Merging inspiration gleaned from overseas automakers - most notably Jaguar - with Detroit-based sensibilities, the Cougar was the first American made, European influenced pony car. Mercury's blending of styling cues from both sides of the Atlantic would prove successful, as buyers were won over by the Cougar's sophisticated look, but there weren't all that many Cougars made in the '60s, making sightings of any kind fairly rare. So, this 1967 Mercury Cougar, looking well-put together and still carrying its original color, is a rare chance to score a unique '60s classic you just don't see too many of.
Clad in the same red color it left the factory with more than 50 years ago, this Mercury looks every bit the part of a pony car of its era, but you can easily see its European inspiration mixed in. The combination of its vertically-slatted grille with hidden headlights gives it a unique look in front that wouldn't be mistaken for any other model of its time, and if you take a look in back, you'll see how the distinctive looking taillight area mirrors the same look. Mercury was aiming at a middle ground somewhere between the Mustang and the Thunderbird, and you can see they hit their target squarely here. This is a straight looking car, well-aligned with nice, tight gaps between body panels. The bumpers both fore and aft sit level and are sporting clean chrome, the body trim sits securely flush and you'll find clear glass on all four sides, surrounded by fresh-looking rubber seals.
Inside, the black vinyl interior remains in its original configuration and is looking impressively fresh. You'll likely notice right away that Mercury went out of their way to distinguish their pony car from its Ford counterpart as there are surprisingly few interior styling cues shared between the two. The wide-backed bucket seats show only light wear, have plenty of life left in them and straddle a center console that still sits straight and sports a folding door with no kinks or missing panels - a welcome sight on Fords of this era. Just beyond the stock steering wheel, the dash area also represents itself well, with an instrument cluster that carries clear gauges and a dash pad above that shows no splits or warpage. The two factory registers on either side of the dash area are indications that this Cougar carries factory air conditioning, and it's in very good form to keep you and your passengers comfortable while out on the road. The trunk area in back is in good shape, lined with signature Ford plaid fabric and a covered spare.
Armed with a 289-cubic inch V8 under its generously proportioned hood, this Cougar is running with all the confidence-inspiring smoothness you'd look for in a frequent driver. The small block is paired with a Ford 3-speed C4 transmission that's known for its durability to make for an even-tempered, road-ready drivetrain, and its featured power steering and power brakes make navigating and stopping a low-effort affair. Take a look underneath and you'll see a straight undercarriage that provides evidence this Cougar hasn't ventured into unintended territory. This Mercury pony car classic sits on a set of 14" stock Cougar rims, outfitted with Indy 500 Firehawk tires.
Looking for a sought after but hard to find classic that combines pony car agility with European styling? You should check out this 1967 Mercury Cougar. Call today!