Uncommonly Odd: 2000 Mercury Cougar Roush Edition

Roush Performance was launched in 1995 as a way for NASCAR legend Jack "Panama Hat" Roush to provide power to the people.  Roush Performance got a reputation for making fast 'n' loud Mustangs, but they also dabbled in other Fords like the Focus and F-150...but for two years in the early millennium, they built about 100 examples of something called the Mercury Cougar Roush Edition.  It appears to have been strictly a cosmetic appearance upgrade package, but if you are going to drive a Cougar, this is the one to get. Find this 2000 Mercury Cougar Roush Edition here on eBay bidding for $1000 reserve-not-met located in La Vergne, TN with 1 day to go.

Mustang Cousin: 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7

The first generation Mercury Cougar was a bit more than just an up-market Mustang coupe.  It offered a few unique accouterments that were not available on the Mustang (such as pop-up hidden headlights) AND it was only available with V8 power (no wimpy inline-6s for the Cougar). As an additional hidden bonus, today's Cougar is both the hot-rod XR-7 version AND equipped with a 4-speed toploader gearbox.  Find this 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 offered for $14,000 in Carrollton, TX via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Midnight Chamois Edition: 1978 Mercury Cougar XR7

I hate the idea of buying a 70s land barge American car and then putting a bunch of time/money into restoring it...because they drive terribly can look odd...but getting a 70s land barge that looks awesome AND is in fantastic shape has serious appeal.  Let's just hope the reserve on this "Midnight Chamois" (whatever that means) edition isn't set to crazy high levels. Find this 1978 Mercury Cougar XR7 here on eBay bidding for $9,100 reserve-not-met with 3 days to go, located in Dallas, TX.

Hertz Rent-A-Racer: 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G

The legend of the Shelby Mustang GT350-H Hertz race ready rental cars is an old campfire story among car guys, but a little known fact is that there were a few hundred Mercury Cougar XR7-G (G for Gurney...as in Dan Gurney) rental ready racers built alongside the Shelby Mustangs. This next example is a complete basket case with rust everywhere and a seized engine...but it looks like Dynacorn is getting into the Cougar resto-sheet metal business and for a few tens of thousands of bucks this could be a keeper.  Find this 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G here on eBay bidding for $4,750 reserve-not-met located in Lake Elsinore, CA with 2 days to go.

DT5.0 Coug'd it: 1967 Mercury Cougar XR7

Wrapping up our celebration of the first 5 cars posted to Daily Turismo, coming in at number 5 is the Mercury Cougar XR7  (Now read that again in your best Casey Kasem voice).  Find this 1967 Mercury Cougar XR7 for sale in New Haven, CT for $18,000 via craigslist.  This post is part of DT's 5th Birthday Celebration.

Thirtieth Anniversary:1997 Mercury Cougar XR7

The 30th anniversary gift for a wife is supposed to be diamonds or pearls, but I think that is a total load of DeBeers funded hooey -- and anybody who really loves (and is still married to) his cougar after three decades would get her a Mercury. Find this 1997 Mercury Cougar XR7 offered for $1,750 Ft Myers, FL craigslist. Tip from Dascpcu.

Lock up your sons: 1968 Mercury Cougar Dan Gurney Special

You all know about Dan Gurney and his magical year of 1967.  If not, here's the short form replay:  Dan won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a GT40 with A.J. Foyt (and started the tradition of spraying Campaign in the winners circle) and a week later won the Belgian Grand Prix in an F1 car of his own design (the Eagle).   But that's not all.  Also in 1967 he was racing Mercury Cougars in SCCA TransAm, and as part of his driving contract, signed away the use of his name and likeness to Mercury for promotion.  Little did he know... Find this 1968 Mercury Cougar Dan Gurney Special for sale in Burien, WA for $3,000 via craigslist.

Auction Watch: 1995 Mercury Cougar XR7

Check out this 1995 Mercury Cougar XR7 with only 58k miles on the clock, here on eBay bidding for $2,325 reserve-not-met with auction ending on Saturday.

Auction Watch: 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7

Check out this 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7 here on eBay bidding for $8,100 reserve-not-met located in Mountain Home, AR with bidding ending on Saturday.

4-Speed 289: 1967 Mercury Cougar

The Mercury Cougar offered buyers a premium Mustang experience when new, but years later the Cougars offer the same Mustang chassis in a package that isn't quite as ubiqutous for less money.  What you do get is the same access to a huge collection of aftermarket repro parts, immense knowledge base (you won't be the first person to have the problem) and standard V8 plus available 4-speed.  Find this 1967 Mercury Cougar offered for $7,000 in San Francisco, CA via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

Barn Found: 1967 Mercury Cougar 4-spd

What is it about V8 4-speed domestic iron that brings out the inner Edd China/Mike Brewer in the most mild mannered of folks?  Offer the same person a fantastic deal on something like a vintage Saab and they will "have to ask their wife" but stick an old Mercury Cougar in front of them and they start decoding the VIN and looking at option plates.  Find this 1967 Mercury Cougar 4-spd offered for $6,500 in Blaine, WA via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

Extraterrestrial Big Cat: 1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Convertible

I am a big fan of the Mercury Cougar, not just because of all the instantly accessible cougar jokes, but also because they offer a great pony car experience with a twist of lime.  For the first generation (1967-1970) they were typically well equipped with V8s, power brakes, power steering, 4bbl carbs, all the good stuff that you might find in a Mustang if you look long enough.  Find this 1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Convertible bidding here on eBay for $15,600 with a few hours to go, located in Old Bridge, NJ.

Amalaising Grace: 1977 Mercury Cougar Villager Brougham Wagon

This next car's name reads like a smörgåsbord of terrible automotive cliches, starting with the defunct Ford spin-off known as Mercury and concluding with Brougham, the horse drawn carriage named after a Scottish Lord...but first we've some explaining to do.  Find this 1977 Mercury Cougar Villager Brougham Wagon here on eBay bidding for $7,500 reserve-not-met with 4 days to go, located in Lakeland, FL. Tip from Rene.

5k: Supercharged: 1989 Mercury Cougar XR-7

The OG Mercury Cougar was launched in 1967 as an upscale version of the Ford Mustang, offered for consumption at the now derelict Mercury dealers across this great nation.  By 1989 it was a fairly large car based on the Thunderbird, but a much better car than that abominable 1999-2002 Cougar.  Find this 1989 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Supercharged offered for $2,700 in Jonesboro, GA via craigslist.

15k: Restomod Classic: 1970 Mercury Cougar

The first generation Mercury Cougar was a pony car that slotted between the Mustang and the Thunderbird in Ford's lineup.  The Cougar was built on the Mustang platform, but it could be optioned with a fairly potent lineup of V8 engines.  Today's example might not have started off as a 428 cobrajet  powered monster, but it has been restored and modified into a beast.  Find this 1970 Mercury Cougar Restomod offered for $15,000 in Charlotte, NC via craigslist.

5k: Shady Acres Pimp: 1989 Mercury Cougar LS

Imagine for a minute that you are the king of the Shady Acres Retirement Village.  When curtain drops at 4:45pm for the Thursday Night movie, you've got your pick of the able bodied hotties and you need a ride that will make those Depends drop.  What you need is a hearing aid beige coupe with some 14-inch steel wheels covered by wire caps and shod in thin white stripe tires, with a luggage rack, landau top, and 6-inch wide chrome door strip, -- the ultimate cougar bait.  Find this 1989 Mercury Cougar LS currently bidding for $3,050 reserve-not-met on ebay in Warwick, NY with 4 days to go.