This 1987 Mercury Cougar 20th Anniversary Edition here on eBay has only 2,700 original miles and it’s already got a bid at $7,000. After seeing one of these in excellent condition at a you-pull-it this weekend, I’ve become a bit enamored with the concept of the 5.0 V8 in front while being coddled by a Mercury-like ride on the inside. Does this gentleman’s Mustang scream hairdresser’s car or is it an emerging classic?
The interior is actually a pleasant blend of comfort and style, and seems well-organized by 1980's standards. The digital dashboard is equal parts futuristic and gimmicky but it works in a car like this. As you might expect, the low mileage translates to excellent seating surfaces and carpets, along with wood trim that appears unblemished from age.
The venerable 5.0 is almost synonymous with 1980's vestiges of power and status, thanks to Vanilla Ice. In this application, it feels a bit subdued, almost secondary to the Cougar’s stylish appearances. This is one of the last times I can remember Mercury having a car that truly stood out as unique and not just a quick re-hash of an existing model. Although the Lincoln Mark VII was a similar take on the same concept, the Cougar’s styling set it apart (to my eyes, anyway).
This is the view that puts this Cougar into a category all its own: the wraparound tail lights with the Cougar emblem in the reverse lenses and that rear quarter window that dramatically cuts inward as it slopes down to the door. Combined with factory wheels whose offset seems to favor an aggressive stance and this becomes one of my favorite versions of Mercury’s big coupe. How would you take your 5.0 V8 sled – the Lincoln, Mustang or Cougar?
Source: barnfinds.com
