1972 Mercury Cougar

Description

Both the Mustang and the Cougar grew in 1971, but the Cougar seems to wear the extra size better than its cousin. This 1972 Mercury Cougar convertible has a sporty look that works with a luxurious interior to create a unique kind of muscle car, one that even adults will enjoy driving.

OK, we'll admit that bright red paint and a big hood scoop don't exactly add up to a subtle presentation, but the chiseled good looks of the Cougar reflect both the pony car and Lincoln DNA in its family. The narrow front grille with "power dome" hood are certainly reminiscent of Lincolns of the same period, while the kicked-up quarter panels behind the doors are pure Mustang, making for a very attractive package. It was repainted recently and has a great shine and good sheetmetal underneath, a perfect Sunday afternoon cruiser that doesn't need any special attention. The aftermarket hood scoop gives it an aggressive look that works well with the twin tailpipes and Magnum 500 wheels, and nobody will mistake it for anything else from behind, as the downturned taillights and massive chrome bumper are unique to this model. For a convertible, panel alignment is quite good and the chrome shines up nicely.

If you've driven an early '70s Mustang, you'll feel right at home here. The bucket seats are a little wider and a little softer, but the array of round gauges are pure pony car. It's possible that the interior is original, although the carpets have to be replacements because they're just too nice to be 43 years old. The gauges show a bit of cloudiness in the lenses but the markings are still bright and crisp and an aftermarket temperature gauge has been added under the dash. For entertainment, the original radio was dumped in favor of a modern AM/FM stereo with digital tuning and speakers in the door panels and sound quality is decent for a vintage ragtop. And speaking of the top, it's new and uses correct pinpoint vinyl and a glass rear window and stashes itself with the touch of a button. A matching black boot keeps everything tidy and the trunk still carries what appears to be the original mat and a full-sized spare tire.

Ford's 351 cubic inch Windsor V8 was torquey and very user-friendly in the Cougar, offering good performance without being fussy. Bright Ford Blue paint suggests that someone has spent some time detailing the under-hood area, or maybe it's just extremely well-preserved, it's hard to say for sure. Power steering and power front disc brakes were standard equipment on the heavier, more luxury-oriented Cougar, but the recent Flowmaster dual exhaust system has a wonderful low burble that totally sounds like a muscle car. An FMX 3-speed automatic transmission is unobtrusive in operation and it carries a heavy-duty 9-inch rear end with towering 2.75 gears, making this a fantastic highway cruiser. Gorgeous Magnum 500 wheels can make even a school bus look sporty, so they're perfect for the Cougar and carry fat 235/60/15 Firestone radials at all four corners.

A nice combination of restored and original pieces, this Cougar suggests that you don't have to give up fun when you grow up. Call today!