The Cougar arrived in 1967 as Mercury’s contribution to the “pony car” movement. It gave Ford two entries in the market space that was beginning to populate with competitors. The car would get a facelift in 1969, including the XR7 which was the top trim level. This ’69 Cougar is a running Merc with an S-code V8 engine which means 390 cubic inches. Located in York, Pennsylvania, it’s offered through a dealer here on eBay where $6.966 is the current ante.
Mercury’s early success with the Cougar prompted the FOMOCO division to position it out front in its marketing efforts, which included “The Sign of the Cat” signage at its dealerships. In 1967, they sold nearly 151,000 Cougars, followed by 114,000 in 1968, and another 100,000 in 1969. The first-generation Cougars borrowed the chassis from the updated 1967 Mustang which had been changed to accommodate bigger engines, like the 390 V8 in the seller’s vehicle. The Cougar XR7 was an upgrade product over the Mustang, including its use of hidden headlights.
This looks like a well-used Mercury that still has life left in it. The odometer reads 28,000 miles, which is probably more like 128,000. Though it wears orange paint, there are traces of white under the hood and on the exterior sheet metal seen from the chassis side. Therefore, this automobile could have had a color change. In the same underneath photo, it looks like there are pockets where rust may have eaten away the metal.
The interior of this XR7 looks luxurious (as it should) and seems to be in fairly decent shape except for the driver’s bucket seat bottom. While the car decodes as having a 390 engine, there is no reference to it being numbers matching. The Merc also carries an automatic transmission and power-assisted steering and brakes. The dealer says it runs and drives without indicating how well it does these things. This Cougar is going to need its share of love – is that in the cards for you?
I could do without all of the add-ons hood; scoop, pins and the later model hood ornament. Spoilers too. These Cougars look sharp without all the extra gee-gaws and unless they came from the factory on an Eliminator, I’d prefer the car to be more close to how it left the factory. Especially for a fairly rare 390 cat.
I respect your opinion, but I on the other hand like all the eliminator style add ons, except that this particular car seems to have the rear spoiler mounted in the wrong spot
I had a (used) 1967 390GT Cougar, with a 4-speed. I added a 3 deuce package, and 15″ Kelsey-Hayes mags, plus changed the 3.25:1 pumpkin for a 2.75:1 with Traction-Lok. That cat had a really high top speed, and plenty of acceleration.
Yes I had a 1967. Cougar 289 back in 1975 was in Auto Mechanic School. Berk Trade 🏫 School 🏫 Did know to much about Mechanics. The flywheel was cracked and everybody. Said it was the motor I sold and I saw a lady driving in the next week…. LIVE AND LEARN.
Regardless–it was a big 390 engine “sled” for performance—
Looks like this Cougar was originally yellow. I’ll bet all the additional items were add during the paint change.
I have always liked these. It seems like a decent deal. For what it’s worth, I think that the floor pans are partially soaked with transmission fluid, or something similar.
I am not a fan of the hood ornament, as a side note when I was younger my mother had a 1977 Cougar that had that exact hood ornament, so I assume that is the era this hood ornament originated from
That hood ornament is original. Both Lincoln and Mercury’s had those style of hood ornaments starting in the late-mid 60’s and lasted until the early 80’s
Wrong answer.
That hood ornament is not original to this car. No 1967-1973 Cougar left the factory with any hood ornament. It was not even an option for those model years of Cougars. The hood ornament on this car was used on the 1977-1979 model year Cougars.
Nice cat. More pictures and a Marti Report would be very helpful. Should not be tooo hard to remove the ornament and move the rear spoiler further back where I believe it should be. I would also rather it be closer to the way it left the factory, but could live with the color change and hood pins.
I agree with Mike 76. Ive already commented before on these and how as a little boy was mesmerized by the sequential turn signals. This was a very beautiful design, very clean lines. The spoiler just takes away from the rear of the car for me. I think it would be better without it. And that hood ornament as Mark pointed out just doesnt belong there either. Ive always had a slight preference for the Cougar over the Mustang.
This car was originally bought as a no frills performance car…. crank windows, no a/c… tho it is an automatic with ps and pb.
I was 17 then and a rule of thumb was the biggest engine and a manual trans cost the same as small v8 with automatic with air and nicer interior… just sayin… a pistonhead was the first owner…..
I thought that was a super rare optional driving light on 1 of the headlight covers, until i later realized the cougar emblem just fell off from its housing/base there.
Lots of potential, but better to do a close inspection… on a hoist. These were some of the worst rust-buckets around.
What’s with the vacuum pump on the driver’s side fender well?
It’s used with the vacuum headlights 👍
Whatever that thing is on the inner fender well it is not something that the factory put there. The factory headlights work off the engine vacuum and there is a vacuum motor located behind the grille in the center of the car.
If that 390 can’t generate enough vacuum to open the headlights, better rebuild it.
well, it was faster than most 6 cylinders
I’m a Chevy / G M guy but have a little liking/ love for the 1 s t gen Cougars; like the 1 s t gen Camaro’s are the only & best looking cars Ford /Mercury styled & built ;& yes w a big block 390 & the right gears out back ?! for strip & cruising this is 1 sleek Cat !! And as long as rust is not major issue this car deserves some TLC ;$$ & bring back to it s glory ;And the hideaways give this car a Cool look & some stealth?! especially w that 390 under the hood & remove the emblems for clean look & surprise on the streets & strip !!
If i was going to buy this car, i would go over there with a hack saw & saw off that hood ornament b4 i drove home with the car. lol
Nice job on routing the positive battery cable!