351 V8: 1970 Mercury Cougar Mystery
By 1967, FOMOCO had two entries in the new “pony car” market, the Ford Mustang which started the craze, and the Mercury Cougar. The Cougar was a little larger and better equipped than your average Mustang, so it was positioned for a more discriminating audience. The 1970 model year would be the last for the first generation, yet if you parked a ’70 next to a ’69 you could tell them apart. The seller says this car just needs a “little love” and it does run and drive, though details are few beyond that. Located in Brookeville, Maryland, this potential project is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $15,000 OBO.
Both the Mustang and the Cougar changed directions after the 1973 model year. While the Ford would shrink and become a subcompact, the Cougar would further grow and become a personal luxury car. Mercury built more than 72,000 Cougars in 1970, about a third of the Mustang’s output, keeping it in the hunt with Pontiac’s Firebird for third place in sales. Unlike the Mustang, the Cougar only came with a V8 engine, 351 cubic inches with a 2-barrel carburetor (like the “Cleveland” in the seller’s car).
This Merc is a mystery. The body seems to be good and the paint is okay, though I don’t recognize the color from that era. We’re told the interior needs some TLC, but no photos are provided of it or the engine compartment. So all you have to go by are several angles of the vehicle parked in the driveway. The seller would likely get more inquiries if the description and collection of images were expanded.
Comments
Sorry! NO Sale. The only Cougar I ever wanted was the larger 77. Once had one as a rental. For its size ( smaller than my favored LAND YACHTS) it was a nice car. BUT this is too little car for TOO MUCH money.
My mother owned a 77. They have a design flaw. Hers was totalled by fire because there is a small rubber fuel line that goes to the carburetor that when it cracks shoots fuel onto the distributor. In a parking lot at the local mall when she went to start it up it just went up in flames under the hood. Car only had 60k miles on it at the time. If you ever get a 77 or similar year, do yourself a favor and replace that line immediately
My ex-father-in-law had a 78 that was bigger. I used to love driving that car. So comfortable! 👍
Base model. Paint that’s now so dull it needs to be wet to shine. Body looks good but these rust everywhere so get an in-person look.
Good catch on the water shine.
Shines when wet can go right up there with ran when parked!
Color looks to be “Competition Gold”.
The sentence: “Unlike the Mustang, the Cougar only came with a V8 engine, 351 cubic inches with a 2-barrel carburetor (like the “Cleveland” in the seller’s car).” is a confusing and inaccurate way to say that a six cylinder engine was not available.
I was confused too. I always thought the 351 Cleveland was a 4-barrel big block and the 351 Windsor was a small block with the 2-barrel.
Nope. 351W was available in 2 or 4 bbl. 351C likewise.
I had the same car as in color, motor, 2bbl, Cleveland, but an RX7 (I think that was what it was called) the luxury model. Vinyl roof.
The 351 Cleveland and the 351 Windsor are both small block engines. They both share the same motor mounts and the same bellhousing bolt pattern.
The Cougar has an XR-7 model. Mazda makes the RX7.
In 1967-1970 Cougars, only a series of V8’s were offered from the factory, not any 6 cylinders. In 69, the new 351 Windsor could have 2 or 4 barrels from the factory (Cleveland’s were not offered yet). In 70 the 351 W was only offered with 2 barrels, but the 351 C was offered with 2 or 4 from the factory.
In 1970, you had to be careful because the same engine code was used for both 351-2V engines, even though they are quite different. Both engines are small blocks
The same engine code (H) being used for both 351W-2V and 351C-2V carried over to the 1971-1973 Ford and Mercury car lines.
If the owner could provide a little less information.
i dont think he could provide any less. But…
may be you can sell ‘a blank page’ car. He
sure tries w/that flash of an interior & “ it’s a ‘good car’.”
I hate FB & Mrkt Place. “I’m sellin, give me the money I ask & disappear.”
Styling was already off the rails after 2nd year. Condition, color, lack of power and price all in the Nope column.
Straight to the paint booth, Horrible color!
It’s an Edsel!
It doesn’t look bad especially for a Maryland car. I am from Maryland and most of the classics around here are rusted pretty bad. This one seems solid. I don’t like the color either. On the 69-70 Cougars I’ve always been partial to either grabber blue or grabber orange, especially on the somewhat rare Eliminator models.
Always liked the Cougars.
I had a 69 back around 1989 in So Cal.
351C Green with green interior.
Wish I still had it.
The rear end of the 2009-2014 Challengers looked very similar to the 69-70 Cougars.
Mine had an FMX tranny and I believe a 9″ rear, limited slip. If I hit it hard, the car would head in the direction the front of the car was facing.