Do you ever see a car that hasn’t been on your radar but gets the wheels turning because of the way it’s presented? That’s certainly the case for me when I look at this super clean 1988 Mercury Cougar equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission and a carb’d 302. The seller has made plenty of chassis improvements as well, so it sounds like a great driver. The Cougar is listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $10,000 in Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania.
This is an interesting specimen and sparks a worthwhile discussion about value. Most Cougars of this era are not worth $10K, but the seller has made some tasteful choices in terms of mechanical and cosmetic upgrades. The good news continues in the sense that he placed an emphasis on making it into a fun driver versus wasting a lot of time and money on cosmetic enhancements. The wheels are a classic choice for muscle car owners, and sit nicely at the edge of the fender lip.
The engine and transmission combination are nothing exotic but they should combine to make this Cougar equal-parts reliable and entertaining. The seller cites “…suspension, brakes, rear end, and steering upgrades” as part of his build, and adds that there is “…too much to list.” The engine bay looks very clean and while the build isn’t exactly factory original, it should deliver a more entertaining driving experience with no loss to reliability or availability.
The interior is in beautiful shape, and that’s the added bonus of this Cougar that makes it worth the asking price (in my mind). Lots of recent maintenance, smart performance and chassis upgrades, and seemingly very good cosmetics inside and out. The lipstick red cloth interior may as well have been standard equipment on Cougars of this generation, as every other one of them seems to have been given the “seedy cocktail lounge” treatment inside. Fortunately, the rest of the package more than makes up for it.
Bordello colors in an offbeat setup. What’s not to like?
I think it’s worth it.I’d like to look at and test drive this car.Looks like fun depending on the engine build.These Franken cars built right are cool.Down too 9500.Glwts.
I had an ’87 with the 3.8. Over 360K on that car, engine opened up once for a timing chain at 224K, trans never touched except fluid/filters. Ran like a new car until an underage driver hopped a ride in her mom’s Mustang one morning & t-boned me at a light right on the driver’s door. Big ol’ Cougar saved my life. These & the Mark VIIs are the best kept secrets of the Fox platform. Most all the fun parts fit & undeniably comfortable!
This one would be fun. Shifting a manual V-8 is one of the most underrated pleasures in life. Plus this one wouldn’t get respect at first at a light making it even better
“seedy cocktail lounge”??! The interior is fantastic and super comfortable. 1980s plastic is ugly but has proven durable. For $10K this is a really good stick-shift V8 I think.
Pimp mobile interior.
Depending on your state, that it’s been converted to a carbureted intake might cause some grief with emissions testing as it’s certainly not factory; certainly here in the People’s Republik of Kalifornia.
Nice coug’ exempt from inspection in NJ (and other places in the east too)
Love the gadget for the a/c under the hood. Looks like it’s been retrofitted for 134a too.
Is that a fuel pressure gauge/regulator on the PS front inner fender? If so, I get the single discharge to the carburetor, but what’s up with the two other lines (sorry, I seem to only play with older, less complex vehicles)?
I see three hoses. Fuel from gas tank to regulator. Fuel from regulator to carburetor. Return line from regulator back to the gas tank.
Really nice car. I’d rather have a T bird equiped like this though.
Got one, 86 Turbo Coupe, now 5.0 5spd
Interesting, I never saw a 5 speed in a Cougar.
Frank i think they were available on SuperCharged Coug.w the 3.8 v6 The sister to the Super-coupe t-bird.
I’ve only seen the 5 speed with the 2.3 turbo in a Cougar of this vintage, but I would guess it was an option since it’s a fox platform V8.
This car had a manual trans swap. See link https://dailyturismo.com/manual-conversion-1988-mercury-cougar-ls/
Worked for a rental car company mid 80s. Had AMC Eagles, Ford Escorts, and Mercury Cougars. All vehicles were auto trans.
The Cougar was a luxury ride with the auto trans. Took mom out one night in the Cougar. Jiffy Auto Rental no longer around, would let employees drive unrented vehicles. Not a bad job at the time.
It’s a Fox body, use Mustang peddle assy everything under the hood and underneath is just like the 79 up to the sn95 which has a few parts that interchange. My beater is a 79 Fairmont wagon. 5.0 with a few mods, the tranny and rear axle all out of different cars. Even has working AC, GT sway bars and fast rack and pinion. Was a inline 6 and automatic that was tired. Has hauled plenty of cargo for me over the years.