Mercury’s first-generation Cougar suited buyers looking for a more sophisticated pony car than its Mustang sibling. Despite the Mustang’s cult-like following, Cougars like this CJ 428 Ram-powered 1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7 remind us that every high-performance Mustang resulted in a counterpart Cougar. This Rockville, Maryland classic spent most of its life in the southwest, according to the seller, and retains much of its original equipment. A two-year-old paint job refreshed the original Light Ivy Yellow 2, according to the listing.
Behold the CJ 428 Ram, the top option for the ’69 Cougar, making 335 HP. This claimed-original mill spins a sturdy C6 three-speed automatic transmission. The appearance is tidy, rather like an excellent older restoration later attacked by a 14-year-old with blue and silver spray cans. The seller kindly lists air conditioning among things that do not work. Thanks to lov2xlr8 for some details.
Pump the brakes if you’re moving on from what looks like the 17 millionth black pony car interior. That’s actually Dark Ivy Gold, a rich green color. If you’re wondering how the light paint and the dark interior can both be called “ivy,” try an image search for variegated ivy. Mercury cleverly offered these complimentary nature-inspired colors in one awesome car to tempt sophisticated ivy league buyers. Move along, Mustang shoppers; you wouldn’t understand.
The black vinyl top nicely contrasts the Light Ivy Yellow 2. Even non-wrench-turners knew Cougars by their eye-catching sequential tail lights which readily branded these Mercury ponies in public. Check out more pictures and many details here on eBay where at least seven bidders have this angry cat’s market value over $36,000 with about two days left. Thanks to Wikipedia for some details. A Marti report indicates this car came as shown. Its air conditioning and vinyl top don’t factor into calculated rarity, but it would be interesting to know how many of the 504 Ram Air ’69 XR-7s came so-equipped. This could be one rare kitty. Running condition escaped the listing, but based on it position for the pictures it seems to be self-motivating. Would you pick this Ram Air 428 Cougar over a similar Mustang?
Cool car. It successfully carries the “classy pony car” theme which was so effective on the Cougar. The soft yellow paint, black vinyl roof, and dark green interior are subtle and attractive, making one think it is just a regular Cougar. Yet it has the high end powertrain. Highly equipped including a/c. Looks to be in good condition. Fix the a/c and a couple other items and you are good to go. I’m not surprised at the solid bidding.
Not only does it have the coveted CJ 428 there is also enough power under the hood to spin air conditioning! This is one cool cat! Who knew you could have the best of both worlds?
My buddy has one of these ’69s. Very nice, quick cats. With this one, the only nitpick I have, I wish they’d left the Eliminator graphics off the side of the body. Then again, I’m way done with all the over accessorizing these classics. Every car seems to need some sort of outside / ram air, spoiler, stripes, graphics, etc. Sometimes less is more, and Cougars like this present themselves quite strikingly without any extra embellishments. Sorry, rant over. I should mention this Cougar had been for sale recently on MP for a little while for somewhere north of 50k, IIRC.
You are so right about the needless embellishments. Some people will mess up a wet dream.
Badass
Had a few Fords of that era finished in yellow and black… that color combo worked well with a set of factory mags. That’s some car to have
Had a new 428CJ Mach 1 in 1969 as did several friends and all of them had factory air, in Texas we gotta have A/C. My buddy even had factory A/C retro fitted on his 1970 Hemi Challenger, since it was not available from the factory.
The valve covers are not aluminum finned CJ. Don’t know if some came that way or not. I would verify that the block numbers are correct.
Too bad it don’t have a 4 speed and a Drag Pak.
“The latter, which included the W-code 4.30:1 Traction-Lok rear axle, is what added the Super to the Cobra Jet through heavy-duty rods, unique balancing, and an external oil cooler.”
I own a 1968 428cj 4-Speed AC Mercury Cougar and it’s a monster on the road. I took it to the track at 7.6 in the 1/8th mile with the AC on!!!
SOLD for $41,100.
It took 42 bids to get the deal done.