It took a few years (and lots of Mustangs produced) before the suits at Ford Motor Company okayed the production of its cousin, the Mercury Cougar. It made its debut for the 1967 model year (the same year the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird joined the pony car corral), and owned its own niche: a Mustang with a touch of luxury. The Cougar hit the spot with the buying public and it sold well. Feast your eyes on this stunning time capsule example of the last year of the first-generation Cougar. This near pristine, fully-loaded 1970 Mercury Cougar XR-7 is located north of the U.S/Canadian border in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, and is for sale here on craigslist for the firm price of $45,000. Another thank you goes out to Curvette for spotting this spotless cat and sending it our way!
The seller is stingy with photos and the car’s history and how it came to be in this remarkable condition. We’re told that it’s had one other owner and that it’s been garage-kept all its life which is obvious. There’s only one photo of the car’s exterior. Based on a paint chart I found online, the paint appears to be Medium Gold Poly, but I’m not 100 percent sure. It has a brown vinyl top and the seller says the Cougar has zero rust or rust bubbles. It’s wear dog dish wheel covers as opposed to the full-size wheel covers commonly seen on XR-7’s, and the car’s original tires are also included in the sale. The seller also says, “Every nut and bolt, hose, wire, shocks, exhaust, etc. is original (except the chin spoiler, hood insulation, and electronic ignition).”
The time capsule theme is continued inside as the Cougar’s amazingly preserved interior looks showroom new. One could assume that it’s had those clear plastic protective seat covers since Day One. The medium brown front bucket seats and rear bench seat (I believe Mercury called it Ginger) has a houndstooth fabric insert and looks terrific. The upscale R-7 has a center console and armrest and is equipped with factory air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, power windows, a rear defroster, and even an 8-Track Tape Player. The instrument panel and dash are perfect and shows off theXR-7’s “tawny tones of warmly burled walnut vinyl appliqué on the instrument panel and sporty steering wheel” as the sales brochure says.
The Cougar is powered by a 351-cubic-inch V8 with only 8,000 miles on the clock. It is paired with a floor-shift Select-Shift automatic transmission and the seller claims the Cougar “drives and looks like a new car.” Also included is a Deluxe Marty Report, the build sheet, and the original dealer invoice. This could be the best preserved, low-mileage XR-7 hardtop on the planet (and the price reflects it). What do you think of this time capsule?
Since the car is advertised on Canadian Craigslist the price is in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. That makes the price $32300 in today’s US dollars, still a lot of money for a 351 car but as they say “find another.” Too bad the original buyer didn’t check the 428 CJ box on the order form.
Very clean, attractive car. I like the period-correct colors like this. I would go back to original wheel covers or wheels, to keep the stock look consistent. Sure wish the seller would show us the Marti Report, and wonder why there is only one exterior pic?
Perhaps CATHOUSE will chime in, he will see things (good and bad) none of us would notice.