June 12 is Nationwide Cougar Day for 2024, so we needed to share some pics and background on a wicked-cool 1970 Cougar that rolled into the Summit Racing car parking zone earlier this spring.
***
Derived from its company cousin, the Ford Mustang, the Cougar debuted in 1967 and skewed extra in the direction of the efficiency luxurious automobile phase—which was additionally heating up with vehicles just like the Buick Riviera, Pontiac Grand Prix, and Dodge Charger within the combine.
Because of this the Cougar was a tad longer than a recent Mustang and had a bit extra refinement, but it was cautious to not step on the toes of Ford’s personal luxurious coupe, the Thunderbird, both.
Higher nonetheless, due to V8 energy and efficiency trims just like the Eliminator, GT, and XR7, these early Cougars gave heavy-footed drivers loads of chunk.
To say that Mercury’s luxurious efficiency automobile was a hit could be an understatement: Merc bought a ton of Cougars throughout its debut 12 months in 1967. That success carried on to a 1968 mannequin after which a facelifted 1969 version that ditched the Cougar’s signature “electrical shaver” grille.
However for the first-gen Cougar’s ultimate 12 months in 1970, the enduring grille returned, accompanied by a revised hood middle part with a blacked-out beak and a brand new bumper/mild remedy too.
1970 was the lowest-selling 12 months for the first-gen Cougar—however Mercury nonetheless moved over 70,000 of them.
(In reality, the slight gross sales slip may be attributed (partially) to anticipation for the redesigned 1971 fashions primed to hit vendor showrooms.)
We noticed this clear blue version on a spring day within the Summit Racing Retail Retailer car parking zone and we instantly knew it needed to be a Lot Pictures function. Due to its clear Nordic Blue paint and a wholesome V8 rumble, this robust cat was robust to overlook.
We chatted with the proprietor briefly and he instructed us that the Cougar nonetheless carries its unique 351 Windsor engine—although the three-speed auto has been ditched in favor of a 5 velocity handbook.
Windsor, Cleveland, and Modified: There have been three distinct 351ci engines within the Ford recipe e-book, and you may be taught in regards to the Ford 351 engine variations right here.
Like so lots of its contemporaries, the second-gen. Mercury Cougar obtained greater and plushier throughout a 1971 refresh, with maybe a tad much less emphasis on tire-shredding efficiency.
That stated, the Cougar remained a robust vendor within the Mercury lineup—and the nameplate would survive via eight distinct generations earlier than fading away after 2002 as a front-wheel drive coupe wrapped in Ford’s “New Edge” styling.
The Mercury model itself could be shuttered in 2011.
All instructed, survivor-spec Cougars like this are a superb instance of (considerably) under-the-radar traditional vehicles that provide you with gobs of fashion, a little bit consolation, and a pleasant throaty V8 below your proper foot.
And we’re glad we caught this one early within the spring because it prepares for a summer time of prowling the streets.
