While the original Mercury Cougar shared its underpinnings with Ford’s Mustang, the two companies pursued different paths through the 1970s. While it seemed incomprehensible, Mercury hit the sweet spot in 1978, with the Cougar easily outselling the Mustang. Such a scenario seemed unthinkable a decade earlier, but the unthinkable became a reality. Our feature car is a Cougar XR-7 from that year, which the seller claims to be an unrestored survivor. Its condition is impressive for a vehicle with more than four decades behind it. Its only pressing need is a new home, with the seller listing it here on eBay in Englewood, Colorado. They’ve set their price at $16,900, and while that figure sits at the top of the current market, its condition and unmolested state seem to justify the figure.

Although the original Cougar and Mustang were effectively cousins, the Fourth Generation Cougar was the counterpart of the Ford Thunderbird. It remained on sale from 1977 until 1980 before a smaller replacement hit the showrooms. Our feature car rolled off the line in 1978, and its condition is impressive. It wears Code 3U Light Blue paint, with a White landau-style vinyl top adding a luxury twist. The paint and panels show no evidence of significant flaws, defects, or previous repairs. The seller provides an excellent selection of photos, with those of the floors showing nothing but the original factory undercoat. There are no signs of penetrating rust, suggesting this classic is potentially totally rust-free. The vinyl top is crisp and clean, and the tinted glass is flawless. All trim pieces are intact, and their condition is above average for a genuine survivor.

Times had changed between when Mercury released the first Cougar and when this one rolled off the line in 1978. Nowhere was this more evident than when we lifted the hood. This car features a 302ci V8, a three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power front disc brakes. The V8 should produce 134hp, allowing the 4,056lb Cougar to cover the ¼-mile in 19.8 seconds. Rewind the clock a decade, and the story was markedly different. Buyers could order their ’68 XR-7 with a 302 churning out 230hp. With only 3,324lbs to move, that car completed the same journey in 16.5 seconds. The sad reality was that even if the buyer in 1978 slotted the most potent 400 under the hood of their new toy, it still fell an agonizing 2.4 seconds shy of the ’68. The news for potential buyers is positive. The seller states the odometer reads 31,986 miles. They believe that figure is accurate, although they hold no documentary evidence. While it is hardly conclusive, the car’s overall condition and presentation suggest it is plausible. Otherwise, the buyer won’t need to spend a dime on this classic beyond the purchase price. It runs and drives perfectly, ready to provide immediate motoring pleasure to its new owner.

The Cougar’s interior looks surprisingly good and is definitely acceptable for a survivor-grade classic. The original owner made the bold decision to select White upholstery, and although it isn’t perfect, it has avoided major disasters. There is a dirty mark on the driver’s seat that might respond to a deep clean, while the armrests have developed the distinct yellow hue common to trim of this color. Addressing that issue could prove challenging, but there is one solution that doesn’t involve dye, paint, or the cost of purchasing replacement trim. I’ve seen an owner place these yellowed items in a hydrogen peroxide solution overnight while exposing them to UV lights. It only took twelve hours to return the plastic to as-new condition, and it wasn’t expensive. However, it is not a remedy to be taken lightly, and anyone attempting it should take adequate precautions to ensure the safety of themselves and others. The carpet is slightly faded, but the remaining trim and the dash are excellent. The original owner opted for ice-cold air conditioning, while other luxury touches include a factory AM/FM radio/cassette player and twin remote mirrors.

It can be fascinating to examine the different paths two marques within the same Corporation can follow in vehicle development. Such is true of Ford and Mercury and the growing differences between the Mustang and Cougar during the 1970s. While Ford made the Mustang significantly smaller, Mercury enlarged the Cougar. Both cars featured almost identical dimensions in 1967. By 1978, the Mustang II was 15″ shorter than the ’67, while the Cougar XR-7 was a whopping 25″ longer. Did the changes impact Cougar production totals? Quite simply, yes. However, that impact was positive. After a previous sales slump, 192,410 buyers in 1978 selected a Ford Mustang II across all variants. That year marked record sales for the Cougar, with 213,270 buyers driving away from Mercury dealerships behind the wheel of a new Cougar. Of those, an impressive 166,508 paid the premium required to own an XR-7. Fuel prices were climbing, and the economy was tight, but buyers demonstrated they preferred larger cars with more room. Do you believe the same is true today?