It is no secret that there were people within the corridors of power at Ford World Headquarters who opposed the release of a pony car wearing the Mercury badge. However, those individuals eventually relented, and the Cougar provided an excellent support role for the Mustang. This 1967 example has managed to survive without any rust issues, while its engine bay houses an upgraded and rebuilt V8. The seller feels the time has come for this two-owner classic to find a new home, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Gary C for spotting the Cougar listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Issaquah, Washington. The seller set a price of $16,000 for this turnkey Merc.
The history of this Cougar means that it has much to offer any potential buyers. The seller became its custodian in 1983, purchasing the vehicle from the original owner. It spent its early days in California, and when you combine that factor with a garage-kept history, its rust-free status is unsurprising. The seller doesn’t mention a history of restoration or repairs, suggesting that the Code X Burgundy paint and the Black vinyl top may be original. The presentation is acceptable for a survivor-grade vehicle, with only a few minor panel imperfections. The listing suggests that it is a prime candidate for a cosmetic refresh, a prospect that some will find tempting. The seller confirms that the headlamp covers function as they should, which is yet another slice of positive news. The trim and glass are in good condition for their age, and the Cougar retains its original wire wheel covers.
The 1967 Cougar was V8-only territory, with buyers able to choose between various versions of the 289ci powerplant or the potent 390ci unit. I believe that this car’s first owner selected a 289, although that is now irrelevant. It disappeared in around 2010, replaced by a 302 that was freshly rebuilt. The rest of the drivetrain includes the original three-speed automatic transmission and power steering. The seller confirms that the Cougar received new front disc brakes when the engine swap happened, and it appears that the process included a new master cylinder. The car’s sheltered existence is best demonstrated by the fact that it has only clocked approximately 1,000 miles in the last decade, although that doesn’t mean that the buyer faces a revival. This Mercury runs and drives well, with the engine sounding sweet in the listing’s embedded video. Potential buyers can consider the vehicle as a turnkey proposition.
This Cougar’s interior is tidy and serviceable, but perfectionists may choose to treat it to a birthday to improve its appearance. It is unclear what hides beneath the front seat slipcovers, but the listing confirms that the back seat sports a rip. The pad has warped, and there is an aftermarket radio/cassette player occupying the factory radio’s original spot. I don’t believe that a complete retrim is justified, because buying individual pieces will achieve a satisfactory result without the new owner spending a fortune.
The initial reluctance for management to authorize the development of a Mercury pony car is understandable, because the Ford Mustang was a sales winner. The company didn’t want to undermine the Mustang’s market success, but realized that with a pair of competitors from General Motors waiting in the wings, having two strings to their bow would be a wise strategy. It proved to be the case, with 150,893 buyers saying “I’ll have a Cougar” in 1967. The badge had cemented its place in the market and would maintain an almost constant presence in the marque’s lineup until 2002. This first-year example isn’t original, but it is a rock-solid vehicle that the buyer can enjoy immediately. The biggest question facing them will be whether to treat it to a cosmetic restoration, or to opt for preservation. I would probably choose to refresh this classic, but would you?
This is a very well written article Adam and a nice, mostly unmolested Merc. Not a bad price considering the current market conditions. I believe a set of Magnum 500 sport rims and BF’s would greatly compliment this ride, but keep the wire wheels and whitewalls on hand.
I just parted with two of these from my fathers collection after he passed. Nice cars and I agree – a well written piece. The Cougar itself was considered a “stepchild” by many in the car world for an variety of reason (proximity to the Mustang first and foremost) but the two that we owned were always prone to rust issues given extensive salt used on the roads. Still, this is a nice survivor that with the right tire/wheel combo would turn some heads.
These were a Mustang with class, IMHO the best car to wear the Cougar badge as well. Mercury made several other cars they called ‘Cougar” but by and large they were turkeys. Here , we have a car that wouldn’t embarrass its new owner at the local Karz and Koffee even as it sits right now.
Seller has 16K invested in the engine alone. A great buy at that price.
Nice stance this cat 🐈 😎
Good job Adam. Like Terrry says, the upscale rework of the Mustang resulting in the Cougar was very well done. Looks like this one could use upholstery/interior work. And not sure how bad the paint might be, the seller says “could use new paint” but that could be said for most cars we see here at BF. Might just be the pics, but does it look like it is sitting too high?
Cathouse, your thoughts?
It looks like a pretty decent car to me. It is fairly low on options but should still make a nice driver and fun summer car. The price is not out of line.
I know Ive already said on here before like 48 times how as a kid I fell in love with the sequential turn signals.. And I still am. I like Mustangs a lot, but I lean towards the early Cougars as a personal preference. It looks solid and I think is a very fair price. My only thing I am wondering about is what Bob mentioned above about the ride height. Maybe just a weird angle its parked on? It’s hard to tell looking at photos on a cell phone. And needing a new bifocal prescription doesn’t help me either.
And also, great article Adam I enjoyed it a lot
Personally, I’m glad Ford moved ahead on building these. It was definitely one of their better ideas.
yes it is too high on both ends
Hi Adam and Everyone,
A friend sent me a link to this review, and I am the owner of the Cougar. As I don’t have my own fb account that marketplace listing is on my wife’s fb page.
Thank you Adam for a well-written review of my car! And thanks all for the comments.
I would like to add a few details and respond to some questions about the car;
– The original exterior and interior were both turquoise. The colors you see now are from 1983 right after I bought the car. The paint, vinyl top, black upholstery, and black dyed interior were all new in 1983. As these are now 42 years old there are some chips in the paint (in addition to the small dent in front left fender from a parking lot incident). This is why the fb listing says “could use new paint.” The car has never been in a wreck.
– The original engine was a 289. The owner of a local mechanic shop was a mustang fanatic. When I asked him to rebuild the 289 he agreed, but then offered me a great deal on this 302 from his own mustang that he had rebuilt and was in a crate waiting for a new mustang body. It runs like a champ.
– Front seat covers have been there since the late 80’s. As I remember there is some cracking on the exterior corners of the seats due to sun exposure from the SoCal days. This is also the reason for the warping on the dash.
– As I am tall I also added seat rail extenders on the driver seat such that the seat can go 2”-3” further back than factory original.
– Stance – You ever notice how many classic cougars and mustangs tend to ride low in the rear? It is common for the leaf springs to wear out on these cars. In the mid 80’s I replaced the original leaf springs with new ones of the same specs as factory original. Replaced front shocks with like kind at the same time.
I’ve enjoyed owning this car for the last 42 years. It got me through high school and college. It’s been a fun fair-weather, weekend driver for the last few decades. As I am downsizing to house with smaller garage, it is time for someone else to get to enjoy this car.
I have the itemized receipts for the 302 and the disc brake install jobs. I have the original owner’s manual and some other historical items that will go along with the car.
I am happy to answer any other questions.
Thanks,
Ken
Hey Ken, why not relist it with us as an auction?
Now there’s a webmaster who pays attention.
Hi Jesse, I am ready to list the Cougar with you as an auction. I recently took better pictures and am working on an updated write up. Thanks! Ken
Here’s the link to list: https://barnfinds.com/auctions/about/