In the movie “Dazed and Confused,” the character Wooderson (played by Matthew McConaughey) remarked, “I get older, they stay the same age.” I somewhat feel the same way about certain cars of the 1960s because I scored my driver’s license when our Pick of the Day was 20 years old. Several days ago, it celebrated 60 years since its introduction, but eternally it will always be 20 years old to me. This 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Scottsdale, Arizona.
On September 30, 1966, Mercury introduced a new model called the Cougar. Flush with success after the introduction of the Mustang in April 1964, Ford Motor Company quickly developed a distinctive version of the pony car that was a step up in style and appointments. “Mercury unleashes Cougar … untamed elegance!” read the ad. “With a European flair to its styling. With standard features found until now only in expensive cars,” such as concealed headlamps, sequential rear turn signals, 289 V-8, bucket seats, walnut-grained steering wheel, stick shift, full-width rear seat, and the newest safety features, including dual-circuit braking system.
Don’t get the impression that the Cougar was a luxury version of the Mustang because it wasn’t — all one has to do is glance at the standard Cougar interior to understand this. But come January 1967, Mercury introduced the Cougar XR-7. Not only did this model feature more European traits, but also luxury not found in other pony cars: leather trim, toggle switches, overhead console, map pockets and door assist strap, and simulated walnut instrument panel. Power was distinctly American, with the same standard 200-horsepower 289 two-barrel backed by a three-speed manual on the floor; optional was a four-barrel rated at 225 horses, or a 320-horse 390.
A package called the GT Performance Group, available for both the standard Cougar and XR-7, included the 390 plus a performance handling package, wide-oval white-sidewall tires, low-restriction dual exhausts, power front disc brakes, power booster fan, low-restriction air filter, and special six-inch-wide wheels. Per Kevin Marti’s book “Cougar … by the Numbers,” 5,791 standard Cougars and 2,653 Cougar XR-7s were equipped with this GT package.
The Mercury Cougar was a rousing success, winning Motor Trend’s 1967 Car of the Year award and achieving 123,684 standard Cougar and 27,209 XR-7 sales. This Polar White 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 gives us an idea of how the XR-7 distinguished itself from the standard Cougar, including the hashes on the rockers, and the Black leather and vinyl bucket seat interior. Features include AM/FM radio, Black vinyl top, air conditioning, and 289 four-barrel paired with an automatic, making this car one of 13,040 built with that combination — by far the most common for an XR-7.
This Cougar was originally sold in Ford’s District Sales Office (DSO) covering the Atlanta region (one of 974), but it’s ready to go to whichever DSO area in which you reside. Best of all, for $22,000, this Cougar will never feel old.
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