1968 Mercury Cougar

Description

The interchangeability of parts and massive aftermarket make the Mustang one of the most popular collector cars of all time. And the good news is that all the same upgrades apply to its cousin, the Mercury Cougar! This 1968 Mercury Cougar was built to emulate the later Eliminator and packs a stout V8 and a 5-speed gearbox, plus all the luxury features that you'd expect from the big Cat.

While the Cougar was built to move a little bit upscale, this one has a predatory vibe that suits it just fine. The door tag shows us that this one was originally code X Wellington Blue, and the bright electric blue it wears today is a pretty good facsimile. Of course, with the white stripes along its flanks and down the center of the hood, it's far from subtle and with the big hood scoop and deck lid spoiler it has a decidedly high performance look. Body-colored bumpers, a chin spoiler, and traditional Mercury styling cues add to the unique look that will stand out anywhere it goes. And speaking of the Mercury details, the folding headlights were recently upgraded with electric motors that ensure reliability and the taillights have a cool-looking blackout treatment that really gives this car an edge. You can see the Mustang's influence in the overall shape, but there are no interchangeable body panels with the slightly bigger Cougar and it looks every bit as awesome here.

The bucket seat interior feels a lot more spacious than in a Mustang, too. Nice tan seat covers, matching door panels, and tan carpets give it an upscale look and feel, particularly with the woodgrained dash. The three-spoke steering wheel looks racy and feels great in your hands and it's perfectly positioned to put the shifter for the 5-speed manual transmission just a few inches away. Original gauges in big, round pods flanking the steering column look good and cover the basics and air conditioning is a welcome addition. There's also an AM/FM/CD stereo that powers a Rockford Fosgate subwoofer and twin 6x9 speakers in the rear package shelf. The reproduction upholstery is in very good condition with no notable rips or tears, and the trunk is finished in durable paint that doesn't hide any surprises underneath.

Like the car that inspired it, this Cougar sports a 302 cubic inch V8 that provides the perfect mix of torque and handling. Upgraded with an Edelbrock Performer intake manifold, MSD ignition, and an open-element air cleaner, it's a strong runner that moves the sleek coupe without a lot of drama. Ford Motorsport valve covers brighten things up in the satin black engine bay, and with that big aluminum radiator up front, you shouldn't have any worries about running the A/C even on the hottest days. Backed by a 5-speed manual transmission, it has plenty of punch around town and is a fantastic highway cruiser thanks to a deep overdrive in 5th gear. Dual exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers gives it that very distinctive Mustang 5.0 sound, and there's a rugged 8-inch rear end out back. Magnum 500 wheels look period-perfect and very sporting on the vintage Merc, and carry 205/70/14 BFGoodrich T/A radials.

It's cool, no doubt about that. It's also a little outside the norm yet delivers the same awesome driving experience you get with everyone's favorite pony car. Call today!