowmaster rumble and rear-wheel burnouts that can’t be replicated by a Camry. Even the fastest Tesla just doesn’t have the same old school charisma found just under the unassuming and obnoxiously green surface.

In a previous life it may have shuttled grandma to Bingo night, still bearing the permanent UV scar in the dash from where the fit-over sunglasses used to rest following a cataract surgery. Maybe it still smells a little like Chanel no. 5 and Metamucil farts, but that’s not anything a set of test pipes can’t fix.

Beware of cat.