The glory days of the muscle car seemed to be fading by 1970, a trend felt across the entire automotive industry. Insurance costs skyrocketed, squeezing budgets and dampening buyer enthusiasm for the previously booming segment. This shift hit carmakers hard, with sales figures reflecting the changing market.
Mercury’s Cougar serves as a prime example. Sales for the 1970 model year plunged to a mere 72,363 units, with the coveted XR-7 trim experiencing a similar decline compared to its 1969 counterpart. To add insult to injury, Mercury implemented a significant price hike, with the XR-7 hardtop reaching a hefty $3,413 and the convertible variant an even steeper $3,692.
While the base Cougar came equipped with a respectable 300-horsepower 351 V8, Mercury offered a tempting array of optional powerplants to entice performance-hungry buyers. These included the legendary Boss 302, the formidable 428 Cobra Jet with 335 horsepower, and the even more powerful Super Cobra Jet boasting 400 horsepower.
The absolute holy grail for performance enthusiasts, however, was the Boss 429 with a reported output of 375 horsepower. Incredibly, only two Cougars are believed to have been built with this legendary engine, and their whereabouts remain a mystery today.
This particular Cougar in the photos showcases a rather unfortunate modification. Originally boasting the mighty 428 Cobra Jet engine, it has undergone a heart transplant of sorts, with a less powerful 351 Cleveland unit and a four-speed transmission now occupying the engine bay.
The fate of the original Cobra Jet engine remains unknown, but the photos thankfully suggest most other parts are still present, offering some hope for a potential restoration to its former glory. Examining photos from eBay seller scjmustangbob reveals a classic Mercury Cougar XR-7 in need of restoration.
While the XR-7 hardtop itself wasn’t uncommon, a Marti report shows this particular model to be much rarer. Only 274 Cougars left the factory with the same engine and transmission combination, and this one is further distinguished by its brown houndstooth vinyl roof, one of only 1,549 produced.
This presents a unique opportunity for an enthusiast to take on a full restoration project, but to recapture the true spirit of the car, the original Cobra Jet engine should be a priority. The current engine, a 428, is still desirable, but the car’s potential lies in returning it to its factory-built glory. With a starting price of $10,000 and the “Make Offer” option available, the seller in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin is open to negotiation for this rare piece of automotive history.
