That previous thread got me thinking (oh, oh). Calling all Cougar enthusiasts - what's your favorite Cougar and why?

I'll start this off (vintage) 1970 Eliminator Boss 302 - 1971 429 CJ (like I'll ever own own one!) -  late model 1988 Cougar XR7 (that might be nice, if can still find one in decent shape - either red or white will ***

Least favorite Cougar 1998-02 - wrong wheel drive and a European Ford secretary's car - Probe part 3. There's one down the road that looks like it's been the recipient of target practice, clearly somebody else ain't too keen about it either (lol).  

I like any of the 67-70 models just about.  I owned a 67 for a few minutes once.  Liked the car but didn't get time to enjoy it.  Anything with a 429 is good, even if it's an F100.  

A few minutes - tell us about that one - what happened?  

This was in the way back when my part time work was behind the parts counter.  Guy I knew was given a 67 green Cougar by his grandmother.  Said guy thought he was a mechanic and bought a complete tuneup kit from me for the car.  He tuned up the car and then it wouldn't start.  Ran the battery down, called several times, just couldn't get it figured out.  Went over the whole deal - a point triggered ignition is not rocket science - but no go.  He was a known "putz" in our circle, so there was no offer to go fix it for him and he didn't ask.  

A few weeks later he drops by the store and offers to sell the car. I offered $200.  He says "OK" and I gave him $50 and said I'd come get the car.  He agreed to dig out the title and we'd do the exchange on a Sunday.  

The lesson learned here was not dragging the thing off and waiting for the title or filing for a lost title and getting that signed and bonded.  I had a friend take me over to the house where the car was.  First problem hint I ignored was the title being still missing.  I shooed the pecan leaves out of the car (he left the window down for a few weeks) and in about 5 minutes I had it running.  I drove it home right then.  The friend that was also familiar with the person said later he got really pissed after I left.  The car sat in my driveway for about a week or so while I waited for him to give up the title.  He kept blowing me off.  I asked for my $50 back in trade for the car.  Still getting the blow off.

I figured out pretty quick this was a dead end deal. I drove the car to a local grocery parking lot and called him up, said "Your car is sitting in the So And So parking lot with the key in it."  "Why should I care?"  "Because it's in your name, jerk, and in this neighborhood somebody will take the thing and rob the 7-11.  It's got enough gas to go a couple of miles before crapping out and guess who's door the cops will be knocking on."  I never saw the car again. Or him. I didn't really leave the key in it, but it was gone the next day.

This was the second of two incidents with this person involving car repair, so maybe it was the "fool me twice, shame on me" kinda thing.  So, I got the drive the car for a few minutes and that was it.  Technically, it was never mine so I guess I just rented it LOL.  

Over the last couple of years I have owned the following:

1967 Cougar XR-7 (2 tone paint; 80,000 original miles): I owned this car 2 months and I was made an offer I could not refuse. This was the one I should have kept. Love the body style and interior. Colors were cool and original paint. 289 was not enough engine for the car.

1968 Cougar standard: This car became a parts car after I saw the floor had too much cancer. I made good money off of this one.

1968 Cougar XR-7: Black with a wicked stance. Dark tinted windows and nice black interior. Heavily modified with (as I later found out) lots of inferior body work. Was being sold to a guy in Australia when my neighbor's car rolled down a steep hill and hit the car broadside and drove it sideways up and over the curb, bending the wheels under. That was ugly. I am not overly impressed with the 302 either.

1968 Cougar Dan Gurney Special: Bought specifically to be parted out. Currently being dismantled. See me on MercuryCougar.Net for more info.

1970 Cougar standard: (19,000 original miles). Nice body styling. The interior is like new and the 351-C is the engine that this car needs. Fast! Since this is the one that I am driving, it is the one that I like best.

I wish I could afford a big block car. Or an Eliminator. Ever see the "El Gato" 1970 Cougar Concept Car? Check that baby out some time! Sweet!!!!!  

That's a nice list of cars - the low mile '70 sounds like a great car - do  you have any pics you want to share with us?  

That guy sounds like a real *** bag. About five years ago I almost bought a Mustang for $200, but the guy said he didn't have the title and had to go home to get it. So I told him, you give me the title and you have yourself a deal. He never showed up with title and just left the car there - this was at a friend's place. Turns out this idiot didn't even own the car and had been driving it with plates off another car. Eventually it got hauled away.  

Here's the link to Car Domain where most of my pictures are. I think I may also be in the gallery around here as well:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2931144



My 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 (with 2 tone paint)



My black 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 (BLACK) & the 1967 XR-7



http://memimage.cardomain.com/group_images/555/14555/2_19875_large.jpg?1193276953

http://memimage.cardomain.com/group_images/555/14555/2_19878_large.jpg?1193277036  

Thanks for posting those - the '67 and '70 look super clean - nice rides man!  

Favorite is the 1968 GT-E with W code 427 side oiler, hydraulic cam (only year for it) with 390HP and 460 ft-lb of torque.  

Next would be the "big" convertible cat.  1973 with 351C-2V with AOD and 3.25:1 limited slip.  Add an Ed manifold, cam and carb then relax under the sun listening to the dual exhaust's staccato beat.  


Why these cats?  Familiarity.