Mercury Muscle Cars, 1967 Cougar XR-7 GT

Throughout the muscle car era (1960s thru 1970), car manufacturers were constantly looking for new engineering and design to introduce new cars into the market. This quest for bigger and better ideas by Ford/Mercury division led to several designs in the 60s for a marketable automotive design to present to an already competitive platform of muscle cars.

Introduction of the 1967 Cougar gave Mercury its own version of pony car based on that years second-generation Mustang. The Cougars design came with a 3 inch longer wheelbase than the Mustang; a full width divided grille with vertical bars defined the front grill with hidden headlights. This design was sometimes called the electric shaver grille (the 1964 Dodge Charger came with the same style grille), Cougars design went one step further with the rear having a similar style as the front, surrounding the license plate on both sides with the vertically slatted grille-work concealing taillights and sequential turn signals, a styling touch taken from the Thunderbird. Mercurys design was deliberate to give the car more of a European flair than the Mustang, attracting American buyers. The Cougar continued for seven years to be a twin to the Mustang and was available with options to be a genuine muscle car.

The Cougar was available with two styling options, the base and the XR-7, but only came in a two door hardtop body style. Only one trim package was available for both the base model and the XR-7. The XR-7 model had wood-grained steering wheel, a simulated wood-grained dashboard with a full set of black faced competition instruments and toggle switches, an overhead console, T-type center shifter for the automatic transmission and leather or vinyl upholstery. Engine choices varied from the 200 hp 289cid 2-bbl V8 (standard engine in the base model) to the 335 hp 390cid 4-bbl V8. A GT performance package was available on both the base and XR-7 Cougars. This option included the 390 V8 along with an adequate performance handling package. The Cougar would become Mercurys muscle car icon for several years.

As early as 1970 the Cougar started to shift from performance to luxury evolving the Cougar into a luxury pony car. The change in emissions control and rising fuel prices also deemed the changes necessary to continue Mercurys Cougar to keep a place in an ever changing automotive market

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