A sports car that gets re-bodied for another brand so that a company could make more money - it sounds like the formula for the Nissan 370Z and Infiniti G37, or the Acura versions of Honda sedans. But we're actually referring to the Mercury Cougar.
The Cougar is a pure muscle car, emerging in 1967 as a Mercury version of the Ford Mustang, riding on the same platform and featuring similar engines. However, it also had a luxury or touring theme that may partially explain why it isn't as popular as pure pony cars.
It certainly had the pedigree, at least in the early years before they turned it into a land boat. The 1969 model saw the introduction of the Eliminator, powered by the Boss version of the 302 V8 engine.
It's said that the grip of the Eliminator was slightly better than a shorter Mustang, allowing this 290 horsepower pony to do slightly better quarter-mile sprints. But it's not regarded as a cult classic, not in the same way as the Big 3.
Still, one rendering tries to capture the design essence of the Cougar Eliminator and give it a modern twist. This piece is by wb.artist20 and cleans up the lines of a car designed over half a century ago. No more chromed bumpers and decorative trim pieces here.
The wrap-around black grille gets transformed into a unibrow headlight, the styling element that prompted us to share this rendering. It seems like the lights are hiding behind a giant piece of perspex, a feature last used by the Honda Civic and some of its sister models. It definitely doesn't look like a muscle car.
So what about the engine? Well, the Boss 302 is famous and cool, but it wasn't the best of the best, as the Cougar Eliminator was also fitted with the 428 Cobra Jet. So a modern equivalent would have to the GT350 5.2-liter with 526 hp. If we remember correctly, the original Cougar also had an addition to wings and stripes, just like the current baby Shelby.
It certainly had the pedigree, at least in the early years before they turned it into a land boat. The 1969 model saw the introduction of the Eliminator, powered by the Boss version of the 302 V8 engine.
It's said that the grip of the Eliminator was slightly better than a shorter Mustang, allowing this 290 horsepower pony to do slightly better quarter-mile sprints. But it's not regarded as a cult classic, not in the same way as the Big 3.
Still, one rendering tries to capture the design essence of the Cougar Eliminator and give it a modern twist. This piece is by wb.artist20 and cleans up the lines of a car designed over half a century ago. No more chromed bumpers and decorative trim pieces here.
The wrap-around black grille gets transformed into a unibrow headlight, the styling element that prompted us to share this rendering. It seems like the lights are hiding behind a giant piece of perspex, a feature last used by the Honda Civic and some of its sister models. It definitely doesn't look like a muscle car.
So what about the engine? Well, the Boss 302 is famous and cool, but it wasn't the best of the best, as the Cougar Eliminator was also fitted with the 428 Cobra Jet. So a modern equivalent would have to the GT350 5.2-liter with 526 hp. If we remember correctly, the original Cougar also had an addition to wings and stripes, just like the current baby Shelby.