|
Mercury watched Ford sales take off when they introduced the Mustang in 1964; they would have to wait a few years to get their own "personal" car. Instead of competing with the Mustang in the youthful market, Mercury wanted its derivative to take a European CT-inspired tack, with raw performance tempered by Thunderbird luxury and road manners. Because Ford's pony was so well received, Mercury got the green light to design their own car instead of simply giving the Mustang a fiberglass facelift.... The windshield, vent glass, and parts of the inner body structure were the only directly interchangeable items. The Cougar rode on a three-inch-stretched 111 -inch wheelbase with six-inch-longer rear leaf springs and softer suspension bushings, and an extra 123 pounds of sound insulation to make the interior quieter. These changes underpinned a handsome long hood/short deck two-door hardtop, the only body style available in the Cougar's first two years of production. Where the Mustang's sheetmetal was simple and flat-planed, the Cougar's was elegant and sculpted. Sharp-edged fender tops looped through the upturned bumper edges and chrome-trimmed wheel arches, making a continuous character line that accented the contoured body sides. The rear window was slightly sunken between the notchback roof's C-pillars, creating a flying buttress effect that carried through the rear fenders, and the front and rear fascias shared a vertical theme, with quad headlamps hidden behind split grilles and sequential taillamps behind / matching bars. The design / team's European influences (they boasted of Jaguar) continued in the Cougar's interior, where round gauges resided in a simple dash, and comfortable vinyl-covered bucket seats were separated by an optional center console that was home to the gearshift selector. Popular options included air conditioning, AM/tape radios, a Tilt-Away steering wheel and power brakes, bench seat was available. The upscale Cougar model was the XR-7, which debuted halfway into 1967. The XR-7 combined more sport and luxury, and featured a wood-grained dashboard with matching steering wheel, competition-style instrumentation and sporty toggle switches (a Ia E-type), an overhead console and leather seating surfaces. This particular example is in exceptional condition. The car is equipped with Air Conditioning, Tilt-Away steering, Power Steering, Tachometer, Overhead Console, AM-FM Radio and a Leather Wrap Steering Wheel. For more information or to make an offer, give Dan a call at 863-370-6712.
|
Home
Contact us
NEWEST CARS
SELL YOUR CAR
FAQ
Enquire
