1971 Mercury Cougar Convertible
The Mercury Cougar was announced in September 1966 and slipped easily into the space between Ford’s Mustang and Thunderbird. While still regarded as a ‘Pony Car’, the Cougar sat on a wheelbase 100mm longer than the Mustang’s and took styling cues such as its roof-line and concealed headlights from full-sized models like the T-bird.
This 1971 Mercury Cougar Convertible is finished in red over white vinyl upholstery and is powered by a rebuilt 351ci V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission.
The cabin features front bucket seats and a rear bench trimmed in white vinyl with a matching dashboard, center console, door panels, and carpets. Equipment includes a Boss AM/FM stereo with auxiliary and USB connectivity, a locking glovebox, and a cabin heater and defroster. The two-spoke steering wheel wears and frames a 120-mph speedometer and auxiliary gauges.
For many years, Cougar values lagged behind the money being made by Mustangs of similar age. However in recent times the prices being achieved have increased. To be fair, a lot of the cars on offer are up-spec XR7 versions with lots of extras while the Mustangs being sold for similar money are the basic model.
