The Mercury Cougar is one of those cars that seemed to change and adapt to market trends successfully, starting out as a pony car in 1967 as a corporate counterpart of the Ford Mustang. Buyers loved it, and the Cougar even won the coveted Car Of The Year award from Motor Trend magazine during its first year of production. In 1977, the fourth-generation Cougar was introduced, and the XR-7 model was considered more of a personal luxury coupe, sharing many styling similarities with the Ford Thunderbird. This 1979 Mercury Cougar XR-7 is a beauty, and it’s believed to have covered under 10,000 miles. Barn Finds reader PRA4SNW spotted this one here on Hagerty in Ocala, Florida, and we want to say thanks for sharing it with us! So far, bidding has reached $7,000, but I could easily see that amount increasing.
While the seller can’t 100% guarantee that the 9,827-mileage reading is accurate, he’s convinced the overall condition supports that figure and describes the car as a time capsule. It’s also said to be an unrestored survivor, with a paint depth of 2 mil all around, so the finish is most likely original. No ownership or other history is provided here, and this one’s not completely flawless on the outside either, with some spots near the grille and other cosmetic imperfections that the seller says are consistent with the Mercury’s age.
Standard under the XR-7 hood in 1979 was a 302 V8, but some good news is that this one is equipped with the optional 351 Windsor. However, with a factory horsepower rating of only 135, it doesn’t exactly offer breathtaking performance. Everything in the engine bay seems to be in good order, as it should be with an auto not far from the fifty-year mark that’s claimed to have been used so sparingly.
Inside, the condition also appears to reflect the low-mileage claim, making it unlikely that the ticker is on its second trip around. While the seats look comfortable and inviting, it’s worth noting that this one doesn’t have power windows, but not all luxury cars in the seventies came with every bell and whistle found on most vehicles today. This 1979 Mercury Cougar XR-7 appears to be a very nice survivor, and I’m leaning toward the odometer reading being more likely than not accurate. How about you?
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