50K Original Miles: 1990 Mercury Cougar LS
The Mercury Cougar is one of the more recognized nameplates in automotive history, and for many of us, it checks a few different boxes: it could be a powerful grand touring coupe, or it could be a factory modified sports coupe. Outside of that, it was also a nameplate that survived numerous changes in consumer tastes and needs. The Cougar in its seventh generation could be had with both V6 and V8 power, as well as automatic and manual gearboxes. This 1990 model is a low-mileage example and equipped with the Essex V6.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the find. This Cougar is one of the least desirable specs, sadly, but that doesn’t mean it’s not well-equipped. In fact, both the Cougar and its corporate twin, the Ford Thunderbird, were intended to go head to head with European models like the Mercedes-Benz 560SEC. This blows my mind, because as much as I like this Cougar, it was never going to compete with Mercedes’ top-shelf coupe. That comparison aside, the Cougar offered loads of standard equipment and respectable horsepower.
My grandfather owned a Cougar and I still remember his car every time I see one of these show up for sale. I believe his was gold, which was practically a standard color scheme for drivers over a certain age, and plenty of retirees owned Cougars like this. However, that’s hardly the full story as it relates to the Cougar and Thunderbird options list, as you could configure the MN12 cars a variety of ways, like the XR7 with a variety of sporty upgrades, the most significant of which was the supercharged V6.
The 3,8L V6 was the standard engine, offering 140 horsepower out of the box. Later on, the XR7 would drop the supercharged V6 and gain a Windsor V8 with 200 horsepower. As much as I love the XR7 and the Thunderbird Super Coupe, my favorite iteration of the Cougar era has to be the final redesign when the grill and headlights were updated; the 40th anniversary models still look fresh today. This low-mileage Cougar can be found here on craigslist with an asking price of $3,295.
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Comments
This Cougar looks to be in pretty good shape, based on the (as usual, meager) craigslist ad. I always thought they looked good, including the execution of the Cougar-signature vertical roofline. By about this time the mid-size two-door coupe market segment was in decline, but it seems these (and their Thunderbird brethren) sold decently.
The asking price is low, you could drive something rarely seen today for not much money.
Essex 3.8L in there Bob. Made in Canada 🍁 i believe.
Unremarkable then, unremarkable now.
Had a 86′ liked it very much but traded in a a first year 91′ Explorer with a rare front bench seat,a true 6 passenger,i think it was like a 50 dollar option.
Its has New York plates so No. But if you are in the area a it appears to have the digital dash so its possible the mileage is actual and not a roll over and the price its stupid high it about what its worth. I have just hear to many stories of people buying cars out of New York and New Jersey that looked like a decent car and turned out to be not at all what the seller claimed.
My family had a 90, in blue over blue with the same motor. Nice car then and wouldn’t be bad to have now, except for the incredibly annoying automatic shoulder belts. This car probably has more interior wear than the seller wants to admit, given the beautiful (not) photography.
I like the Thunderbird/Cougar twins of this model run. I had a T-Bird a 90 and loved it. But man did it rust in NE Ohio here. Decent power too.
Had a ’90 like this in maroon. Loved that car. Traded it for Explorer once I married and started a family. Would love to have it back again.