The late 1970s were a time of opulence when personal luxury coupes were all the rage, and Mercury got in on the action with a badge-engineered variant of the Thunderbird sold as the Cougar XR7.
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1979 Mercury Cougar XR7 listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. (Click the link to view the listing)
“A one-of-a-kind time machine,” the seller states. “Purchased from a private family who had it in a collection. Original like-new condition for the age, original mileage, runs and drives like new.”
This car comes from the Cougar’s fourth generation which first launched in 1977 in coupe, sedan, and station wagon body styles (the nameplate was shared across Mercury’s entire intermediate line, after all). It shared chassis elements with various other Ford models and slotted in the hierarchy between the entry-level Monarch and the flagship Marquis. The XR7 name was reserved for a personal luxury coupe that shared most of its engineering and design with the Thunderbird. One thing the Thunderbird didn’t get, obviously, was the unmistakable “cat’s head” hood ornament on the hood.
True to its “personal luxury” mission, the Cougar XR7 delivered standard accommodations that were high-end for the time, including power steering, power disc brakes, walnut interior trim, opera windows, and a continental-style trunk lid.
Showing just 28,329 miles on the odometer, this Cougar is still young, and its power comes from a 302cid V8 mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. The listing states that this car was “stored on carpet and covered, driven a few times per year on perfect weather conditions.” The trunk has a John Wiese Ford decal, which supports the seller’s claim that this car has been locally-owned since new. John Wiese’s website (yes, the dealership is still open today) states that the dealership opened in 1975 and takes pride in being an automotive resource for the middle of Minnesota.
The cabin is the most important part of any luxury car, and the leather interior here looks remarkably well-kept. Non-factory add-ons include an aftermarket CD player, a center console with cup holders, and Husky all-weather floor mats.
The asking price is $19,000 for this clean old Cougar. It would make the perfect ride for a stylish Sunday cruiser.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
If it had the 400, or 460 okay, but this 302 in this big machine is a dog.