1969 Mercury Cougar

The Mercury Cougar was Ford's answer to a gap they had identified between the Mustang and the Thunderbird, a car with more refinement than the Mustang but more performance than the luxury cruiser above it. The formula worked immediately, and the Cougar went on to become one of the best-selling Mercury models of all time. The 1969 model was the most significant restyle of the first generation, coming back 3.5 inches longer and 2.9 inches wider with a new horizontal grille, revised taillights that swept the full width of the rear, and the addition of a convertible body style that Mercury had never offered on the Cougar before. This one is a hardtop, finished in Burnt Orange with a white roof, a combination that is bold and period-correct, and it has been fully restored in 2021 with the motor rebuilt to match. Under the hood is the 351 cubic inch V8 backed by a three speed automatic. The 351 was the base engine for the 1969 Cougar and produced 250 horsepower in two-barrel form, enough to move this car with the easy, confident authority that the Cougar was built to deliver. The rebuilt motor means this drivetrain is sorted and ready to be enjoyed. Inside, the white leather interior is clean and sharp against the burnt orange exterior. Wood dash accents and wood door accents give the cabin an upscale, finished character that suits the Cougar's personality perfectly. A wood steering wheel and plaid trunk liner carry the attention to detail all the way through the car, and the five-spoke Cougar wheels on the outside finish a car that has been put together thoughtfully from every angle. One of the most distinctive features of the first-generation Cougar was its sequential rear turn signals, which swept across the taillights from the center outward. Ford had introduced the technology on the Thunderbird and brought it over to the Cougar, and in 1969 the revised taillights spanning the full rear of the car made the effect even more dramatic. It is the kind of detail that people notice from behind and do not forget. A fully restored 1969 Cougar in Burnt Orange with white leather is exactly the kind of first-generation example that the market has been paying close attention to as these cars quietly gain recognition they have always deserved. Please call or email us today for more information.