While its exterior footprint changed negligibly, in a major change, the wheelbase was expanded nine inches to 113 inches (longer than a Mercedes-Benz 560SEC). In another change, the 3-speed manual transmission was dropped, leaving all engines paired with a 3-speed automatic;[32] a 4-speed manual was a rarely-specified option. The Cougar's body, and the New Edge idea in general, was introduced as a concept called the Mercury MC2 in 1997 and was considered a bigger version of the European Ford Puma. Moving to a 114-inch wheelbase (used by the two-door Montego/Torino and the Elite), the third-generation Cougar was the first to share its wheelbase with another model line. The models were distinguished by an exterior ranging in degree from grilles and lighting components to nearly the entire exterior, the Cougar shared its platform with Ford vehicles throughout its production. The Pick of the Day is a 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7 coupe finished in Augusta Green with "original numbers-matching correct W Code 427 4V and C-6 Select-Shift Merc-O-Matic transmission," according to the North Liberty, Indiana, private seller advertising the muscle car on ClassicCars.com. The two-door coupe could do 0-60 in a healthy 6.4 seconds, and run the 1/4 mile in 15 seconds with a top speed of 130 miles per hour. The cars won the championship in both years and made the teams' total of seven manufacturer's championships. Following initial skepticism by Ford over both model lines, the Mercury version received approval in mid-1964, following the successful launch of the Mustang; the Cougar name was adopted from the winning design for the Ford Mustang. For the 1980 model year, Mercury downsized the Cougar XR-7. 1997 Mercury Cougar XR7. The Wood Brothers Racing team with David Pearson and later Neil Bonnett was successful with the car and scored a number of victories until the body style became ineligible following the 1980 season. [57], The 2.3L inline-four was paired with a 5-speed manual transmission; a 3-speed automatic transmission was optional. [25], The Cougar Sports Special package was offered only in 1969, and was only available on the Standard hardtop model Cougar. For 1969, the Eliminator Option consisted of: the Eliminator Equipment Package, the Eliminator Decor Group, and the Performance Tire / Handling Group. [69] In another 1994 change, the 4R70W electronically controlled version of the AOD 4-speed automatic was introduced for both the V6 and V8 engines. Description. For 1979, though in its last year, the Cougar adopted several body revisions, with revised taillamps and body-color grille inserts, along with an electronic voltage regulator and a plastic battery tray. 6 4 Photos. The Stevie Awards, the world's premier business awards recognized There were 101 Hertz Eliminators built in 1969, and 100 Hertz Eliminators built in 1970. We test-drove the 1994 Cougar XR7 with the new optional, 4.6-liter V-8. Good dash and good vinyl top. [63] For 1985, the interior underwent a complete redesign, with new door panels and dashboard; a redesigned rear seat expanded seating capacity to five passengers (four passengers with full-length console). For 1973, the front fascia underwent an update; to include a 5-mph bumper (required for 1973), the front bumper was reshaped and enlarged, requiring a redesign of the grille. $34,950 Private Seller CC-1656734 1973 Mercury Cougar XR7 73 cougar on its way back, new exhaust, rebuilt transmission, gas tank, aluminum radiator, 4 barrel . For the first time, the model line was offered solely with automatic transmissions. [58] The standard instrument panel was a digital speedometer with analog secondary gauges; a fully digital instrument panel was optional (the XR7 was given a fully analog instrument panel). Mileage: 74,601 miles Body Style: Coupe Color: Green Engine: 8 Cyl 4.6 L . Initially, at risk for cancellation (following declining sales of the second generation compared to its competitors), Lincoln-Mercury instead repackaged the Cougar as a halo car for the Mercury brand. A heavy exterior revision of the 19741976 generation, the fourth generation was marketed against the introduction of downsized competitors. For 1978, the engine lineup was carryover; for 1979, the 400 was discontinued. All engines were paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission. The upright notchback roofline underwent a major revision, with the controversial upswept quarter windows of the previous generation abandoned. The 460 cubic-inch V8 was withdrawn from Torino-chassis intermediates, leaving a 173hp 400 cubic-inch V8 as the highest-displacement engine. Initially outranking its predecessor in sales, the eighth-generation Cougar (marketed towards younger buyers, similar to the ZX2) struggled to compete for sales against sedans (the Mercury Sable and Grand Marquis) in the Mercury model line. White. Engine Type Gasoline. 1971 Mercury Cougar XR7 Convertible 4-Speed that is finished in its factory color Medium Brown Metallic. C6 with shift kit. For 1974, four engines were offered for the Cougar. In 2002, Ford announced another restructuring of its model line, with 2002 marking the final year for the Cougar, Mercury Villager, Lincoln Continental, and Ford Escort. While both trims shared the same powertrain offerings, the XR-7 received its own exterior and interior design, distinguished by a vinyl top (on hardtops); along with standardizing many options, the XR-7 received its own door panels and dashboard. [18] Further safety upgrades included the addition of locking steering columns and high-backed bucket seats (replacing adjustable head restraints). Mercury Cougar XR7 For Sale 1978 Mercury Cougar XR7 Price $19,900 1979 Mercury Cougar XR7 Price Auction 1967 Mercury Cougar XR7 Price $58,000 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7 Price $165,000 1971 Mercury Cougar XR7 Price $29,950 Mercury Cougar XR7 s by Year 1979 Mercury Cougar XR7 1978 Mercury Cougar XR7 1971 Mercury Cougar XR7 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7 While unchanged in displacement, this engine was an all-new design. Engine Size 460ci Ford V8 . [28], For 1973, Lincoln-Mercury marketed a "Bronze Age" special edition promotion of the Cougar (alongside the Monterey, Montego MX, and Comet). The 19992002 Cougars were available with two engine options, the 2.0L Zetec straight-4 engine with 125hp (93kW; 127PS), and the 2.5L Duratec V6 with 170hp (127kW; 172PS). The seats underwent a redesign, with a full-width bench seat becoming standard; the 60/40 split bench seat became an option alongside the bucket-seat interior. [55] While styled with a notchback roofline, the 1983 Cougar was far sleeker than the 1982 Cougar XR7, reducing its coefficient of drag from 0.50 to 0.40[56][55] In 1987, the sixth-generation Cougar underwent a mid-cycle revision with additional aerodynamic improvements, reducing its drag coefficient to 0.36. State: Washington. CC-1605861. During its production, the seventh-generation Mercury Cougar underwent several revisions. Please Note The Following **Vehicle Location is at our clients home and Not In Cadillac, Michigan. Flowmaster exhaust. For full car details see deluxe photo included. 1971 Mercury Cougar XR7 (Convertible) 32,155 ACTUAL miles 351 Cleveland Engine Automatic Runs good Things needed to be done: New Gas tank to be installed (I have the gas tank) Needs brake work Needs tires For more information please TEXT only 928.278.1933 do NOT contact me with unsolicited services or offers All of the Hertz Eliminators were equipped with the 351-4V engine and FMX automatic transmission. With the electronic speed limiter removed, the top speed of the car was limited by drag and engine power in top gear at redline, around 135mph (217km/h). While again derived from the Fox-platform underpinnings of the previous generation, the new model line served as the replacement of the Cougar XR-7, as the Cougar reverted to its early 1970s role of a "luxury sports coupe" (again a counterpart of the Ford Thunderbird). [49] The increased number of body styles and market segments resulted in these Cougars to be more popular than any since its 1967 debut, selling about half as many copies as its first version.[49]. The Sports Special could be combined with any available engine. Needs windshield, door speakers and body trim. Older repaint of original color. The body of the third-generation Cougar saw few changes throughout its production; for 1975, the front bumper was updated with the functional addition of two cooling slots below the grille. [66] Originally slated to be launched with dual airbags, cost overruns and market demand necessitated the use of automatic seatbelts to meet passive-restraint requirements. To distinguish the model line from the Montego MX Brougham, the Cougar was fitted with C-pillar opera windows. For 1967 and 1968, to commemorate the success of the model line in competition, Mercury offered the Dan Gurney Special appearance option, available on both the Standard and XR-7 models. Modifications included unique hood scoop, hood pins, fog lamps, tailpipe tips, special badging and wheels, and unique interior trim components. [66] LS-trim Cougars were offered with a naturally aspirated 140hp version of the V6, while the XR7 was powered by a 210hp supercharged version (serving as the replacement for the turbocharged 2.3L inline-4). [58], For the 1987 model year, the Cougar saw few changes to its interior, with the XR7 adopting a fully digital dashboard as standard equipment. Home Buy Salvage Cars Mercury Cougar Lot Details. These Eliminators were ordered with the electric sunroof option, which was not available on Eliminators sold to the public. Also have many extra interior and exterior parts available. Mercury Cougar XR7-G History During the 1967 and 1968 model years, Cougars with the Dan Gurney Special Option package were identified by a sticker in the passenger side rear window. A 1967-1970 Cougar in this condition might . While fitted with a redesigned front bumper, the third-generation Cougar adopted many design elements of its front fascia from the previous generation, carrying over a center-section waterfall grille opening bordered by horizontal-trimmed openings with four inset headlights (in contrast to the egg-crate grille of the Elite with twin headlights). The 429 V8 was dropped, leaving the Cougar with three versions of the 351C V8. Immaculate Condition. View car. 1973 MERCURY COUGAR XR-7 CONVERTIBLE C-951 351ci V-8 engine Automatic transmission Power steering Po . The first front-wheel drive Cougar was designed with a fully independent multilink suspension. In its development, many design elements of the 19771979 Cougar XR-7 were carried forward in the fifth-generation redesign, including its Continental-style trunk lid, louvered opera windows, and sharp-edged fender lines. transmission: automatic. [40] In a model consolidation, all third-generation Cougars were offered under a single XR-7 trim level, as the GT and Eliminator editions were retired. [71], 1997 Mercury Cougar 30th Anniversary Edition, At its launch, the seventh-generation Mercury Cougar retained the same model trims as before, with the LS geared towards luxury and convenience features and the XR7 geared towards performance and handling. Of course, that isn't saying all that much. However, the manual transmission version of the car, when given enough road, was capable of reaching speeds of around 145. Mercury Cougar is a nameplate applied to a diverse series of automobiles sold by the Mercury division of Ford from 1967 until 1997 and from 1999 through 2002 model years. The 1983 redesign of the Cougar was part of an extensive revision of the Ford and Mercury model ranges. The list price on this car was $3,323, or about $23,997 in 2022 dollars. For 1974, Lincoln-Mercury released the third-generation Mercury Cougar, introducing both design and marketing changes to the model line. In total, Mercury produced 5,002 20th Anniversary Cougars; 800 were reserved for Canada.[65]. 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT Initially developed as a rebadged version of the Mustang, the 1967 Cougar received its own body design from the ground up, though the popular "long-hood, short-deck" proportions of the Mustang remained. [69] For 1997, the Cougar received a new instrument panel (similar to the Taurus/Sable), with cupholders added to the center console;[70] several items were removed as part of de-contenting, including the courtesy lamps, underhood light, and a glove box light. [58] 1986 saw few changes, highlighted by the addition of a government-mandated center rear brake light (CHMSL) and a power-operated moonroof;[59] for the last time, the Cougar was available with vent windows. [9][10] As a mid-year option, a 428 Cobra Jet Ram Air was introduced on April 1, 1968,[11] officially rated at 335hp. See photo. In a break from the previous generation, hidden headlamps were abandoned (replaced by four exposed headlamps). [12] While sales material showed the Boss 429 as an optional engine for the Cougar Eliminator, the Cougar was never offered to the public with the Boss 429 engine; two Boss 429 standard hardtop Cougars were produced as factory drag cars for "Fast Eddie" Schartman and "Dyno Don" Nicholson. The fourth generation was split into two model lines; the Cougar replaced the Montego (matching the Ford LTD II), with the Cougar XR7 paired with the Ford Thunderbird. Hi, I have rot free 1979 Mercury Cougar XR7 Cheap project. Mileage 62,946 miles below avg. There were 2,268 Eliminators built in 1970. Again sharing much of its bodyshell with the Ford Mustang, the Cougar began to shift away from a "plush pony car", taking on aspects of both sporty cars and luxury cars.[28]. The 1999 Cougar shared the Ford CDW27 world-car platform introduced by the Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique. [55] To reduce production costs, the two model lines shared exterior body parts, including front and rear bumpers, both doors, the windshield, the hood, and front fenders. There were several paint and trim packages: For the 2001 model year, the Cougar was updated with new headlights, front and rear fascias, and updated interior trim. [62], The exterior design of the sixth-generation Cougar was designed largely in response to the negative market response to the introduction of the fifth-generation Cougar. Replacing the Mercury Montego, the standard Cougar now served as the Mercury intermediate model line (slotted between the Mercury Monarch and Mercury Marquis), serving as the Mercury counterpart of the Ford LTD II (replacing the Torino/Gran Torino), introducing the first Cougar sedans and station wagons. Cougar also received a special option package (styled by fashion designer Pauline Trigre), including a houndstooth-patterned vinyl roof and matching upholstery; the roof and upholstery were available together or separately, in either brown-and-black houndstooth or white-and-black houndstooth check patterns. 1969 Mercury Cougar XR7. At its 1989 debut, the Cougar was marketed largely as the flagship coupe of the Mercury division. This 1989 Mercury Cougar XR7 was first delivered to Ken Ellegard Lincoln-Mercury of Colorado Springs in Colorado, and it was acquired in December 1995 by the seller. The interior was also revised at this time and now included dual airbags with a wraparound style interior. [76] Distinguished by its use of Lincoln Mark VIII wheels, the 30th Anniversary Cougar featured model-specific C-pillar emblems, embroidered seat and floormat emblems; the option also included commemorative items shipped to the owner. [55], As with the previous generation, 14-inch wheels and tires were standard, with Michelin TRX tires and metric-size wheels as an option (shared with the Thunderbird and Capri/Mustang). [13] Dealership Showcased. This Cougar XR-7 is powered by a "Windsor" 5.0-liter V8 engine, which produces 155 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. After skipping the 1998 model year, Mercury introduced the eighth-generation Mercury Cougar for the 1999 model year at the 1998 Los Angeles Auto Show. The taillights adapted simpler trim, set horizontally within the bumper (in line with full-size Mercury vehicles). Always garaged. 773 below average coupe 78,900 gasoline black automatic. Package A included: unique pinstriping, "turbine" style wheel covers, rocker panel moldings with simulated side scoops, and a remote-control racing-style side mirror. The year 1967 was sensational for Lincoln-Mercury, with the introduction of Cougar exceeding all sales forecast expectations. Sharing a chassis with the Thunderbird (and the Lincoln Mark VIII), the model line was produced as a two-door coupe through the 1997 model year. [65] The trunk was fitted with a (non-functional) luggage rack.[65]. [35] For 1973, the GT option was discontinued. [20] In addition to a signature decal, the option package included turbine-style wheel covers and a chrome engine dress-up kit. [68] Offered as an option on the Cougar LS, the V8 replaced the supercharged V6 in the XR7 (which also marked the end of the 5-speed manual in the MN12 Cougar). The Cougar XR7-G started life as the high-option XR-7 as produced in the Dearborn Assembly Plant in late 1967 through early 1968. 2016, 2017 and 2018. For 1978, two new decor packages became available, the XR-7 Decor Option and the Midnight/Chamois Decor Option. [55] For 1984, the steering column was redesigned, returning horn control to the steering wheel. The bodysides received wide body-colored cladding. "In 1968, the only Ford product available with the . Lot #46,945. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Mercury Cougar, in 1992, the 25th Anniversary Mercury Cougar was an option package (nearly exclusively on XR7 models). [34] A 166hp two-barrel version was the standard engine, with a 246hp four-barrel offered as an option. Serving as the counterpart of the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, the XR7 was fitted with a performance-oriented suspension, a turbocharged 2.3L engine (shared with the Turbo Coupe and Mustang SVO), blacked-out window trim, and full analog instrumentation. It was also to be sold in Europe as the Ford Cougar ST200. Box has shelf wear and plastic has some scuffs and scratches. Needs windshield, door speakers and body trim. The rarest of these was the 428, which fourteen buyers selected. The 428 Cobra Jet was the largest Cougar engine, rated at 335hp (with or without Ram Air).[12]. CLEAN CALIFORNIA TI . In place of a split grille, the front fascia was styled with a prominent center section (in line with the Mercury Cyclone and Ford Thunderbird) including a waterfall-style grille. $10,000. [2], Intended for a market position between the Ford Mustang and the Ford Thunderbird, the Cougar was intended as a luxury-type pony car. . The DSO 84 code was also used for employee lease and purchase cars. The only engine available in the 1994-1997 Cougar was Ford's modern and (generally) very reliable 4.6-liter SOHC Modular V8. While retaining a common chassis, a primary objective for designers was to maximize the visual differentiation between the Thunderbird and Cougar. In what would be used as a design feature for the model line through 2002, the "cat's head" emblem made its first appearance. [63] For 1985, the waterfall-style grille was replaced with an egg-crate design (similar to Mercedes-Benz); the red taillamp lenses were replaced by a dark gray design. [75] Equipped with 15-inch BBS alloy wheels, all examples were painted green with a tan interior (with green carpet). While limited funds precluded a complete redesign or downsizing of the Torino intermediates, all sheet metal (above the bumpers) was revised. For 1973, the four-barrel version of the 351 was dropped, leaving the two-barrel 351C (retuned to 168hp) and the 264hp 351CJ V8.[34]. Sharing a chassis with the Ford Contour, the 1999 Cougar is the only version with no direct counterpart (though the model line was badged as a Ford Cougar for export). Check out the wide range of MERCURY COUGAR for sale in Australia. 14,500 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7 2,106 below average coupe gasoline green automatic The XR7 is equipped with the original 302 V-8, C-4 Automatic transmission, factory am radio, clock, factory power disc, power steering, air-condition, console,. Styled with a roofline similar to the Thunderbird (and its Mark IV counterpart), the Cougar was not a true hardtop; while fitted with frameless door glass and lacking a fixed B-pillar, the rear side glass was fixed in place (did not retract). [63] As part of the introduction of the XR7, the model introduced an instrument panel including a tachometer and turbocharger boost gauge. Virtually all original equipment '73 Mercury Cougar XR7 convertible. While coupes had traditionally been offered in Lincoln-Mercury dealerships for several decades, the shift of the Cougar to the sports compact segment presented a challenge to sales personnel acquainted with marketing luxury-segment vehicles to new-car buyers along with attracting younger buyers into Mercury showrooms. Classifieds for 1951 to 1970 Mercury Vehicles. Classifieds for Classic Mercury Cougar XR7. Shared with the Fairmont/Zephyr and Mustang/Capri, a 2.3L inline-4 was the standard engine, with a 3.3L inline-6 and a 4.2L V8 offered as options; the four and six-cylinder engines were paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission. [55] For 1985, 15-inch wheels became an option for the XR7. The body sides were styled with a wide side molding matching the bumper rub strips (a design added to the 1975 Grand Marquis). The mid-size Cougar was offered with its own powertrain lineup. NOT original drive train ( from 68 Cougar GT ). Splitting from the Mustang (which became the subcompact Mustang II for 1974), the Cougar adopted a market position closer to the larger Ford Thunderbird. Yes it's available. This is a 1988 Mercury Cougar XR7, and it's the "high performance" version of the sixth generation Cougar, which was sold through 1988 making this a low-mileage, final-year example of the most desirable version of this version of the Cougar. Phone #: (509) 406-5189. In addition to the 210hp supercharged V6 (replaced by a 5.0 L V8 in 1991), the XR7 featured four-wheel antilock disc brakes, electronically adjustable handling suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a 5-speed manual transmission. No Accident or Damage Reported; 3+ Owners; Multiple Use; Service History. "Cougarrare, elusive, the most magnificent cat in North America." 1972 Cougar sales brochure. (866) 732-1750(866) 732-1750 12345of5 View full size images 1978 Mercury Cougar (XR7) Stock #: 7743 Exterior Color: White Mileage: 80,340 1978 Mercury Cougar XR7, fact tach and gauges, all origina | Cargeni.com New bumpers with sequential taillights. Largely a performance-oriented appearance package, the XR-7G project was assigned to Shelby Automotive, with the conversions performed at the A.O. Contact. For its fifth and sixth generations, the Cougar was downsized, adopting the compact Fox chassis. The third-generation Cougar uses the rear-wheel drive chassis used by the Mercury Montego and Ford Torino intermediates. city/25 m.p.g. [16] The front fascia retained a full-width grille, with the "electric shaver" split grille replaced by a horizontally-slatted grille (with a matching centerpiece); concave taillamp lenses replaced the previous convex design. Along with returning the standard Cougar name (for the first time since 1973), the change added three more body styles. Sun Star 1/18 Scale 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7 car. Doors 2. While fenders and doors are common between the two vehicles, in comparison to the 19831987 generation, fewer visible parts are shared.[66]. The second-generation Cougar used a revised version of the first-generation chassis, again shared with the Ford Mustang; the wheelbase was increased to 112.1 inches. 94920, Tiburon, Marin County, San Francisco Bay Area, CA. I put new gas tank, fuel pump, fuel sender, battery, newer holley carb and newer tires. For its third and fourth generations, the Cougar adopted the chassis of the Ford Torino intermediate. To make room for the updated 1999 Ford Mustang and all-new Ford Escort ZX2, the Contour-based Ford Probe continued into production, with Ford shifting the vehicle to the Lincoln-Mercury Division to adopt the Mercury Cougar name. With the optional 351 cubic-inch, 4-barrel V8, the '70 Mercury Cougar XR-7 boasted 300 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, with rear-wheel drive and an available 4-speed manual gearbox. Slightly smaller than the 1965 Mustang, the imported Capri (not officially badged as a Mercury) began to succeed the Cougar within Lincoln-Mercury as a compact sporty car. While marketed in Europe and Australia under the Ford brand, the eighth-generation Mercury Cougar was the first Mercury car since the 19911994 Mercury Capri sold without a direct Ford model equivalent in North America. This prestigious accolade represents the continued growth of the company, and ClassicCars.com's dominance as the world's largest online marketplace for The fourth-generation Cougar underwent a revision of its powertrain offerings, largely in the interest of fuel economy. [33], For 1972, Ford adopted SAE net horsepower ratings, leading to a numerical decrease in advertised engine output. The Cougar retains the XR7-specific wheels that still look sharp all these years later, and surprisingly sporty. [29] The Boss 302 and Boss 429 were discontinued, with both Boss engines and the 428 Cobra Jet replaced by a 370hp 429 Cobra Jet V8 (with or without Ram Air).