Real Deal Super Cobra Jet? 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
The Eliminator was a low-production performance and appearance option on the 1969 and 1970 Mercury Cougar. While it could be equipped with the new Bos 302 V8 (approved for SCCA Trans-Am racing), you could dial it up to the Super Cobra Jet 428 that produced 335 hp (conservatively). This seller’s car appears to be one of just 2,268 built in 1970 and is either a sharp survivor or a well-done restoration (the seller doesn’t say either way).
Launched in 1967, the Cougar was Mercury’s counterpart to the Ford Mustang. As was customary of Mercury, the Cougar was better equipped than comparable Fords. Buyer response was positive and in its first year, the Cougar comprised 40% of all Mercury production. Soon, dealers would add signage to their buildings that said “Sign of the Cat” to promote the bold nature of the Cougar. When it was rolled out, the Eliminator replaced the Cougar GT and was only available as a hardtop (sorry, no drop-tops). When you specified an Eliminator on the order sheet, you checked boxes for the Eliminator Equipment Package, Eliminator Décor Group, and the Performance Tire & Handling Group, making the machine a heckuva muscle car.
You don’t see an Eliminator very often today because only a little more than 4,500 were assembled in 1969 and 1970. This one is finished in Competition Yellow paint with a black vinyl interior. The indicated mileage is 31,000, so is that original or 131,000 after a restoration? The seller does not say, nor are any photos provided of a key area of this automobile, the engine compartment. Does the SCJ engine look as nice as the rest of the vehicle? And is it even original as the VIN decodes as a 351 V8?
What we are told is that the car has an automatic transmission, Traction-Lok rear end, and the Drag-Pak option, so not much was left off the list when this Mercury rolled off the assembly line. As was the norm for Cougars of the day, the headlights are of the hideaway variety, and we assume everything works as it should (except the clock which is frozen in time). The ad sounds like it was placed by a dealer and there is a Buy It Now price, but you have to ask for it and other photos. Located in Irving, Texas, the current bid for this beauty here on eBay is $35,100.
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Comments
Some red flags on this one. I highly suspect it is a scam listing.
The car in the pictures is 0F91Q515837, which was sold on Bring-A-Trailer in Jan 2020 for $99.5k. 0F91Q515837 IS a legitimate SCJ Eliminator.
However, the eBay listing shows a VIN of 0F91Q515835 (note the change in the last digit). It could be a mistake, but the auction also includes no documentation such as a Marti Report. It also appears to be a no-reserve listing. I’ve requested more pictures and documentation from the eBay seller but have not received any reply at all.
Very suspicious.
Mike B.
Eliminator Owner and Enthusiast.
I’d suspect he’s fishing for deposits from anyone/everyone that will send one to end the auction early.
Steve R
I am confident that the listing is a scam. I’ve reported numerous eBay listings the past year. First red flag is a no reserve auctions with a seller that has had zero feedback within the past year. Second, listing using pictures from prior BAT auctions. Third, if you message the “seller”, they will not respond. Those are the four common denominators with all the eBay listings I’ve reported – all of which were eventually removed by eBay.
I am embarrassed to admit I fell victim to a scam like this about five years ago. But according to the local FBI agent, so did thousands of other people, with over a hundred million dollars stolen from them and the FBI was not able to recover a penny. The scammers are very slick and run a sophisticated operation. I could go into more detail if anyone wants to know. Luckily I bought the car off Ebay and their insurance paid me back every penny accept for my attorneys fees. They didn’t want to pay out, and I had to jump through many hoops. The most important thing is to NOT buy the car outside of Ebay and always try to do your communications with the seller through the Ebay messaging system. BTW, the car I thought I bought had the last number of the VIN photo shopped also. The guy I spoke with had a caller ID that showed Seattle, where the car was supposedly located, but I’m sure I was speaking with someone overseas. He even provided an Oregon title in his name for the car. The deal that seemed too good to be true turned out to be just that! Kevin.
Also, you need to upgrade your VIN decoder. In 1970 the “Q” engine code is for a 428CJ, not a 351-4V.
Here’s a link to the BaT listing from 2020, which will answer the majority of your questions about the originality of the car… not that it will matter if it’s a scam listing ;-)
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1970-mercury-cougar-17/
This thing has got some sloppily-fitting body pieces and like the author said, what’s claimed as one engine is different than what the VIN says. And why no engine photos? Whomever is seriously interested should check this car over, stem to stern before buying.
The author of the feature on this site is mistaken, the eBay ad says the engine code in the VIN is Q code 428, paired with 3.91 gears it would default to SCJ. I agree with an earlier post that there is something very fishy about the ad, but that part of the sellers ad isn’t it.
Steve R
Remember I mentioned on the Marauder post,with a few exceptions, it was one of the most badaxx Mercs, well, this is one of the exceptions. This car cost just over $4grand. The 428 CJ added $420 bucks alone. Not a huge success like its brother, the Mustang, I think Ford missed who might want a Mercury in the 1st place. For $500 more, most picked the Mustang.
I always said the Cougar was a higher-class Mustang. I had one and they drive and handle well. Mine was a 70′ XR7, 351 Cleveland. I almost bought one (1978) like the one here, even the same or close to color. The guy just let it rust to the ground in his back yard. Not sure of the power plant. Miami, Florida.
This Cougar is greater than the sum of its parts. Right engine and performance packages. Eye searing yellow paint and the spoiler actually belongs on the car! I could sit and admire this car for hours after a drive.
Good catch by some readers. Ebay scams are aplenty. Today, I refuse to buy off that site. Got lucky in 2005, when I bought a 77 Grand Prix SJ from it. Flew one way to NC and drove home trouble free to PA.
Looks like a Cobra Jet with the Q (CJ). The Super Cobra Jet would be an R (SJC) like it is on a Mustang.
No, that’s not how it works.
“R” and “Q” indicate Ram-Air or not. You could have an SCJ with or without ram-air.
However, this being a 1970 Cougar, “R” was not used. So you could have “Q” code 1970 Cougar with or without Ram-Air, and it could likewise be a CJ or an SCJ.
I have a Hot Rod magazine from early 1968 with a yellow Cougar Eliminator on the cover. I broke my left arm in a sledding accident and my mom and dad picked up that copy of Hot Rod for me to read while in the hospital.
The article inside mentioned that a two-speed rear axle option was available that to this day, I’ve never seen mentioned in any Cougar for sale ads or on any car-related TV shows where a Cougar was featured. I’m curious if anyone here has ever seen or heard about a two-speed rear axle in a Cougar?
The Eliminator show car that was on the cover of Hot Rod magazine is the only Cougar ever built with the two speed rear axle. It was an idea that never became an actual option.
Thanks for the info, Cathouse!
I only of heard of 2 speed axles on trucks. I think someone meant posi rear or limited slip. Two tire traction.
@Terry Bowman – it was a 2-speed rear axle, similar to what they used on trucks. It was marketed as part of Mercury’s “Streep scene”, for street and strip. It was put into development and there were several articles on it at the time, but it never made it into production on the Cougars.
Sad things like that sometimes kills your faith in mankind. How do you avoid becoming a victim of auto scams like these?
Good we’ve got some pretty sharp eye’d committers that can spot fraud like this and help us out.
No longer listed.