1972 Mercury Cougar Convertible

This 1972 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Convertible was offered for sale at the 2007 Sports and Classic Car Auction presented by The Worldwide Group, in Hilton Head Island, SC where it was estimated to sell for $18,000 - $28,000. It was offered without reserve. Under the hood is a 351 cubic-inch V8 engine capable of producing 240 horsepower. There is an automatic gearbox, factory AM/FM radio with Eight-Track, power steering, and power brakes.

When Mercury conceived the idea for the Cougar, it was to be a European-styled coupe. This car rested on a Mustang chassis that had been stretched and was Mercury's entry into the highly popular pony and muscle car segment. In 1967, Mercury's new vehicle netted over 150,000 sales and was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year. The 1967 and 1968 bodystyle remained similar; the 1969 and 1970 was slightly different sitting on a slightly larger wheelbase.

The Mercury Cougar's key to its popularity was its sticker price, which was very affordable considering the package. In 1969 a convertible was added to the lineup, adding the versatility and adding an additional option for the buyers. The XR7, GT, and Eliminator were additional bodystyles and optional packages that afforded buyers luxury and performance.

The Cougars of this era featured hidden headlamps and sequential turn signals.

The Cougar was used in the Trans-Am racing series where it was met with much success in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

In 1971 the Cougar grew again in size. This was the first major redesign and would continue until 1973. By now the company was moving the Cougar away from performance and towards luxury. For 1971, the only engine option available was the 351 cubic-inch V8 unit that was reliable and economical. It was a good choice for the company as the company moved closer to the oil embargo and shortage. Many marque's were doing the same, moving away from performance, as government regulations increased, safety concerns escalated, and an impending energy crisis was on the horizon.

This example has all of the important options including air conditioning, bucket seats, console, Eight-Track player, power steering, power top, and power brakes. The estimated low-end value was around $18,000 but it was offered without reserve, meaning that the high bid of $8,250 including buyer's premium was enough for the lot to be sold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2007