I particularly like the subtle fender lines of the '69 and '70 mode Cougars , the XR7 being my favorite. Those were really elegant. Even so , I do find the '71-'73 models quite handsome in their own right.
I looked at '70s cars as "just cars" when they were new. Exciting when new, but the novelty wore off after a while. Now as we head towards 2020, I embrace the 70's cars more now than ever.
I still like late '60's much better, and still think most '70's are at best "just cars". The bulky, squared off corners, extended bumpers, reduced visibility, etc., are just as boring as the smothered engine performance due first generation smog controls amd catalytic converters. In this case, the 1st gen Cougars were a favorite of mine for the class of sporty, but not full muscle cars.
I had an '83 Mercury Cougar as a teenager. It was a hand-me-down from a relative. By '83 the Cougar wasn't nearly the car it was in the first 2 generations.
mwdca Ford killed the Cougar in 1971 when they turned it from a beautiful muscle car into an ugly end table. The line suffered a long, drawn-out, torturous death with the addition of 4-doors, station wagons and other polluting flotsam. They axed the Thunderbird after 1966 when they began building 4-door vacuum cleaners. And GM suffocated the timeless 1963 Buick Riviera with the dreadful monstrosities that befell the name after 1965. It's no wonder the government took over the auto industry in 1973; it was already well on its own Road to Ruin.
@@jackmarlow4355 I had the CB jammed into my leg and an igloo cooler between my feet and after 150+ miles of garish signs she refused to stop and look at "The Thing" i could have killed her.
@@jackmarlow4355 forgot to add, sorry, the car was a comfortable cruiser. Seats were soft, wide and plush, decent support and the car rode pretty good. We were pulling a small U-Haul trailer and the only time we really noticed was going through the mountains into CA.
In College I had a 73 Mustang and a friend had a 72 Cougar. The Cougar sported the 4v Cleveland, mine had the two barrel version. Even with an aftermarket intake and Holley on my Mustang he could still beat me every time. I love the first two generations of the Cougars. 30 years later I still have my Mustang. It's not highlighted in the video, the Ford '4 barrel' option was not just a bigger carb. The '4V' Cleveland had larger intake and exhaust ports and valves. A forged crankshaft and typically higher compression along with a more aggressive Cam. For it's time, the 4V Cleveland was a nice piece of work.
I'm assuming that he is assuming that they didn't make 2V Clevelands... and I tend to agree that a small carb wouldn't make sense on top of big valves.
It's always been my dream to just own a classic muscle car, and for my 17th birthday, I got myself a 1971 cougar for 14k 351c 4v it had a blown manifold gasket and a new radiator but, the body is prestine condition as is the interior. Couldn't pass it up lol.
The 71-73 styling was a confusing array of vertical and horizontal front grilles and an absolute Titanic boat anchor for a rear bumper. It was HIDEOUS. The Mercury/Ford stylists of these,...as well as the 70-72 Thunderbird.....should have been tarred & feathered. Just being absolutely honest. The 67-68 & 69-70 were nicest Cougar years. Narrator needs to learn about actual classic and desirable collectables.
@@billburr3428 THANK YOU ! Truer words were never spoken. I've heard them called everything from end tables to book ends to baby '71 - '72 LTDs. Detroit kept flattening their cars to extremes beyond what they were in 1957. "Bunky" Knudsen, from Pontiac, went to work for Ford, and that's how that horrid '70 Thunderbird with the 'beaked' nose emanated. Admittedly, the 1970s were among the worst years for all domestic manufacturers. No education on classic and desirable cars is as genuine as experiencing them while they are transitioning from old, used transportation to sought-after collectibles.
Thanks for the video. Brought back a lot of memories. My first car in high school was my mom's hand me down '72 Cougar XR7. It was charcoal gray with a black vinyl top and black leather interior. It wasn't in the same performance league as the guys with the Camaros, Mustangs and 'Cudas but with the aluminum mags, and dual exhaust I added it looked and sounded the part. Actually, I grew up with that car. My mom got it new when I was 11. I knew every inch of that car before I ever drove it from all the hours spent washing it for allowance money and sitting in it waiting for my mom to run some errand. I learned to drive in that car, took my driving test in it, first date (and believe it or not, 40 years later that same girl is sitting next to me on the couch as I type this), first ticket, first...ah... ;) Lot of memories...
This has always been my favorite Cougar! Sporty yet stylish. When I was young my dad and I restored a 73 Hardtop. Beautiful blue with blue vinyl top and blue interior. Gave it a 2-tone look. Really pretty car that I wish I still had
I love the first two generations of Cougar but actually like the 1971-1973 versions better. It's a beautiful car and its styling has aged incredibly well!
Boy oh boy oh boy does this channel do a great job with the very professional presentations, and all without any horrible & most annoying background music. 5 stars!
My great Uncle bought a new '68 burgundy cougar with black leather interior and tonnes of chrome on the interior . It was a thing of beauty , breathtaking . He bought me ice cream when it was brand new on a really hot day and I threw up inside his baby .
I guess 2-door RWD cars aren't profitable anymore. I've been waiting for someone to make one that actually looks good but car styling is so disgusting today and only seems to be getting worse. I can't stand the current trend of un-needed electronics being the focus of cars today. I don't need an info-tainment center or a big screen to play with.
@@mtnpckr I was a Mustang/Cougar fan for 40 years but these days my toy is a 2013 Challenger R/T, 5.7 L Hemi, 6 speed manual, 3.73 limited slip rearend.
And you can barely tell one car from another. Everyone wants to look, think, act, and feel the same. Cars today are for conformists with no imagination, no style, no individuality.
And you can barely tell one car from another. Everyone wants to look, think, act, and feel the same. Cars today are for conformists with no imagination, no style, no individuality.
1st gen was nicer looking than its porky successors. Had Mercury differentiated all its cars from the Ford offerings as well as it did Cougar / Mustang, it might still be in business. Like GM, Mercuries were mostly all gussied up Fords and the 'gussying' didn't always result in a better looking car. Yes, early 1st gen was a great looking car.
It's strange to me that Mercury also had the Montego about this time. It looked almost identical to the 71-73 Cougar except for a slight diference in the tail lights. It didn't make any sense to me to have two almost identical cars under the same name of Mercury.
@@andyrehorn7541 You don't think the 72 Cougar and 72 Montego are similar? To me, the front grill and quad headlights are very much alike. The over-all body of the Montego exterior and interior are similar to Cougar. Just my opinion.
That's been a Mercury headache for years, going back to the innovative 1947 Sportsman and Sun Valley, then the horrific Termite Crushers, the XR4TI and the most recent Pimple-Mobile.
In 1977 I bought a pretty nice 1971couger XR7 351 Cleveland with a 3speed on the floor standard it was pewter in color with tan interior 8track player in dash paid 1100.00 when it needed a clutch I had to order using mustang specs no clutch listed for couger xr7 this was special order
I had a White 1969 AMC-Javelin with a 290V-8. I was forced to leave it in Texas while looking for a job. I was offered $500.00 and had no choice but to sell it.....that car is worth $22,000 today . I still wake up crying that it's gone but wake up and realize I'm only half dreaming....its gone but not stolen anyway .
Great video , Thanks . For over 30 yrs. I have the best part of a 1971 Cougar. Not a modified , but a 351 Cleveland (peanut plug ). Right now it's a short block , as I stripped it down , for inspection . No block damage , and stock specs. It sits in the garage . I have a 1995 Mustang GT . with the 5 liter HO motor . 5 speed , full power inside . I had a brain fart , of building the Clev. to Boss 351 specs . using after market 4v aluminum heads , and pulling the 5.o and dropping in the built Cleveland . Just for shyts , and giggles .I'm an old gear head from the 60's who raced NHRA . I still have the will to be like days of old . Where tuning was done mechanically , without computers . I have that skill also , with a degree in electronic engineering . Your site reignited a passion for my past years happiness . Thank You , for that .
I had a 1972 base cougar, red convertible, black top and maroon interior. One of the nicest looking cars I’ve owned. It was fast and fun to drive on long trips. Sad day when I had to sell it.
....but sales for the 1972 were 181,000 while the 1973 sold 250,000. Everyone has their preference but when the 73 came out, it was hot. Unfortunately, rarely seen today.
In 1976, I worked at a Honda dealership, located next door to a Lincoln-Mercury dealership. The Linc-Merc dealer had 2 new cars parked nose to nose in front of dealership that had drivers slamming on their brakes as they drove by. A 76' Cougar XR-7 in Dark Jade Metallic, White Landau Vinyl Top & White Leather Bucket Seats/White Interior. Facing it was a 76' Lincoln-Continental 2 Door Town Coupe that matched exactly. It was also Dark Jade Metallic, White Landau Top & White Leather Interior. Those 2 cars still stand out so vivid in my mind. 2 very beautiful cars when the sun shined upon them. Cars don't come in beautiful colors like they did back in the 60's & 70's.
Back in the late 70's I wanted to make a Ranchero out of a 71-73 Cougar because it looked like it should have come with a small truck bed instead of a trunk. Gas hogs like the Cougar in the late 70's were only worth a few hundred bucks and were a dime a dozen. There is no way I would butcher a survivor today.
I tend to go out and find, buy, drive cars listed by this channel. My wife is pissed until I get them driving again and then she's all in love with them
Back in 1971, I ordered a new Cougar XR7 coupe, Medium Brown Metallic with the Natural Brown leather interior. I took delivery in May of that year and drove it for 8 years. Mine had the 351 4V Cleveland engine with the 4-speed manual and Hurst shifter, A/C, full power including power windows, steering, and front disc brakes. It was equipped with the Competition Suspension package and big F60-15 Goodyear Polyglass tires, an option normally found on Mustangs. The handling was great for its time and I commuted back and forth from the SF Bay Area to Sacramento on weekends. It was the first car I ordered as opposed to buying off the dealers lot, or through a dealer swap. My trade in was a 1969 Cougar base model coupe with the 351 2V Windsor engine and 4-speed box, bought through a dealer swap. I traded in my XR7 in 1979 with 92,000 miles mainly because I was worried that I might not be able to get the high octane gas it required. I wish I could have kept it. It was my second favorite car of all those I've owned, my favorite being my 2015 BMW M4 that I have now, which I also bought on order.
My parents bought a new '73. I was 16 so I borrowed it so much I remember getting upset if they were taking it. They also had an Olds Delta 88 which they actually liked better but they were Cadillac owners for the most part so I was kinda shocked when they bought the Cougar. Lasted about a year and they let my older sister and her husband buy it. Sad day for me.
When I turned 30 I purchased my very first NEW dream car ever… a 1985 Cougar GS. Dark Blue exterior, black interior, killer digital dash, sweet ride, LOVED it. Drove it until 1991- my wife and I even did 4 round trips to Rochester , NY in 2 years 1990-91 and a summer road trip from Philly to Toronto and back in it. Never had a mechanical issue. Great memories while I was attending graduate degree school.
@@hornetbrown in the end credits of the TV show The FBI. Efrem Zimalist Jr drove a red color 1971 base Mercury Cougar through the streets of Washington DC.
Sold used cars in AZ. We had a cougar that was detailed. But detailers left the windows closed. Damp carpet had not dried properly. At the sales meeting I brought up the fact that it should sell quickly because it also has a genuine "cougar" smell. After much laughter we had the car prepped again. Sold after that.
"As odd as it was a car with such a formal front end would have such a radical rear design. Mercury designers were able to make it work" 2:46 So that kind of makes the Cougar the automotive equivalent of a Mullet.
Thanks for making this. My first car was my parent's old 1972 Mercury Cougar XR7 coupe. It was a great car, fun to drive and very reliable. It stayed with my family for 14 years, which meant it was parked out in the streets through 14 years of rough NYC winters and lasted that long. I loved that car, so much so, that 15 years ago I bought a 1972 Mercury Cougar XR7 convertible and still have fun driving it.
We had a 1977 LTD II, which as you recall was the intermediate that replaced Torino. In fact, I think the '77 to '79 LTD II used the prior Torino frame. These LTD II and Mercury Cougar intermediates only built a wagon for 1977. ( 2 doors, 4 doors and Ford's Ranchero ran '77 to '79 ). Believe it or not, our '77 wagon logged over 520,000 documented miles on the original 351M before frame rust posed too great a risk. Not great gas mileage or power, but Ford built the best engines, no question.
Rednec, wow -I used to own a 77 T-Bird, and the stock motor was super-smooth but weak. The body, driveline, and suspension were outstanding, it was fairly tight handling wise for that size car - I always wondered what it would be like with a strong Big Block...Nicely done, I bet it just hums at around 100 MPH...?
I love these!! You know it I've commented before. 351C 2v-or 4V. No straight 6. No 302. Just that sweet cleveland. Or if you want, a 429cj V8, for 1971. These cars drive awesome. They will smoke the rear tires at will! Even a 351C 22Bbl, will impress you!! According to Marti reports, all71-73 Cougars, with 351cid, were Cleveland's, with canted large valves. These engines rock!! The guy is right, find a 71-72, XR7, before the major detune, and compression ratio drop, of 1973. You will be rewarded with a great driving, and handling, muscle luxury car!!
Dang dude!! I can't wait to see a 22 barrel V8. That would be a true, Bugatti beating hypercar then. Hehehe I know you made a typo but still a cool idea. Lol
Another fun & informative profile on an early 70's model I always wanted, I had the big brother 1978 XR-7 to the T-bird with a 351 M Cleveland which was one of the best Ford made cars I've ever owned.
My dad had a green Cougar way back when, and the car saved his and my mom's life! They were on the West Side Highway a bit past midnight, coming home from a party in NYC, when a drunk jumped the divder and hit them head on! The whole front of the Cougar was collapsed, looking like an accordion, with the engine hanging out the side! My parents walked away from that accident, with just a little whiplash for my mom! I actually have photos of the car, including an accident shot of the front end!
Outstanding visual in this video. I had a 72 Montego, an identical twin of the Cougar. One of the best cars I ever had. This video could have been about the same car. Good memories.
I loved the video. An XR7 was my very first car at age 16. I firmly believe Ford made a mistake by canceling Mercury. At the very least Ford should have dropped the Mercury name and just kept the Cougar name, like how Dodge did with Ram. Bummer. Cougars are awesome American cars!
My mother bought a new '71 Cougar XR7 and my uncle had a '73 Cougar XR7! I remember in the late 70's and early 80's as a kid driving with my mother! It was a great car and I have fond memories of that car!
Hey you should do a video on the failure of GM notorious X cars Chevrolet Citation Oldsombile Omega Pontiac Phoenix and Buick Skylark and the numerous recalls.
The first car I ever owned, a used 1980 Chevy Citation. What a piece of junk. I had to leave the gas cap loose after I filled it up because it would get a vacuum lock and wouldn’t run. 4 speed manual that backfired when you shifted out of 1st and 2nd. Rear turn signals lit up when you stepped on the brake. God I miss that car.
I was a Mustang & Cougar fan for about 40 years, having owned a 1971 302 cid Mustang fastback, '71 Cougar, '72 Cougar XR7 with 351-CJ and '73 Cougar. The '71 & '73 came with 351C-2V engines & FMX transmissions. The '72 came with 351C-4V (called the Cobra Jet)and C6 transmission. The 1971-1973 Cougars were essentially Mustangs with different outside sheet metal. They weren't as popular as Mustangs so their prices fell faster but underneath the styling, they were Mustangs. Even while I was a big fan of these, I quite admired the 1970 Dodge Challenger and in 2012, I jumped ship and bought a 2013 Challenger R/T , 5.7 L Hemi, 6 speed manual, 3.73 limited slip rearend. BTW, even into the '90's, the Cougar Club of America did not have any record of a '71-'73 owned with any engine other than the 2 or 4 bbl 351C. There was talk that records indicated 2- 428 equipped models were built, but no one had any idea if they were ever seen or where they might be!
You guys are gonna run low on car's to do one of these days,and when you do check out the 1962 Ford Galaxy,the ones that they only made 500 of them!!!A lot of people don't even know that they exist in the first place,DO your homework like you usually do and you will see that I'm right,and NO I'M not trying to be a know it all but I didn't know about them until the latter seventies and I about freaked out!!!!I had no idea that they exist,but they are DEADLY FORCE POWER!!!!!!!! 406 engine 405hp!!!!!!!!Come out from the factory like that with THREE deuces and dual point distributor,, Factory cast iron headers!!!!!You get the picture!!!!!!!
Mercury was complaining to Ford that they didn't have a Thunderbird and Mustang rival and so Ford gave them the Cougar as an in between market car smaller and cheaper than the Thunderbird and bigger and more expensive than the Mustang! And the Cougar name was first used on the Mustang concept car, if I remember correctly! My third car was a 1970 Xr7! I've always liked all of the generations of the Cougar, especially from 1967 to 1983!
My first introduction to a "70's" personal luxury car was my grand-parents 1974 Cougar XR7; I loved that car! I bought for myself a fully loaded 77 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, with swivel buckets and a moon roof as a follow-up! Gosh, either of those two cars I'd have back in a minute!
I love the dragging old school movie projector sounding music of this channels intro to cars that make me want to go back in time. People in the 60s and 70s got to experience a time with cars I’d gladly trade for the technology we have today. The only thing in today’s cars I like is two things but one I could do without. Good brakes and fuel injection. I do really love how wonderful a car with fuel injection works but I’d give it up to go back to a time where gas was cheap and cars were easy to work on and no matter what they say , those cars had the most luxurious and sporty and in the case of the Pontiac toronado ellegance that surpasses any of today’s plastic look alike cars most of us could afford.
i got one for sale original,, FULL LOAD.. 5.0L automatic,, 83 123 km,,, turn the key and go.... car is in BC CANADA 5 500$ obo car is black ,,,and red int................................ you are the first one on this car
*1969 Ford Headquarters* -Hey amm boss?, Pontiac have this new thing the "Trans Am" is like a more luxury, agressive, and powerful Firebird and it's doing very well, how are we going to compete with that?!- -I got it! Make the cougar uglier, heavier, and slower than the Mustang so we won't sell neither young or old buyers because it's too luxury for the young and too sporty for the old-
the cougar had a 3 inches stretched wheelbase...it was to compete against midsizes. compared to those it it was ligther. it was a personal car not a pony. GM competitor would have been the montecarlo. in the pony market ford was far from fearing the firebird. camaro and firebird together wasnt even coming close to mustang sales, who was the undisputed king of the segment
@@ragimundvonwallat8961 well than why did Ford downsize the mustang for 74,1974 was the year that the mustang got to be a glorified pinto and the cougar went to more of a Chevy monte carlo. Of course the mustang story does have a happy ending But the 1974 78 mustang all wasn't a part of that. I ve always loved the first two generations of mercury cougars the best. Far better than those from 1974 and later
@Ricky Roma Why's that? I'm not gonna like something based solely on the fact that nobody else likes it. The fact is the 67-70 Cougars were beautiful. The 71-73 was not
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
1st Gen is perhaps one of the best looking car of 60’s
Definitely one of my favorites
Absolutely true!
Agreed!
I’m surprised that the 1st gen isn’t more popular.
I particularly like the subtle fender lines of the '69 and '70 mode Cougars , the XR7 being my favorite. Those were really elegant. Even so , I do find the '71-'73 models quite handsome in their own right.
@@roninkraut6873 I've always thought the same.
I looked at '70s cars as "just cars" when they were new. Exciting when new, but the novelty wore off after a while. Now as we head towards 2020, I embrace the 70's cars more now than ever.
I personally would love to have a Cordoba to drive now. I mean float around in...
MotorcycleMan - all boils down to production costs....sad to say. You’re exactly right though.
I still like late '60's much better, and still think most '70's are at best "just cars". The bulky, squared off corners, extended bumpers, reduced visibility, etc., are just as boring as the smothered engine performance due first generation smog controls amd catalytic converters.
In this case, the 1st gen Cougars were a favorite of mine for the class of sporty, but not full muscle cars.
70s cars were awful. Especially in 1973 when they had these huge protrusion bumpers. If you like the 70s cars, you must love the 1960s cars.
@@keithroy7884 You know cars. I agree with your opinions
I kinda miss Mercury. Pontiac and Olds too.
and Plymouth
I don't like new cars at all so I miss all of them guys.
Nobody misses Saturn or Hummer.
I loved my Studebaker and then later Avanti.
My favorite when I young was Plymouth Fury's.
This is the generation where the Cougar transitioned from muscle car to "the poor man's Lincoln Continental Mark".
nah lol i have a 73 cougar and they can be tuff just gotta take car of it
The Cougar was more like the Mark from 1974 on.
I was very sad when I learned that Mercury had been "cancelled". The Cougar, from its inception, was a class act.
Same here. I really like the Ford Taurus and Five Hundred (and by extension their Mercury counterparts the Sable and Montego.)
I had an '83 Mercury Cougar as a teenager. It was a hand-me-down from a relative. By '83 the Cougar wasn't nearly the car it was in the first 2 generations.
mwdca Ford killed the Cougar in 1971 when they turned it from a beautiful muscle car into an ugly end table. The line suffered a long, drawn-out, torturous death with the addition of 4-doors, station wagons and other polluting flotsam. They axed the Thunderbird after 1966 when they began building 4-door vacuum cleaners. And GM suffocated the timeless 1963 Buick Riviera with the dreadful monstrosities that befell the name after 1965. It's no wonder the government took over the auto industry in 1973; it was already well on its own Road to Ruin.
When I think about that it still bothers me, the whole country changed that's why besides Mercury we lost a few other American based brands.
"I'm gonna buy me a Mercury. Cruise up and down this road."
Steve Miller band
The first gen Cougar was a beautiful car, as a youngster I was transfixed by the sequential rear direction indicator lights.
I drove from Connecticut to San Diego in a '73 with my sister. Comfy ride.
@Roger Com clock
I want to do the same thing but with a 72 cougar… how was it in retrospective
@@jackmarlow4355 I had the CB jammed into my leg and an igloo cooler between my feet and after 150+ miles of garish signs she refused to stop and look at "The Thing" i could have killed her.
@@jackmarlow4355 forgot to add, sorry, the car was a comfortable cruiser. Seats were soft, wide and plush, decent support and the car rode pretty good. We were pulling a small U-Haul trailer and the only time we really noticed was going through the mountains into CA.
In College I had a 73 Mustang and a friend had a 72 Cougar. The Cougar sported the 4v Cleveland, mine had the two barrel version. Even with an aftermarket intake and Holley on my Mustang he could still beat me every time. I love the first two generations of the Cougars. 30 years later I still have my Mustang.
It's not highlighted in the video, the Ford '4 barrel' option was not just a bigger carb. The '4V' Cleveland had larger intake and exhaust ports and valves. A forged crankshaft and typically higher compression along with a more aggressive Cam. For it's time, the 4V Cleveland was a nice piece of work.
Clevelands and Windsors are entirely 2 DIFFERENT animals....
@@anthonybeno1481 Correct. However I didn't mention the Windsor in my comment so I am a bit confused by yours.
I'm assuming that he is assuming that they didn't make 2V Clevelands... and I tend to agree that a small carb wouldn't make sense on top of big valves.
@@marko7843 Ah, that makes sense the way you explain it. Sometimes things are lost in writing.
It's always been my dream to just own a classic muscle car, and for my 17th birthday, I got myself a 1971 cougar for 14k 351c 4v it had a blown manifold gasket and a new radiator but, the body is prestine condition as is the interior. Couldn't pass it up lol.
I like the first 2 generations. They had a unique and distinctive style with luxury.
The 71-73 styling was a confusing array of vertical and horizontal front grilles and an absolute Titanic boat anchor for a rear bumper. It was HIDEOUS. The Mercury/Ford stylists of these,...as well as the 70-72 Thunderbird.....should have been tarred & feathered. Just being absolutely honest. The 67-68 & 69-70 were nicest Cougar years. Narrator needs to learn about actual classic and desirable collectables.
3rd gen was good too. I’ve got a 79 abs it’s similar to the 2nd gen in terms of look
@@billburr3428 THANK YOU ! Truer words were never spoken. I've heard them called everything from end tables to book ends to baby '71 - '72 LTDs. Detroit kept flattening their cars to extremes beyond what they were in 1957. "Bunky" Knudsen, from Pontiac, went to work for Ford, and that's how that horrid '70 Thunderbird with the 'beaked' nose emanated. Admittedly, the 1970s were among the worst years for all domestic manufacturers.
No education on classic and desirable cars is as genuine as experiencing them while they are transitioning from old, used transportation to sought-after collectibles.
My first car was a 1969 cougar with a 390 under the hood. What a beast
Beautiful lines on it !
Thanks for the video. Brought back a lot of memories. My first car in high school was my mom's hand me down '72 Cougar XR7. It was charcoal gray with a black vinyl top and black leather interior. It wasn't in the same performance league as the guys with the Camaros, Mustangs and 'Cudas but with the aluminum mags, and dual exhaust I added it looked and sounded the part.
Actually, I grew up with that car. My mom got it new when I was 11. I knew every inch of that car before I ever drove it from all the hours spent washing it for allowance money and sitting in it waiting for my mom to run some errand. I learned to drive in that car, took my driving test in it, first date (and believe it or not, 40 years later that same girl is sitting next to me on the couch as I type this), first ticket, first...ah... ;) Lot of memories...
This has always been my favorite Cougar! Sporty yet stylish. When I was young my dad and I restored a 73 Hardtop. Beautiful blue with blue vinyl top and blue interior. Gave it a 2-tone look. Really pretty car that I wish I still had
I love the first two generations of Cougar but actually like the 1971-1973 versions better. It's a beautiful car and its styling has aged incredibly well!
That green one around 0:50 is among the nicest looking cars ever built. Masterpiece of American Muscle/GT design
IMHO, the 71-73 Cougars were the best-looking cars of the 70s. I loved them at first sight!
Love the 70-73 Cougars.
That 71-73 Cougar style is beautiful.
i had a 73 cougar i miss it a really nice car
Boy oh boy oh boy does this channel do a great job with the very professional presentations, and all without any horrible & most annoying background music.
5 stars!
They were buetfull cars. Love it. 21/8/23. Geoff steele / australia😊
My great Uncle bought a new '68 burgundy cougar with black leather interior and tonnes of chrome on the interior . It was a thing of beauty , breathtaking . He bought me ice cream when it was brand new on a really hot day and I threw up inside his baby .
RD Hudon - Ahhh. Memories. That made me smile and feel bummed for your uncle.
RD Hudon it’s funny how many stories there are that’s similar to that my dad threw up in his uncles 68 camaro, again after ice cream.
Your great uncle man that makes me feel old not as old as him but older than you probably
Moral of the story! Don’t eat ice cream
Oops, at least you didn't pee in it.
I think I've forgotten to tell you how much i enjoy your very high quality channel! Please forgive.
The contents of high quality stills and narrative in your video presentation is the reason why 1971-1973 Mercury Cougar is so unique indeed!!!!!
My dad had a baby blue 73 xr7 loved it
I guess 2-door RWD cars aren't profitable anymore. I've been waiting for someone to make one that actually looks good but car styling is so disgusting today and only seems to be getting worse. I can't stand the current trend of un-needed electronics being the focus of cars today. I don't need an info-tainment center or a big screen to play with.
orange70383 Ford is at least trying by retro styling new mustangs to the late 60’s models. Dodge also is retrying some.
@@mtnpckr I was a Mustang/Cougar fan for 40 years but these days my toy is a 2013 Challenger R/T, 5.7 L Hemi, 6 speed manual, 3.73 limited slip rearend.
Your comment reminds me that, to this day, I've never owned a 4 dr car.
And you can barely tell one car from another. Everyone wants to look, think, act, and feel the same. Cars today are for conformists with no imagination, no style, no individuality.
And you can barely tell one car from another. Everyone wants to look, think, act, and feel the same. Cars today are for conformists with no imagination, no style, no individuality.
had a '73 xr7 convertible. miss that car
1st gen was nicer looking than its porky successors. Had Mercury differentiated all its cars from the Ford offerings as well as it did Cougar / Mustang, it might still be in business. Like GM, Mercuries were mostly all gussied up Fords and the 'gussying' didn't always result in a better looking car. Yes, early 1st gen was a great looking car.
It's strange to me that Mercury also had the Montego about this time. It looked almost identical to the 71-73 Cougar except for a slight diference in the tail lights. It didn't make any sense to me to have two almost identical cars under the same name of Mercury.
@@beedifrnt Montego was completely different. ????
@@andyrehorn7541 You don't think the 72 Cougar and 72 Montego are similar? To me, the front grill and quad headlights are very much alike. The over-all body of the Montego exterior and interior are similar to Cougar. Just my opinion.
That's been a Mercury headache for years, going back to the innovative 1947 Sportsman and Sun Valley, then the horrific Termite Crushers, the XR4TI and the most recent Pimple-Mobile.
6:45 I actually said wow out load. That is one beautiful convertible.
I had a 68 xr7. Loved it .
I had the 67 XR7... I miss it.
I miss mine too. Next one will be a 70 eliminatior with a boss 302
Erik Stenberg
I’ll bet 😎👍
Erik Stenberg 428?
JD 619
🤔
That convertible in red is a fine looking car and I’m guessing it’s worth a pretty penny now. Especially with a 429 !
The gold cougar was by far the most beautiful, elegant looking car! It takes your breath away....
In 1977 I bought a pretty nice 1971couger XR7 351 Cleveland with a 3speed on the floor standard it was pewter in color with tan interior 8track player in dash paid 1100.00 when it needed a clutch I had to order using mustang specs no clutch listed for couger xr7 this was special order
The mid-section kinda looks like an AMC AMX/Javelin
Very observant.
I had a White 1969 AMC-Javelin with a 290V-8. I was forced to leave it in Texas while looking for a job. I was offered $500.00 and had no choice but to sell it.....that car is worth $22,000 today . I still wake up crying that it's gone but wake up and realize I'm only half dreaming....its gone but not stolen anyway .
Tail lights look like a mid 70's Charger, or to me.
The Javelin of 1971-74, true.
I always thought the 71-73 Mustang coupe and the 71-74 had a similar look.
Great video , Thanks . For over 30 yrs. I have the best part of a 1971 Cougar. Not a modified ,
but a 351 Cleveland (peanut plug ). Right now it's a short block , as I stripped it down , for inspection . No block damage , and stock specs. It sits in the garage . I have a 1995 Mustang GT . with the 5 liter HO motor . 5 speed , full power inside . I had a brain fart , of building the Clev. to Boss 351 specs . using after market 4v aluminum heads , and pulling the 5.o and dropping in the built Cleveland . Just for shyts , and giggles .I'm an old gear head from the 60's
who raced NHRA . I still have the will to be like days of old . Where tuning was done mechanically , without computers . I have that skill also , with a degree in electronic engineering . Your site reignited a passion for my past years happiness . Thank You , for that .
I was 15 yrs old when I fell in love with the coolest car ever! It was 1971
I had a 1972 base cougar, red convertible, black top and maroon interior. One of the nicest looking cars I’ve owned.
It was fast and fun to drive on long trips. Sad day when I had to sell it.
Went from a sports coupe to a damned sled..
@Steve Silvas 70 and 72 monte is the same body! What are you talking about?
Yeah, normally the bumper and hood would arrive 5 minutes ahead of the rest of the car😂
....but sales for the 1972 were 181,000 while the 1973 sold 250,000. Everyone has their preference but when the 73 came out, it was hot. Unfortunately, rarely seen today.
@@corkyrose9011 yes big cars were the popular ticket back then.
Yeah, just like the charger. Ever seen a '75 charger?... Gag... Vomit.
My uncle had the ‘68 Cougar XR-7 and he let me drive it when I was a teenager at 17. I loved that car! 👍
In 1976, I worked at a Honda dealership, located next door to a Lincoln-Mercury dealership. The Linc-Merc dealer had 2 new cars parked nose to nose in front of dealership that had drivers slamming on their brakes as they drove by. A 76' Cougar XR-7 in Dark Jade Metallic, White Landau Vinyl Top & White Leather Bucket Seats/White Interior. Facing it was a 76' Lincoln-Continental 2 Door Town Coupe that matched exactly. It was also Dark Jade Metallic, White Landau Top & White Leather Interior. Those 2 cars still stand out so vivid in my mind. 2 very beautiful cars when the sun shined upon them. Cars don't come in beautiful colors like they did back in the 60's & 70's.
Back in the late 70's I wanted to make a Ranchero out of a 71-73 Cougar because it looked like it should have come with a small truck bed instead of a trunk. Gas hogs like the Cougar in the late 70's were only worth a few hundred bucks and were a dime a dozen. There is no way I would butcher a survivor today.
I tend to go out and find, buy, drive cars listed by this channel. My wife is pissed until I get them driving again and then she's all in love with them
Back in 1971, I ordered a new Cougar XR7 coupe, Medium Brown Metallic with the Natural Brown leather interior. I took delivery in May of that year and drove it for 8 years. Mine had the 351 4V Cleveland engine with the 4-speed manual and Hurst shifter, A/C, full power including power windows, steering, and front disc brakes. It was equipped with the Competition Suspension package and big F60-15 Goodyear Polyglass tires, an option normally found on Mustangs. The handling was great for its time and I commuted back and forth from the SF Bay Area to Sacramento on weekends. It was the first car I ordered as opposed to buying off the dealers lot, or through a dealer swap. My trade in was a 1969 Cougar base model coupe with the 351 2V Windsor engine and 4-speed box, bought through a dealer swap. I traded in my XR7 in 1979 with 92,000 miles mainly because I was worried that I might not be able to get the high octane gas it required. I wish I could have kept it. It was my second favorite car of all those I've owned, my favorite being my 2015 BMW M4 that I have now, which I also bought on order.
similar to the 1 i own now, but with mines a 429cj, c6
My parents bought a new '73. I was 16 so I borrowed it so much I remember getting upset if they were taking it. They also had an Olds Delta 88 which they actually liked better but they were Cadillac owners for the most part so I was kinda shocked when they bought the Cougar. Lasted about a year and they let my older sister and her husband buy it. Sad day for me.
This channel has grown on me, wasn't sure cuz the guys voice now it's a must watch when a new upload comes up
I always loved these, 71 with a 429c jet 4speed anyday.😊👍
When I turned 30 I purchased my very first NEW dream car ever… a 1985 Cougar GS. Dark Blue exterior, black interior, killer digital dash, sweet ride, LOVED it. Drove it until 1991- my wife and I even did 4 round trips to Rochester , NY in 2 years 1990-91 and a summer road trip from Philly to Toronto and back in it. Never had a mechanical issue. Great memories while I was attending graduate degree school.
At the sign of the cat.
And then the growl.
I remember those ads
Remember that!
@@hornetbrown in the end credits of the TV show The FBI. Efrem Zimalist Jr drove a red color 1971 base Mercury Cougar through the streets of Washington DC.
Frank Denardo - At the beginning of the FBI series when they were black & white episodes, Efrem drove a mid-60’s, early model Mustang in the credits.
beautiful
I 🥰 ♥️ the two legged cougars..they are a lot fun to ride..😂😂
I had one that looked good til i put her up on the lift.... tons of rust on her undercarriage. 😖
@@smoothoperator7023
😖
🤣
Sold used cars in AZ. We had a cougar that was detailed. But detailers left the windows closed. Damp carpet had not dried properly. At the sales meeting I brought up the fact that it should sell quickly because it also has a genuine "cougar" smell. After much laughter we had the car prepped again. Sold after that.
Nice!
"As odd as it was a car with such a formal front end would have such a radical rear design. Mercury designers were able to make it work" 2:46
So that kind of makes the Cougar the automotive equivalent of a Mullet.
Mullet America Great Again
I learn something new every time I come here - thank you.
Handles almost as well as your living room couch.
Handles well in a straight line.
They were not meant for track so it didn't / doesn't matter.
Underline “almost”
Would have liked a new XR7 back in 73. Let's not forget the 351 Cleveland under the hood.
I like the 1967-68 Mercury Cougar models better. The 1971-73 Cougar model edition looked similar to the Gran Torino. Especially, the front grill.
What, you don't like Gran Torino ? Then....get off my lawn !!!
Thanks for making this. My first car was my parent's old 1972 Mercury Cougar XR7 coupe. It was a great car, fun to drive and very reliable. It stayed with my family for 14 years, which meant it was parked out in the streets through 14 years of rough NYC winters and lasted that long. I loved that car, so much so, that 15 years ago I bought a 1972 Mercury Cougar XR7 convertible and still have fun driving it.
I look forward to you doing a video on the 1977 Ford LTD Station wagon with its 351 Windsor motor, and other land yachts of that time.
We had a 1977 LTD II, which as you recall was the intermediate that replaced Torino. In fact, I think the '77 to '79 LTD II used the prior Torino frame.
These LTD II and Mercury Cougar intermediates only built a wagon for 1977. ( 2 doors, 4 doors and Ford's Ranchero ran '77 to '79 ).
Believe it or not, our '77 wagon logged over 520,000 documented miles on the original 351M before frame rust posed too great a risk. Not great gas mileage or power, but Ford built the best engines, no question.
The dash of the XR-7 looks nearly identical to my 75 Gran Torino's.
Well done, and Thank you for mentioning the XR-7.
I had a "67 Cougar. The design was unbeatable. Just a gorgeous car.
My dad has a '77 with a 429 big block swap, best machine ever!
Rednec, wow -I used to own a 77 T-Bird, and the stock motor was super-smooth but weak. The body, driveline, and suspension were outstanding, it was fairly tight handling wise for that size car - I always wondered what it would be like with a strong Big Block...Nicely done, I bet it just hums at around 100 MPH...?
@@gt-37guy6 it does
I owned a 1971 with a 351 cleavland and loved it
I believe the rear pillar design is called a "flying buttress". Sharp!
I love these!! You know it I've commented before. 351C 2v-or 4V. No straight 6. No 302. Just that sweet cleveland. Or if you want, a 429cj V8, for 1971. These cars drive awesome. They will smoke the rear tires at will! Even a 351C 22Bbl, will impress you!! According to Marti reports, all71-73 Cougars, with 351cid, were Cleveland's, with canted large valves. These engines rock!! The guy is right, find a 71-72, XR7, before the major detune, and compression ratio drop, of 1973. You will be rewarded with a great driving, and handling, muscle luxury car!!
Dang dude!! I can't wait to see a 22 barrel V8. That would be a true, Bugatti beating hypercar then. Hehehe
I know you made a typo but still a cool idea. Lol
Love those early 70s cougars!
The 70 cyclone spoiler and cougar eliminator are my dream cars to me they look better than anything from 1970 except for the challenger and cuda
But why didn’t you make a video about the 67-68 mercury cougar yet?
Yes... the 2nd gen was a fat, bloated pig of a tank compared to 1st gen.
Another fun & informative profile on an early 70's model I always wanted, I had the big brother 1978 XR-7 to the T-bird with a 351 M Cleveland which was one of the best Ford made cars I've ever owned.
vinniecorleone62 The 351 M were one of the worst engines Ford ever built.
I love that generation's style! Pardon the pun, but I think the T-Birds flew off the lots compared to the '76s
I can't wait to see if you do a video on the 1978-1981 Pontiac Grand Am/Gran Lemans.
or maybe a Can Am
My dad had a green Cougar way back when, and the car saved his and my mom's life! They were on the West Side Highway a bit past midnight, coming home from a party in NYC, when a drunk jumped the divder and hit them head on! The whole front of the Cougar was collapsed, looking like an accordion, with the engine hanging out the side! My parents walked away from that accident, with just a little whiplash for my mom! I actually have photos of the car, including an accident shot of the front end!
Wow. Post it up on a free image host site and post the link please! I'd like to see it.
@@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism All these sites require me to register. Do you know of any site where I can just post, then link, in seconds?
My 72 Galaxy 500 had the 400-2V great car with same luxury style.
Outstanding visual in this video. I had a 72 Montego, an identical twin of the Cougar. One of the best cars I ever had. This video could have been about the same car. Good memories.
From 71 to 73, the convertible was much better looking.
Yep. Always hated the roofline. But the rest looks good
I loved the video. An XR7 was my very first car at age 16. I firmly believe Ford made a mistake by canceling Mercury. At the very least Ford should have dropped the Mercury name and just kept the Cougar name, like how Dodge did with Ram. Bummer. Cougars are awesome American cars!
I will tell you why the 3rd iteration Cougar is underrated IMO; Cleveland 351.
Nova DarkSoul
That Windsor is a great engine and you can get that 351 to sing.
clayton E
Lucky!!
My mother bought a new '71 Cougar XR7 and my uncle had a '73 Cougar XR7! I remember in the late 70's and early 80's as a kid driving with my mother! It was a great car and I have fond memories of that car!
You should do a video on the 77-79 thunderbird/cougar. Best selling Thunderbird of all time!!
Those 77-79 Thunderbirds have amazing styling.
Gotta love that great 70s era panel fit.
Hey you should do a video on the failure of GM notorious X cars Chevrolet Citation Oldsombile Omega Pontiac Phoenix and Buick Skylark and the numerous recalls.
🎶 The First Chevy of the Eighties, Chevy CIT-AA-ION!🎶
The 80 s Vega.
The first car I ever owned, a used 1980 Chevy Citation. What a piece of junk. I had to leave the gas cap loose after I filled it up because it would get a vacuum lock and wouldn’t run. 4 speed manual that backfired when you shifted out of 1st and 2nd. Rear turn signals lit up when you stepped on the brake. God I miss that car.
Those weren't the best cars for sure, but not because of recalls. Cars get recalled all the time.
Delta 88 in high school... couldn't pass a gas station but it would pass everything else.
Sweet design 👍would love to own one today😏🚘🏡
I had a loaded 1978 Cougar XR7 Sport Package. Loved it.
I have that exact car! Gold Glow interior package too. I love it!
They really need to bring back the '67 cougar just like the camaro, chargers, challengers, mustangs
I doubt it’ll happen. It would be nice though, especially if they made it on the mustang platform again, which I’d assume they would.
I was a Mustang & Cougar fan for about 40 years, having owned a 1971 302 cid Mustang fastback, '71 Cougar, '72 Cougar XR7 with 351-CJ and '73 Cougar. The '71 & '73 came with 351C-2V engines & FMX transmissions. The '72 came with 351C-4V (called the Cobra Jet)and C6 transmission. The 1971-1973 Cougars were essentially Mustangs with different outside sheet metal. They weren't as popular as Mustangs so their prices fell faster but underneath the styling, they were Mustangs. Even while I was a big fan of these, I quite admired the 1970 Dodge Challenger and in 2012, I jumped ship and bought a 2013 Challenger R/T , 5.7 L Hemi, 6 speed manual, 3.73 limited slip rearend.
BTW, even into the '90's, the Cougar Club of America did not have any record of a '71-'73 owned with any engine other than the 2 or 4 bbl 351C. There was talk that records indicated 2- 428 equipped models were built, but no one had any idea if they were ever seen or where they might be!
You didnt own any Big Block Mustangs/Cougars??
@@extremedrivr No, have never owned a big block.
@@1redrubberball Oh ok. Still cool cars you had
You guys are gonna run low on car's to do one of these days,and when you do check out the 1962 Ford Galaxy,the ones that they only made 500 of them!!!A lot of people don't even know that they exist in the first place,DO your homework like you usually do and you will see that I'm right,and NO I'M not trying to be a know it all but I didn't know about them until the latter seventies and I about freaked out!!!!I had no idea that they exist,but they are DEADLY FORCE POWER!!!!!!!! 406 engine 405hp!!!!!!!!Come out from the factory like that with THREE deuces and dual point distributor,,
Factory cast iron headers!!!!!You get the picture!!!!!!!
Yeah those Fords were nice but man!! You gotta love a 62 Impala with the 409 Dual Quad with 425 Horsepower!! That was a real beast of a car.
In '80 I had a '72 with the 351 Cleveland motor. Fun ride.
Please tell me the name of the song in the beginning of your videos
Classic in every sense of the word.!!
Mercury was complaining to Ford that they didn't have a Thunderbird and Mustang rival and so Ford gave them the Cougar as an in between market car smaller and cheaper than the Thunderbird and bigger and more expensive than the Mustang! And the Cougar name was first used on the Mustang concept car, if I remember correctly! My third car was a 1970 Xr7! I've always liked all of the generations of the Cougar, especially from 1967 to 1983!
My first introduction to a "70's" personal luxury car was my grand-parents 1974 Cougar XR7; I loved that car! I bought for myself a fully loaded 77 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, with swivel buckets and a moon roof as a follow-up! Gosh, either of those two cars I'd have back in a minute!
For me it's looks like a Torino from 1971. Just a tought.
That was my first thought too. The first generation was far more exciting.
Ford cars all looked alike. I like the shifter in this thing that was the same as the one in the Pinto.
I love the dragging old school movie projector sounding music of this channels intro to cars that make me want to go back in time. People in the 60s and 70s got to experience a time with cars I’d gladly trade for the technology we have today. The only thing in today’s cars I like is two things but one I could do without. Good brakes and fuel injection. I do really love how wonderful a car with fuel injection works but I’d give it up to go back to a time where gas was cheap and cars were easy to work on and no matter what they say , those cars had the most luxurious and sporty and in the case of the Pontiac toronado ellegance that surpasses any of today’s plastic look alike cars most of us could afford.
I've heard the 351c with a few minor upgrades can easily beat a 429
My first car was an 88 mercury cougar, miss that car! Lots of memories.
i got one for sale original,, FULL LOAD.. 5.0L automatic,, 83 123 km,,, turn the key and go.... car is in BC CANADA 5 500$ obo car is black ,,,and red int................................ you are the first one on this car
*1969 Ford Headquarters*
-Hey amm boss?, Pontiac have this new thing the "Trans Am" is like a more luxury, agressive, and powerful Firebird and it's doing very well, how are we going to compete with that?!-
-I got it! Make the cougar uglier, heavier, and slower than the Mustang so we won't sell neither young or old buyers because it's too luxury for the young and too sporty for the old-
Alejandro Molina “uglier”-? Yikes slower?! Honey, Cougar has better engine options than the mustang,
@@actiniumanarchy9237 Yeah, so.. weight doesn't matter?
the cougar had a 3 inches stretched wheelbase...it was to compete against midsizes. compared to those it it was ligther. it was a personal car not a pony. GM competitor would have been the montecarlo.
in the pony market ford was far from fearing the firebird. camaro and firebird together wasnt even coming close to mustang sales, who was the undisputed king of the segment
@@ragimundvonwallat8961 well than why did Ford downsize the mustang for 74,1974 was the year that the mustang got to be a glorified pinto and the cougar went to more of a Chevy monte carlo. Of course the mustang story does have a happy ending But the 1974 78 mustang all wasn't a part of that. I ve always loved the first two generations of mercury cougars the best. Far better than those from 1974 and later
@@michaelweizer7794 100% agree.
Power windows, integrated air conditioning, power driver's seat, and leather interior options put this car in another class. It was a very nice ride.
Same ol', same ol', as every other car on the market at the time.
Love the 67-70 Cougar's. Never liked the 71-73 Cougar or Mustang
@Ricky Roma Why's that? I'm not gonna like something based solely on the fact that nobody else likes it. The fact is the 67-70 Cougars were beautiful. The 71-73 was not
That grabber green 69 cougar in the first minute or so looks sick. Never seen one in that color.