READER AD: 1986 Mercury Cougar Survivor

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At first glance, you wouldn’t ever guess that the 6th generation Mercury Cougar was based on the Fox-body Mustang, with its notchback design, but it really is a restyled Fox-body. Technically, it has more in common with the Thunderbird, but both cars were built on the Mustang’s chassis. This mean, you get the same proven rear wheel drive platform as the Mustang, but different exterior styling and more luxury options! We still see Thunderbirds from this era on the road, but we rarely see Cougars like this one, especially ones in this nice of condition. With just 53k miles, reader John M’s Mercury is barely broken in, but he’s decided it’s time to part ways with it. If you’d love to own it, you can find in Darien, Illinois with a $7,200 asking price and you can contact John via the link below!

What Makes It Special? This is a clean accident-free original garage kept vehicle.

Body Condition: The body is clean with original paint but has some minor wear and a small rust spot starting on the rear deck lid.

Mechanical Condition: This car runs and drives very well and everything works. It’s equipped with the 3.8 liter V6 and about every feature you could want.

Seller’s Listing: Here on Other

  • Asking Price: $7200.00
  • Location: Darien IL
  • Mileage: 53600
  • Title Status: Clean
  • VIN: 1MEBP9238GH652083

List your car here on Barn Finds for only $50!

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Comments

  1. Rosko

    I really wanted to like these when the came out. I really want to like this one, being a sucker fow low mileage classics. I just can’t find anything to get excited about.

    Like 2
  2. Skorzeny

    Disgusting. The weird roofline, the horrendous fake wire wheel covers, and the whitewalls that NOBODY wants to see anymore…

    Like 2
    • 36Packard

      Ahh, youth. Son, back in the day, white walls were a premium item and we all loved them, some of the older and wiser crowd still does.

      Like 19
      • Skorzeny

        Ha. I’m 53 and I still hate them.

        Like 2
      • PatrickM

        I had an ’83 with a 3.8L V6. Brown, inside and out. Great car. I liked the looks, too. To each his own. I wish I still had it.

        Like 0
    • ICEMMAN from Winnipeg

      Wheels and tyres can be replaced. And the old Detroit land yachts without white wall tyres just don’t look right. As for the roofline, at least the Mercury looked different from the Thunderbird. More formal, if that is what a buyer preferred. To each his own.

      Like 8
      • PatrickM

        I don’t consider this a “land yacht.” They would be Big Cadillacs, LIncolns, etc.

        Like 1
  3. Rx-7 TurboII

    I swear that’s our old car! We had one exactly like this until not that long ago.
    Hey John, did you buy this in Rockford?

    Like 3
    • John Mayrens

      No I did not buy this car in Rockford

      Like 0
  4. Bo

    I’m a fan of awkward styling. I like this car. Hated it when it was new but I like it now. I wish there were some interior pictures.
    Pristine old cars are always cool no matter what they are.

    Like 7
    • ICEMAN from Winnipeg

      The roof should have had the breezeway window, like the Mercs in the mid 60s !!

      Like 4
  5. Big_FunMember

    My girlfriend in college had the deeper purple version of this car. Full gauges, cassette player with the separate factory equalizer/booster. What made that Cougar special was the 5.0 V8, AOD, and the odd TRX Suspension with the Metric rims. Good times. Thanks for the flashback!

    Like 5
  6. FordGuy1972 FordGuy1972Member

    This Cougar seems to be a well-maintained car. It would have been nice to see some pics of the interior, though. Low miles and in good condition, so what if it’s only got a V-6? The price seems reasonable for a 33 year old car, at least in my mind. These cars were popular when new with over 135,000 produced and folks who grew up with them would probably like to have a nice example today. Could be cheaper than a Fox body Mustang in the same condition, too. It would sure be a little different to bring to your local Show & Shine.

    Like 1
    • Marilee McGowan

      I have a rare 86 Cougar convertible with about 125K on a 302. with even good gas mileage.

      Like 1
      • lc

        Must have been an aftermarket special on the convertible? I have an 84 Cougar LS -3.8 version – Sand Beige exterior/interior- nice running car – took off the wire hubcaps – currently have 81ish Cougar Sunburst hubcaps on it – it has a few dings and rust areas on body/interior-cigarette burns and stained carpet, but engine bay and rear trunk are clean, and it runs good with about 13K(113K) on odometer. I think the only major repair that it could use would be to fix the oil leak; however, I just keep an eye on the oil level while driving it as is. It does not seem to leak that much for an around town cruiser.

        Like 0
  7. djjerme

    Had one of these, same year, and color. Urban camo and beige interior. The build quality sucked something fierce – Headliner sagging, digital speedo dead, plastic everywhere loose and falling off. The only uptick was it had the 302 and AOD. I swapped the diff for a Posi out of a Mustang, stage 3 shiftkit in the AOD, and modified a Performer RPM intake to still retain the terrible 2bbl EFI setup. It was funny messing with people in traffic.

    Like 0
  8. John Mayrens

    You can see interior pics at carsonline.com search mercury or follow link in the write up on this site.

    Like 0
  9. John Mayrens

    This vehicle is no longer available. SOLD!!!

    Like 0
  10. lc

    Sweet! I have an 84 Cougar LS, 3.8l. Not exactly a+ car, but it runs good, and that counts. It don’t look bad, but it has a couple of blemishes on interior and exterior. I use it around town. Stereo sounds great.

    Like 0

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