This 1988 Mercury Cougar Blue Max Edition is one sharp-looking car, if a person wasn’t deadset against the sixth-generation designs, that is. It’s a love-or-hate design and there doesn’t seem like there are many folks in the middle of the argument. The seller has it listed here on eBay in Columbia Station, Ohio and there is a $7,900 buy-it-now price listed or you can make an offer.
The sixth-generation Mercury Cougar was made for the 1983 through 1988 model years and they were built on Ford’s Fox platform along with the previous generation very perpendicular (i.e., square) Cougar and Thunderbird. My sister-in-law and her husband had a Thunderbird from this era and it was a fantastic car. The eternal debate between these two cars would have to be between the T-Bird’s sloping rear roofline and rear window and the Cougar’s straight rear window. Any thoughts between the two? How about an informal poll in the comments section!
There’s that rear window. I like it but I also like the Thunderbird. It’s like trying to choose a favorite child, or worse yet, a favorite motorcycle. Mercury offered several special editions for the Cougar, one of which was the Blue Max Edition. They were offered for model years 1985 and 1986 and then again for 1988. The ’85 and ’86 cars were a similar color scheme as this example but they didn’t include any special badging as is shown on this car inside and out. The 1988 cars came in dark blue but also light blue, red, and black according to CoolCats.net.
They were typically not based on the highest trim level which could explain the relatively sparse interior. Although, it still had power windows, driver’s seat, and mirrors which were housed on a perfect vessel for trapping a spilled beverage which would probably then short out everything to do with opening the windows. That may not have been the best design in hindsight. The interior looks beautiful, though, both front and back as does the trunk. This car has 36,800 miles on it and was just purchased from the original owner who is 84 years old and probably didn’t enjoy this car as much as they could have given the low miles.
The uber-clean engine bay houses a 3.8L V6 which would have had around 140 horsepower. It runs and drives great and the AC is even cold. This looks like a great, interesting, eye-catching alternative to a newer boring used car. Have any of you owned a sixth-gen Mercury Cougar?
I think the rear window design harkens back to the 50’s and 60’s when Mercurys had that cut off feature like on the turnpike cruiser and Fords had more of a fastback look…these were great cars…I preferred the T-Birds, and had a few as daily drivers…the Turbo Coupe was my favorite…
I don’t want to say the designer’s were lazy but…flipped the rear T-Bird windows upside down for Cougar and squared off the c pillar. Yes my name is Mr. Obvious
T-bird roof.
I prefer the ’83 – ’86 Cougar.
Owned an ’87, white. Classy, comfortable car.
I had a 1990 Blue Max Edition,same colors.I liked both windows but the cougar a little more.
When they got to the greenhouse, the designers started hitting the sauce.
Ugly then, ugly now, IMHO.
Had a 85 t bird w the 3.8…not bad, but back in pre internet days try diagnostic to track down what ended up being TFIM, otherwise known as thin film ignition module…i traced every circuit in that car for what ended up being something i never heard of…i did have 86 cougar, prefer that roof, also that 302
The back seat windows are identical to those in the same era Thunderbird, they just flipped them upside down. Also, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one of these cars that was not driven by a smoker.
I had an 88 Cougar XR-7 fully loaded back in 2001 black with grey leather, moonroof, 5.0 powerful motor, all the toys. I had a 1990 Pontiac Bonneville SSE at the time and really didn’t need the car but I always wanted a top of the line Cougar when it was really popular back in the late 80’s when Mercury introduced the XR-7 model so I couldn’t resist. Ford/Mercury produced a reliable, stylish (that rear window design) and strong 80’s muscle car for the 80’s which sold very well in the U.S until they screwed it all up in 89 with the “newly styled” Cougar which made me throw up as with all the other “downsizing” that occurred during that decade. And while Mercury remained in production until 2011 the Cougar never regained it’s popularity after 1988.
Looks like someone shaved the corners off of a GM G-Body, so it looks okay, I guess. I prefer the sharp corners of a G-Body.
3 tbirds and 2 cougars I have owned all of them indestructible pretty much they ran until the wheels fall off very well made cars
Thunderbird for me. I like the look better, plus the Cougar has huge blind spots. These were good 80s cars. The prior generation were gussied up Fairmont s and I was never a fan of the 1989s on.
I had a 83’ silver with red trim and black molding, charcoal gray leather and a V-8 sharp car rode like a Mark. Cousin bought a brand new 87’ was very nice and she never ever smoked in it
Auction update: this one ended at $7,900 and no sale.
I had an 88 blue max with a 5.0