1979 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Hardtop Coupe

The 1979 Mercury Cougar was available as a base and XR-7 trim levels. The base model was available as a hardtop coupe or a pillarless hardtop while the XR-7 was just a hardtop coupe. The base level accounted for 8,436 sales while the ZR-7 was vastly more popular, with 163,716 examples sold.

Mechanical changes for 1979 included a new electronic voltage regulator, a modified carburetor, and a plastic battery tray. Other changes included modified under-the-front-bumper spoiler.

The base engine was a 302 cubic-inch V8 backed by a SelectShift three-speed automatic transmission. They came standard with power steering and brakes, rear bumper guards, quad rectangular headlamps, wraparound amber parking lamps, stand-up hood ornament, full wheel lip moldings, and rocker panel moldings.

The XR-7 models were given additional luxury amenities, body-color tape stripes, horizontal-style warp-around taillamps, 15-inch wheels, dual-note horn, and special wheel covers with Cougar inserts. They also had a padded landau vinyl roof with louvered opera window, full wheel lip, and rocker panel moldings.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2016