https://classiccougarcommunity.com/categories/the-cars/ Recent content in The Cars on Classic Cougar Community Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:32:02 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/cougar-eliminator/ Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:32:02 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/cougar-eliminator/ Mercury introduced the Eliminator in April 1969. The Eliminator came with a range of engines, from the Trans Am-inspired solid-lifter 302-cid small block to the 428-cid Cobra Jet big block. The 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator Specifications Wheelbase, inches: 111.0 Weight, lbs: 3,780 Base price: $3,500 Top Available Engine Type: ohv V-8 Displacement, cid: 428 Fuel system: 1 x 4 bbl. Compression ratio: 10.6:1 Horsepower @ rpm: 335 @ 5200 Torque @ rpm: 440 @ 3400 Representative Performance 0-60 mph, sec: 5. https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/dan-gurney-special/ Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:26:57 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/dan-gurney-special/ Dan Gurney specials were produced for the 1967 and 1968 model years only. They were promoted by Dan Gurney who signed a sponsorship deal with Mercury for the 1967 Trans Am racing season. The DGS option included a chrome engine dress-up kit, “turbine wheel covers” and a sticker on the rear passenger (needs to be confirmed it was passenger side please) side window. The chrome engine dress up kit consisted of a chrome air cleaner lid, dipstick and valve covers. https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/gt/ Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:25:44 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/gt/ The GT package was available for every year of classic cougar except 1970. The package options varried greatly from year to year and have often been the source of many heated GT discussions. https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/xr-7/ Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:24:16 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/xr-7/ 1967 XR-7 trim package: Did -NOT- include an XR-7 emblem in the trunk lock cover. The XR-7’s and standard Cougar packages in 1967 both had the same trunk lock latch emblems that simply said Cougar. The XR7 emblem in the trunk latch wasn’t offered untill the 1968 model year. 1968 XR-7 trim package: XR-7 emblem insert for the trunk keylatch cover. https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1967-standard-coupe/ Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:22:22 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1967-standard-coupe/ Standard base model package for 1967: 289 2V engine 2.80:1 8″ rear axle All vinyl interior 3 speed manual transmission wheelcovers (hubcaps) https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1974-cougar/ Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:19:53 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1974-cougar/ 1974–1976 For 1974, the Cougar was shifted from its Mustang, ponycar origins onto a new platform and into a new market as a personal luxury car. It now shared a chassis with the larger Mercury Montego/Ford Torino intermediates and was twinned up with the new Ford Elite. The wheelbase grew to 114 inches (2,896 mm) and became practically the only car to be upsized during the downsizing decade of the 1970s. https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1973-cougar/ Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:18:13 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1973-cougar/ Aside from minor grille and taillight changes, 1973 would be largely a carryover year for the Cougar, but it would mark the last year of the Mustang-based Cougar. In 1974, everything would change. Power figures continued to change as new federal/EPA regulations began their stranglehold on the V8 engines. The new figures continued to fluctuate but engine options remained unchanged from 1972. The standard engine continued to be the 168 hp (125 kW) 351 Cleveland 2-barrel V8. https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1972-cougar/ Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:14:40 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1972-cougar/ 1972 Mercury Cougar Convertible According to “Cougar by the numbers” (Book produced by Kevin Marti of Marti Autoworks) there were 69 Standard Q-code convertibles and 368 XR-7 Q-code convertibles built in the ’72 model year. The climate had begun to change as the muscle car era ended. No longer able to use gross power numbers, the manufacturers had to use net power figures which dropped the once mighty figures down substantially. https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1971-cougar/ Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:13:19 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1971-cougar/ For 1971, the Cougar was completely restyled. Starting to move upmarket as a near-personal luxury car, the Cougar looked bigger, but actually weighed less and had only a one-inch-longer wheelbase than its predecessors (112 vs. 111 ). The front end now featured four exposed headlights; the disappearing headlights were gone for good. The center grille piece, or cat’s nose, was now larger and more noticeable than ever. The rear featured a semi-fastback with a “flying buttress” sail-panel. https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1969-cougar/ Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:02:40 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1969-cougar/ Packages available for the 1969 model year: Standard, Convertible, XR7, GT, Eliminator The third year of production, 1969, brought several new additions to the Cougar lineup. A convertible model was now available in both standard and XR-7 trim. These highly anticipated soft tops proved quite popular and today are considered, by many, among the most desirable of the ’67-’70 production run. Exterior-wise, the grille switched from vertical bars to horizontal bars, and a spoiler and a Ram Air induction hood scoop were added as options. https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1970-cougar/ Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:59:45 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1970-cougar/ Packages available for the 1970 model year: Standard, Convertible, XR7, GT, Eliminator The 1970 Cougar appearance wise was similar to the 1969 model, however there were numerous changes inside and out. It now sported a new front end which featured a pronounced center hood extension and electric shaver grille similar to the 1967 and 1968 Cougars. Federally mandated locking steering columns took place on the inside, and the aforementioned new nose and taillight bezels updated the look on the outside. https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1968-cougar/ Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:57:56 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1968-cougar/ The 1968 model year included: Standard Coupe, XR7, GT, Dan Gurney Special, GT-E, XR7-G Nineteen sixty-eight saw the addition of 2 new model packages to the Cougar lineup. The GT-E and XR-7G. What a great year to buy a Cougar. The car maintained the same body lines from the 67 model with some slight changes. Most notable were the addition of side signal markers on the front and rear quarters, a 2 spoke steering wheel (as opposed to the 3 spoke offered in the 1967 model) and some slight badge changes to the rear quarter panel emblems. https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/overview-of-classic-cougars/ Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:42:03 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/overview-of-classic-cougars/ Mercury breathed life into the first Cougar for the 1967 sales year and a legend was born. Designed with sleek styling and plenty of power the Cougar took the automotive world by storm and won Motor Trend’s coveted “Car of the Year” for it’s inagural season. Specific Information By Year: – 1967 – 1968 – 1969 – 1970 – 1971 – 1972 – 1973 – 1974 Cars By Specific Model: – Standard Coupe – Convertible – GT – GT-E – XR7 – XR7-G – Dan Gurney Special – Eliminator https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1967-cougar/ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:30:16 +0000 https://classiccougarcommunity.com/articles/1967-cougar/ Packages available for the 1967 Model Year: Standard Hardtop, XR7, GT, Dan Gurney Special 1967 Mercury Cougar Standard The 1967 Cougar was based on that year’s new second-generation Mustang, but with a 3 inch (76 mm) longer wheelbase and new sheet metal. A full-width divided grille with hidden headlamps and vertical bars defined the front fascia—it was sometimes called the electric shaver grille. At the rear, a similar treatment saw the license plate surrounded on both sides with vertically slatted grille work concealing tail lights (with sequential turn signals), a styling touch taken from the Thunderbird.