Well, as a former police car, it came with a whole lot of miles on it. I saw it sitting on the side of the road for $600, but managed to talk it's price down to $350. It's first run in my possession was a bit rough, the age and miles were having a bit of an affect. It's standard 2 barrel motorcraft carburetor was leaking, the #4 cylinder was completely dead,the AC compressor was dead and the body had some extensive rust on it, but for some reason I found a charm I've never seen before. For some reason, this car was calling to me. After dealing with the expected repairs, such as shocks, spark plugs and belts, I started to simplify all the vacuum hoses and wires, completely removed the AC system (it has a moon roof, so who needs it) and drove it daily. The steering had the common defect of disintegration of some bushing which made it loose and hard to handle, but I felt at peace in that car. For some reason, the cougar and it's sister car the thunderbird have that effect. The H-frame, the thick doors, and the decently spaced bumpers make you feel invincible, the suspension makes you forget you're stuck on earth and the body's suddle streamline radiates dominance which has made those lines of cars beyond popular. They are taken for granted though. We see them now as old beaters or failed classics, and forget the reliability and safety they once provided. But not me. The engine lasted just short of 500,000 miles until it died for good, but I couldn't let go. After a new engine, various parts from junkyards and a currently assumed interior overhaul, I can safely say I prefer this car even over a ferrari, and thank Ford/Mercury for their taste and minds.
This car is sluggish off the line, but has the power to spare when needed.
The body needs constant upkeep, but the frames stay solid until the bitter end.
Cornering is a bit tricky, and the front weight make it a difficult car to drive in snow.
The engines 400 and 351M are quite reliable and need little maintenance.
You can retro-fit a C6 transmission in any of these cars. If it doesn't have one, pick one up from a local junkyard. They outlive the C5 and C4 multifold, and unlock your car's true performance capabilities. Trust me on this.
Cougar XR7's are some of the best machines around. I love my 69 cougar. I will always keep it and love it.
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