1969 Mercury Cougar

1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Hardtop One hundred thousand Mercury Cougars were built in 1969.  Of the 24,000 with XR-7 hardtop option, a fortunate 504 of them were equipped with a 428ci Cobra Jet Ram Air engine.  And if the car was blessed with that engine, it also received a heavy duty battery, a massive 730cfm carburetor, a heavy duty radiator, and a larger front sway bar, among other special components.  They were also given a hood scoop like the special edition Cougar Eliminators, but what they didn't get was a special name.  As such, outside of the Cougar world, they're not widely known.  A napping cat, perhaps, until you turn the key. For consignment, a 1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7 showing 84 miles but the true mileage is unknown.  A numbers matching example, this car is one of one according to the Marti Report, and the only Cougar XR-7 428CJ with 3.25 gears and Traction-Lock.  This is one of only eight produced in this color. Exterior Finished in Yellow, the Cougar is enhanced by a double black stripe on the central rise of the hood which not only has a growling cougar on the front, but CJ 428 embossed into the stripe just before it disappears under the hood scoop.  This is all fronted of course by the hidden headlights that blend with the horizontal strakes of the grille over a black chin spoiler.  Out back, the strakes are vertical over a light bar that runs the span of the tail, underscored by a straight chrome bumper, a yellow valance, and a pair of tailpipes.  Oh, and let's not forget about the pedestal wing that adds more sportiness to this rare pony car.  In profile, a black pinstripe runs the shoulder line accentuating the gentle lift after the quarter window and black 14-inch Styled Steel wheels with blue center caps complete the package, along with sport style side mirrors.  Imperfections include some bubbling down low and some uneven filler. Interior Of the eight yellow XR-7 428's, seven of them had black bucket seats and this is one of them.  These seats are constructed of black leather and the driver's seat shows some typical patina creasing and compression but all are in excellent condition, including the back leather seat, wonderfully stitched and robust.  Black door panels mimic the pattern and include a courtesy light built in.  Faux burlwood overlays dominate the view forward starting with the 3 spoke steering wheel followed by the gauge surround with speedometer and tachometer taking center stage among the four circles.  Toggle switches, an AM radio with 8-track, and vent controls take up the center stack and burlwood surrounds a clock in front of your navigator's cove.  A Hurst shifter rises from the center console where we also find seat belt rests and a padded and hinged armrest, all based in black loop carpet in fine shape and topped by a perforated headliner also in good condition.  The trunk is clean and lined in a plaid vinyl period mat.  Drivetrain The heart of the cat is a cleanly presented, numbers matching 428ci Cobra Jet V8 rated at 335 horsepower and topped with a newer Holley 4-barrel carburetor, cooled by a newer aluminum radiator.  It's backed by a rebuilt Toploader 4-speed manual transmission which our consignor states is also numbers matching and it sends power to the Ford 9 inch in back with 3.25 gears and TracLoc, the key feature that differentiates this car from others similarly equipped.  Power brakes are supplied as front discs and rear drums.  Undercarriage A glossy undercoating highlights a clean underside with virtually no surface rust and clean components including the knuckles.  We note oil blow back from the engine covering the flooring, frame, oil pan, the flywheel cover, transmission drain plug, and one at the bottom of the rear diff.  Our consignor states the exhaust is new and is dual style that enters stainless steel mufflers before exiting via steel pipes.  Typical coil spring suspension up front with leaf springs out back.Â