An interesting Mercury Cougar is searching for a new home. This classic model was born in 1969 and is part of the first generation that shared its bones with the era's Ford Mustang.
As a result, it is a muscle car, and a stylish one for that matter, presented in a blue finish with a set of classic wheels that were shod in white branded tires. It features a lot of chrome trim on the outside and some in the cabin, whose main theme is white.
Made from 1967 to 1970 (model years), the first-generation Mercury Cougar was offered with multiple power options. Depending on the selected model year and trim level, the offering also comprised several V8 units. Transmission options included a three-speed automatic transmission and two manuals with three and four gears.
So, what powers this 1969 Mercury Cougar? That would be the 351 ci motor, a 5.8-liter V8 that came in two outputs, with 250 and 290 horsepower. By the looks of it, this is the latter option, and it has an automatic transmission paired with it. The listing also mentions power steering and disc brakes at the front, as well as a 3.25 Traction Lock Rear Axle.
Photo: Garage Kept Motors
The vendor describes this Mercury Cougar XR7 as an elegant and refined ride, stating that it has a little over 59,000 miles (~95,000 km) under its belt. It is unknown whether it has been fully restored at one point or just properly maintained over the years, though we lean towards the former, as it is on the shiny side of things wherever you look, be it the exterior, cabin, engine bay, or underbody.
Advertised by Garage Kept Motors, with the listing accessible here, this 1969 Mercury Cougar XR7 doesn't cost an arm and a leg. In fact, as we already mentioned in the title, it will set you back less than a new 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost, aka the one with the four-banger under the hood. The asking price is $29,900, and the vendor accepts pre-purchase inspections, albeit by appointment only.
By comparison, the most affordable version of the new-gen Mustang is offered from $30,920, excluding destination and dealer fees. The V8-powered GT comes from $42,495, and the superior Dark Horse is a sub-$60,000 affair, again without destination.
We don't know about you, but this Mercury Cougar sounds (and looks) like an appealing proposal, especially if you're into classic muscle cars, as it is a muscly model, given its Ford Mustang ties. As a result, it shouldn't spend too much time on the used car market, as its future owner is likely just a few mouse clicks away from it. But would you buy it over a new 'Stang?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News