Fine lines : 1967-73 Mercury Cougar....

I always thought the Cougar was to the Mustang what the Firebird was to the Camaro-the better buy of the two. While the base-model Mustang had a 200 inch six,the Cougar had a 289 / 302 standard. Cougars had upgraded interiors, power steering, front disc brakes, hidden headlights etc. I always thought the '67-68 Cougar was one of the best-looking cars Ford ever produced. The 289 /302 was standard and the 390 was optional. In 1969 the body got a little bigger and wider, but the styling was very similar. Engine choices expanded-the 351W, and the 428 were also available in the "Eliminators". Not much changed for 1970. In '71-the body was changed again, just as the cousin Mustang changed. Now the biggest engine was a 351C. They were good performers-but in the "Personal Luxury" coupe market-the "A" body based Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Pontiac Gran Prix could be had with a 454 or 455 V8 respectively. All a 351C Cougar was going to see of a 455 GP or a 454 Monte was the taillights. Ironically-although the '71 Mustang was longer, lower and wider than ever before, and the 429 was an option on the Mach 1-it wasn't available in the Cougar.  For some reason-Ford bean counters saw the Thunderbird as the competitor for the GM offerings. However-after 1971-the T-Bird was based on the much heavier and uglier LIncoln MKIV platform-which even with 460 cubes-would again only see the taillights of a 454 Monte or 455 GP. Pity- a 429 Cougar would have been cool and might have competed. Alas-not to be. The line soldiered on through the '73 model year-the Ford Torino and Mercury Montego were also comptetitors. In '74 the Mustang became more Pinto / Capri than Mustang-( Except for a barefoot Farrah Fawcett-Majors perched on the hood of one for a "Charlie"s Angels" promo-does anyone care about the '74-78 Mustang II?? ) Sadly-Ford put the Cougar name on a re-badged MKIVplatform-and performance Cougars were gone forever. Anyhow- they are a nice alternative to the cookie-cutter Mustangs. Especially if someone did one in Trans-Am style-radiused whellwells, Minilite wheels, a snarling "Mock Boss" 302 and and a T-5 five-speed.... Mastermind