BF Exclusive: 1978 Mercury Cougar XR7

1978 Mercury Cougar XR7

The XR7 was the top of the line Mercury in 1978. It may have looked like its Continental and T-Bird brothers, but it had some of its own unique features and was actually a big seller for Mercury. Personal luxury cars are a rare sight today though so this low-mileage example might be perfect for someone who wants to relive the late seventies. This car has only had two owners and had always been garaged up until last year. Being outside is starting to take its toll on the car though so we hope to find it a dry home soon. There are only 25k miles showing on the odometer and it runs and drives as it should.

Luxury Accommodations

The photos aren’t the best, but it’s easy to tell what this car was about. The tilt column and comfy lounge chairs meant luxury. The seller, Daniel, claims the interior is almost like new.

V8 Power

Daniel didn’t mention which engine is fitted here, but there were only three available options at the time – 302, 351, or 400. Can any of you tell which one is in there?

Trunk Rust

Here’s the reason we need to find a dry home for this car asap. Rust is starting to form along the trunk lip and it wont take long for the tin worm to spread. This will need to be treated right away to prevent any further damage.

Window Louvers

Luxury barges only appeal to a select group of people, but if you are into them, this looks like a good one. There are a few problem areas, but it’s well-outfitted and the low-mileage is a major plus. The car is located in Clifton, Illinois and Daniel is asking $4,000 for it. Interested parties can contact Daniel via email here.

Thanks for listing this with us Daniel! If any of you have a classic that you are thinking about selling, please give us a shot!

Comments

  1. Avatar photo grant

    Bought one of these from my at the time father in law in about 1998. Blue velour interior and beat to heck. Bought it to pull a 16 foot boat. Had to pump up the air shocks every single time.

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  2. Avatar photo Rick

    The front end sheet metal of this vintage Cougar bolts right on to a 77-79 Ranchero, then you have a Cougchero!

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  3. Avatar photo jaygryph

    These are surprisingly nice driving cars. They eat up highway like it’s going out of style. Sure, the MPG isn’t all that great, but it’s a heck of a plush ride if you’re cruising the interstate.

    I had a 78 Cougar sedan (they made a wagon as well) and it’s one of the oddball forgotten cars that I’d actually really enjoy having another of. I have better cars, sure, but this one has a special place in my heart and was a good rig. What’s left of it’s still sitting in the weeds behind my parents barn.

    Mine uh…looked a little different than the one on offer….Surprised I only got surrounded by cop cars once. Hah, man that thing was so much fun. Bought it for $140 from a friends wrecking yard, tuned it up over the next week and drove it 1200 miles the week after that. It just kept right on truckin’ till it got too ratty to want to drive…so I cut the top off and made it a convertible, and then drove it another couple summers like that, which is how it currently sits. Still runs, amazingly. The 351W is a good engine.

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  4. Avatar photo Richard Brown

    Silver air cleaner, 400m…

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    • Avatar photo jaygryph

      Looks just like the one on mine, and it’s a 351w. I think that was just what they were using at the time, the stamped aluminum.

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      • Avatar photo todd

        it’s a 351w you can tell by the valve covers, 302-351 used the same valve covers different spacing between the cylinder banks, 351w had a wider intake manifold.

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  5. Avatar photo Mark

    Bought new.
    “Pimp Car”
    Long gone.

    Like 2
  6. Avatar photo Stephen

    My in-laws had one of these. Same year too. Brown, I think. We went on a long road trip with them in it. It was great for that.

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  7. Avatar photo Kevin

    My parents had one new in ’78 like Mark’s. I have had 4, this one attached has been with me on and off since ’91, currently trying to sell. It wears it’s original paint as well. Great cars.

    Like 2
  8. Avatar photo RICKY MATTHEWS

    wish i still had mine. it was blue on blue, 351 and had 70k miles on it. i gave it to my brother because i got tired of trying to sell it. i purchased from original owner with window stickers and all service records.

    Like 0

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