The Mercury Cougar was FOMOCO’s second entry in the “pony car” market that the Ford Mustang largely gets credited for starting. It came out in 1967, the same year the Chevy Camaro and Pontiac Firebird joined the race. The XR-7 was the top model, like this 1968 edition which differed minimally from the first-year model. With a 390 cubic inch V8 engine and a mostly solid body, this nice example seems to have a lot to offer. Located in Detroit, Michigan (the U.S. capital of car building), this Merc is available here on eBay where $12,100 is the current bid, but the seller’s reserve is still aloof.
Where the XR-7 designation came from is open to speculation, but some sources believe the XR stands for “experimental racing”. When you ordered an XR-7 over a standard Cougar, you got a luxury trim package that came with all sorts of goodies. These included leather seats, an overhead console, and wood trim all over the place. As a result, the XR-7 became something of a small Thunderbird. According to a Marti Report acquired by the seller, there were 113,741 Cougars produced in 1968 of which 32,709 were XR-7 models. By the time you drill down through common engines, transmission, paint color (Grecian Gold), and on and on, this Cougar could be one of only two built the same way.
The Mercury here had a 390 V8 (X-code denotes 2-barrel carburetor, but it required premium fuel) from the Gitgo, but the block is not original to the car. It’s been treated to some upgrades in terms of the carburetor, heads, radiator, gas tank, brakes, and intake manifold. The auto has a C-6 automatic transmission but we’re not sure if it and/or the 9-inch rear-end are original. Cougars came with hideaway headlights, but only one functions properly here. The “bones” on this automobile are good with just a little rust peeking through here and there.
If you’re looking for a running/driving Cougar with loads of power that needs mostly TLC category work, perhaps this Merc is for you. It used to have a vinyl top, but the seller removed it and repainted the roof in the same color as the rest of the car – and it matches up well. One mystery, though, is the seller says the prior owner replaced the front clip, but we don’t know why. That suggests a fender bender was in this Mercury’s past.
400+ ft/lbs tq, 2.75 gear ⚙️ merc-o-matic 3spd autoloader = hwy bliss 🙌
That’s a Solid, Solid automobile, guys. It was shipped to Chris from here in North Carolina several years ago, where the Cougar spent most all it’s life. And he’s kept it in a garage ever since. Runs, Rides and Drives really, really Well.
Wishing I was in the market!
Big Block with XR-7 trim is a rare cat.
Gold was a fav color also. I had a blue ‘69 XR-7 351W/FMX that drove better than any mustang. A rare find of a NC car in the rust belt. It should go quick.
Too bad there’s no AC, it’s such a nice car.
Goz back in the day a/c was a rarity. It didn’t become standard equipment for most cases until the mid to late 70’s.
My ’68 XR7 did not have a console top or bottom.
There are some 1967 and 1968 Cougar XR-7s that left the factory without the lower console. In my 40 years of dealing in Cougar parts though I have never seen a 1967 or 1968 XR-7 without the overhead console. I would have to see either a Marti report or some other form of official factory paperwork to confirm the overhead console delete.
Did to. My 68 did. Mine was a 68 with a Boss 302 until the engine blew up and it was on the road dead, I put a engine from a 67 it was a 289 CI I bought for $75.
The One that Got Away!!…Early Girlfriend had a ’67, 4 Speed, Checkered Hoodstooth Buckets w/ Console, and a 352 Cleveland with A/C!!….What a Winning Combination!…BOTH!… And Yeah!, Young and Dumb, I passed’em up!…Still regretting that Brain Fart at 78!!!!!
My guess here is that your memory is playing some tricks on you. The Houndstooth (not hoodstooth) upholstery was not available in 1967. The 351 (not 352) Cleveland was not available until the 1970 model year. Of course a previous owner could have made changes before your girlfriend purchased the car.
Hey, Thanks for the update, and memory aid, Your Correct-a-mundo! Was a `70, and the 351 was a bear, 352 was a typo! She bough it new and that Houndstooth was neat at the time. Remember racing a 429 mustang, Lost, but gave him a respectable showing for a Mercury!!
A 55yo Michigan car with “a little rust peeking” has a LOT of rust hiding. Would not dare try to put it on a lift for underside inspection.
The seller says that the car was originally from North Carolina. Based on the supplied photos I would have no problem putting this car on a lift. The one photo shows the underside of the front lip of the hood. It looks to be totally rust free which is a very rust prone area. With the original hood pad still in place it does not look like anyone has done any work on it. The one underneath photo shows the torque box and it looks very solid.
Thanks Cathouse. It’s great to have someone on Barn Finds who has lived and breathed Cougars for decades who can provide knowledge-based, accurate, useful info about them.
Thank you Bob.
Photos of undercarriage posted on the listing, it looks pretty decent.
Nice Couger.
I never understood vinyl roofs. Almost always a mess, and you had to pay extra for it. It’s like using wraps on your headers. Why would you?
Well, this being a 67 and looking fast and wife at the pictures I see rust thru where cougars have it commonly . It’s been filled and repainted in part at least. My 69 did the same thing at 5 years old from Michigan winter rustout land. 2 seasons , salt season and pothole highway shaker season. They don’t know how to build highways anymore. It’s obvious the engineers don’t drive them..
The car does look respectable for its age.
If take a up close personal look before bidding
Dang auto miscorrect !!!
I grew up in PA and we use to call Potsylvania. I just came back from up there and still lives up to it’s name. Auto correct can drive me nuts.