Neko Case’s 1967 Mercury Cougar Raffled For Charity

It’s called The Mercury Cougar-Rama Muscle Car ‘Splosion. Musician Neko Case, whose album cover for Middle Cyclone features her perched atop a 1967 Mercury Cougar (remember the list?), is giving that very car away in a drawing to benefit 826 National, a family of nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping children with, among other things, creative writing (they’ve made automotive news before).

The two-owner ’67 Cougar, which Case named “Angie Dickinson,” features a 289 (4.7-liter) V-8, a three-speed automatic transmission, and original paint.

To win this famous Mercury, one ticket costs $45, two cost $75, and it’s $25 for each ticket thereafter. The drawing will be held on March 18, and other prizes will be given away leading up to the Grand Prize, beginning March 14.

Check out this video to see and hear the car for yourself.

Find more details at the website, or scroll down for the official press release. (Thanks for the tip, Erin!)

NEKO CASE PRESENTS: THE COUGAR-RAMA MUSCLE CAR ‘SPLOSION

The raffle will benefit 826 National literacy programs

Grand prize winner will be selected March 18

Additional prizes drawn every day beginning March 14

SAN FRANCISCO, CA —(Feb. 15, 2011)—Grammy-nominated musician Neko Case will give away her beloved classic 1967 Mercury Cougar, featured on her Grammy-nominated album Middle Cyclone, to one lucky winner in a raffle to benefit 826 National. The Grand Prize winner will be selected on March 18, 2011, and information on purchasing tickets can be found at www.nekocase.com/auction/. Cougar-Rama Muscle Car ‘Splosion benefits 826 National, which provides free tutoring and literacy programs to more than 24,000 students in eight cities nationwide.

In addition to the Grand Prize, 826 National will draw a prize per day beginning on Monday, March 14, 2011. Prizes will include:

•    The ANTI- catalog of records, a 60-disc Matador Records sampler
•    Poketo’s Road Trip prize pack
•    A drum head signed by The New Pornographers
•    Neko’s limited-edition 1966 Gretsch Silver Duke guitar
•    A Gibson acoustic guitar signed by members of the Speaking Clock Revue including Elton John, Elvis Costello, Dr. Ralph Stanley, Leon Russell, and T Bone Burnett
•    A Carr Amplifier
•    An Adidas prize pack
•    Dinner for 10 from Chipotle
•    And much more

Proceeds of this raffle supports 826 National. Co-founded by award-winning educator Nínive Calegari and award-winning author Dave Eggers, 826 National centers are located in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Ann Arbor, Boston, and Washington, DC. Last year, 826 chapters served over 24,000 students and produced 800 student-authored publications, with all programs free of charge for students, classes, and schools. 

Limited edition, custom Poketo T-shirts are being sold in conjunction with the online event in 826 chapter storefronts across the country and online at www.826national.org/store.

Summary of the Rules
(For the complete listing, please see www.nekocase.com/auction)

Eligibility

The raffle is open to legal residents of the U.S. who are at least 21 years old and who hold a valid U.S. driver’s license, excluding employees of 826 National and anyone who lives with them.

Ticket Sales

One ticket costs $45, two tickets costs $75, and all extra tickets after two cost $25 each (there is no individual limit on ticket sales!).

Tickets may be purchased by fax, mail, telephone, or in-person only.

To purchase by mail or fax, download the Official Raffle entry form at http://www.nekocase.com/auction/. Fax the completed form and payment to (415) 642-5914; or mail the completed form and payment to: 826 National, 826 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110. Please do not mail cash.

To order by telephone, call 415-730-7526. The phone lines are open from 10 AM Pacific Standard Time to 5 PM (PST), Monday through Friday.

To order in person, visit 826 National at 826 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA, 94110.
 
Once an order has been processed, 826 National will mail a ticket stub to the ticketholder. Tickets are all non-transferable, non-tax-deductible, and final sale.

Drawings

The first four drawings will be made by an 826 National rep on March 14, March 15, March 16, and March 17, 2011. Your ticket order must be received by March 11, 2011 to be eligible for the first drawing, and by 5pm PST on the preceding day for each following drawing. The Grand Prize Drawing will be held on March 18, 2011 and all tickets that were eligible for the prior drawings, including winning tickets, will be included.

Prizes
FIRST DRAWING PRIZE – Monday, March 14, 2011
Epiphone PR-5E acoustic/electric guitar (signed)
·     Mahogany body, chrome hardware.
·     Color: Cherry sunburst

SECOND DRAWING PRIZE – Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Carr amplifier, cream colored Rambler extension cabinet

THIRD DRAWING PRIZE – Wednesday, March 16, 2011
A collection of pre-selected Vinyl from Sub Pop Records

FOURTH DRAWING PRIZE – Thursday, March 17, 2011
Neko Case’s 1966 Silver Duke Guitar, signed by Michael Stipe, Jimmy Fallon, and many many more.

GRAND PRIZE DRAWING PRIZES – Friday, March 18, 2011
1. Neko Case’s 1967 Mercury Cougar Roadster
2. Poketo Roadtrip Prize Pack
·     Poketo Removable/Restickable Artist Decals
·     Poketo Travel Journal
·     Poketo Sketchbook
·     Poketo Artist Wallet
3. Three Rand McNally Road Atlas maps covering the United States and Canada
4. Kurt Dahle’s drumhead signed by the New Pornographers
5. CHIPOTLE, Gift card, Burrito dinner for ten
6. Six cases of assorted Tazo Tea (each case holds six boxes with 24 bags/box)
7. Adidas Sports Prize Pack
·     Adidas Sport Sennheiser CX 310 headphones, White/Blue (Q08670)
·     Adidas Sport Sennheiser CX 310 headphones, White/Blue (Q08671)
·      Adidas Sport Airline Bag
·      $100 Adidas Gift Card
8. Pre-selected CD prize packs from Matador Records, Astralwerks, Secretly Canadian/Dead Oceans/JagJaguar and ANTI-

All prizes, unless arranged to be picked up in person, will be shipped to the winners at 826 National’s expense, though winners must pay any federal/state/taxes on prize items.

FOR FULL RULES AND REGS PLEASE VISIT: www.nekocase.com/auction

According to educator and co-founder of 826 National Nínive Calegari, “This drawing will allow us to mobilize even more volunteers, providing much-needed undivided attention to students all across the country. Thank you to Neko Case and her team for this inspired idea and extremely generous donation.”

Proceeds from the sale of the car and the T-shirts will support 826 National. All details for the drawing can be found at: www.nekocase.com/auction.

Press:
Pitchfork: On the awesome cover of her 2009 album Middle Cyclone, Neko Case posed on the hood of a 1967 Mercury Cougar, a hell of a pretty car. And now she’s raffling off the car to benefit 826 National, author Dave Eggers’ nonprofit that offers writing classes for kids. So: A badass car, a great singer, an iconic image, a good cause. There’s no downside here. The website for Neko Case’s Mercury Cougar-Rama Muscle Car ‘Splosion has the details.

Rolling Stone: Neko Case Raffles Off Vintage Car: Neko Case is giving away the 1967 Mercury Cougar that she posed on top of in the artwork for her 2009 album Middle Cyclone in a raffle to benefit 826 National, an organization that offers tutoring and writing workshops for students in eight major cities throughout the United States. Other prizes in the drawing will include a guitar autographed by Elton John and Elvis Costello, a drum head signed by the New Pornographers and an assortment of vinyl LPs from Sub Pop Records.

About the car:
Introduced in 1967 and named that year’s Motortrend Car of the Year, this burgundy Mercury Cougar came standard with a hardtop 289 V8 and serious muscle. It’s got an automatic transmission, 3-speed “Merc-o-matic,” red interior with aqua space lights, wood steering wheel, hideaway headlights, sequential tail lights, and a fully wired car stereo. Only sold in two-door. Neko named this car “Angie Dickinson,” and it’s only had two owners and has its original paint. There is enough room in the back of the car to move a small apartment, house your lending library, or to fit your band’s gear (or your kid’s band’s gear!). The beloved photo of Neko standing on the Cougar on the Middle Cyclone album cover has been nominated for the 2009 “Best Recording Package” Grammy.

About 826 National:
826 National is a network of eight nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping students, ages 6—18, with expository and creative writing.
Our mission is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.
Each chapter offers after-school tutoring, field trips, workshops, and in-schools programs — all free of charge — for children, classes, and schools with particular interests or particular needs.
826 is especially committed to supporting teachers, offering services and resources for English language learners, and publishing student work. All locations offer unique retail experiences as well.

For more information about 826 National, visit www.826national.org.

About Neko Case:
Neko Case’s latest release Middle Cyclone debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart and has sold over 200,000 albums worldwide. The album was nominated for two Grammy awards: “Best Contemporary Folk Album,” and “Best Recording Package.” Paste Magazine named Middle Cyclone the “Album Cover of the Decade,” and Amazon.com listed it as #1 in the “Top 100 Amazon Picks.” Case is also a member of the mostly-Canadian band the New Pornographers and recently toured North America accompanying Jakob Dylan in the band Three Legs.
 
According to Neko:
 
826 gives young folks the opportunity to see their own works PUBLISHED, tangible and important. I want all young people to see the path illuminate before them as their self worth grows. 826 is a positive AND challenging place for young minds from ALL different backgrounds. 826 also strives to raise the profile of teachers in America, and celebrate them as the superstars they are! I am so proud to be a part of this event, and I hope to do 826 proud with this drawing.

For more information about Neko Case, visit www.nekocase.com/auction and http://www.anti.com/artists/view/13.

About Poketo:
Poketo was founded by husband-and-wife team Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung, and collaborates with an international roster of artists to create limited edition lifestyle wares including apparel, accessories, stationery, and home decor. Poketo’s efforts to integrate art into everyday begins with accessible art and extends to events that bring like-minded creatives together. Poketo.com houses the entire collection and artist roster, and offers a place for people to connect with the creative community.