1968 Mercury Cougar

The Mercury Cougar was introduced in 1967 giving the company a contender in the pony car field, a segment created by sibling model Mustang. Mid-year, the Cougar gained an upscale XR-7 model that was essentially a trim package offering the same drivetrain options as the basic model. Positioned between the Ford Mustang and the Ford Thunderbird, the Cougar came with a wide range of engine options that ranged from the 289 CID two-barrel V8 with 200 horsepower to a 390 four-barrel V8 with 335 horsepower.

The 1967 Cougar went on sale on September 30, 1966, and was based on the 1967 refreshed first-generation Mustang but with a 3-inch longer wheelbase and new sheet metal. In the front was a full-width divided grille with hidden headlamps and vertical bars. A similar treatment hid the taillights with vertically slatted grillework.

Motor Trend magazine named the Mercury Cougar it's 'Car of the Year' award winner in 1967, and for the following year, designers wanted to create something even more special. Already a step above the Mustang in regards to comfort and styling, engineers decided to install the potent 427 CID FE V8 into the engine bay, resulting in the Cougar GT-E. Ford used the 427 side-oiler engine to homologate its NASCAR racing program, and the GT-E represented the end of an era, as it was the final Ford product sold with the 427, and the only Ford product sold with it in 1968. The GT-E package was priced at $1,300 and was among the most radical performance packages ever offered in a pony car. Additional features included C-6 Merc-O-Matic transmission, power steering, power disc brakes, FR70x14 wide oval radial tires, AM radio, décor interior group, and styled steel wheels. There were blacked out front headlamp cover and special front trim, blacked-out taillight bezels, special extruded aluminum body side moldings, 3.50 standard axle radio with nodular 9-inch rear end, a super competition handling package, an engine dress-up package, a 7.0 Litre/GT-E body emblems and two-tone paint scheme.

A total of 394 examples of the GT-E Cougars were built including 115 standard models and 279 XR-7s, with 357 of them equipped with the 427 'side-oiler.'

The base 1968 engine was the 302 CID (4.9-liter) two-barrel V8 offering 210 horsepower along with a further three new engines on the options list including the 302 CID four-barrel V8 with 230 horsepower, the 428 CID with 335 horsepower and the 390 horsepower 427 CID.

Standard equipment on the 1968 Mercury Cougar included padded sun visors, two-speed windshield wipers and washers, back-up lights, seat belts, a dual hydraulic brake system with warning light, an outside rearview mirror, and four-way emergency flashers. The XR-7 package added rocker panel moldings, deck lid medallions, XR-7 plaques, and special wheel covers. The interior featured an overhead console with map and warning lights, leather-trimmed vinyl seats, a walnut tone instrument panel, deep-loop carpeting, trip odometer, and a tachometer.

For 1968, Mercury sold 81,014 examples of the Cougar plus 32,712 of the XR-7 Cougar.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2020