Mercury Cougar

Introduced for 1967, the Mercury Cougar was Ford's upscale pony car, sharing its platform with the Mustang but offering a longer wheelbase and more luxurious features. It was an instant success, earning Motor Trend's Car of the Year award in its first year. The first generation (1967-1970) defined the model with its signature hidden headlights and sequential taillights, positioning the Cougar as a sophisticated alternative to its more mainstream sibling.

Collectors prize the early Cougars, especially high-performance models. Variants like the GT, the Dan Gurney and Carroll Shelby-influenced XR-7G, and the potent Eliminator with its optional 428 Cobra Jet V8 are highly sought after. These cars offer a unique combination of muscle car power and personal luxury that sets them apart from the more common pony cars of the era.

The market for Cougars is diverse. The most valuable examples are well-documented, first-generation performance models and convertibles, which can command six-figure prices. Later generations, which evolved into larger personal luxury coupes, are significantly more accessible and represent an affordable entry point into classic car ownership. The average price reflects the strong bidding for clean 1967-1973 cars.

Prices for the Mercury Cougar range from $510 for later-year projects to $157,000 for top-spec collector examples.