My first car was a 69 XR7 with the base 351 2bbl. It had dual exhaust and the crappy FMX trans. It was red with the black vinyl top and black interior. Cragar SS wheels made it look incredible as well :)
I worked for Lincoln Mercury for twenty two years not during these times but in the Eighties going forward, knowing the demographics of LM it was probably do too engine size, convertible, and a very strong MSRP. The dealer just needed the right person and a good salesperson and maybe a sales incentive (bonus ) from the Dealer to move this Cat ! I know I would have bought it, but I was only eleven then. Thanks for sharing.
It's crazy and wild, but it's got cat class and it's got cat style - I've heard this before - Brian Setzer said, Hahaha btw I've seen the Stray Cats in 1980 in a small club in London and it was great !
For some reason, this is a car I would love to drive through quiet city streets very late at night and then accelerate away into the distance!!! Beautiful machine without a doubt!!! Great vid as always!!!!
I used to do that in the city with my '69 Mustang convertible. Would echo just right at night off the brick buildings and the Turbo mufflers and manual 4 speed. I remember making a pack of girls scream one night, it was pretty funny and awesome ; )
Never have seen the fascination with convertibles and why they bring a higher price. They are pron to rust, not safe in a rollover, easy to break into and higher maintenance. Give me a hardtop any day.
Crazy SRT8 That was back in the day when you could cruise State Street, I done the same in a 71 Cuda 440/4 speed shaker hood car, and as for the SL UT, they were legendary, lol
I'm a Mopar man myself but I always really liked the muscle car offerings from Mercury. The Cougar was a much nicer car than the Mustang and also much more uncommon. Mustangs seem to be a dime a dozen. Give me this car any day over a 69 Mach 1 428 CJ/SCJ. My aunt had a 69 XR7 but hers had the 351/auto. Really nice car
My buddy in high school kept 20 bucks in the center of the steering wheel He kept it for emergencies . He just twisted the center vinyl thing and wa la
The hood IS closed. I had a 1970 XR7 CJ428 R-code convertible with the same exact hood-to-fender alignment problem. You'd think Mercury would fix it , but, no, the problem can be found on both years.
Oh man, what a beautiful automobile! Wild and sexy stile desing in which, despite not being a black car enthusiast, all in this car looks great the way it is.
Superb design, among the best of the era, so good they, Ford, should build it again, I'd certainly buy it. A shame too few have the taste for such cars today, I'd call that the degradation of the society.
There's something about black cars with red pinstripes, redline tires, and a red interior that has always made me go WOW! And this one's a convertible! Hoo boy!
Kevin, I watch your vids because your choice of cars is impeccable. Even more compelling is how you write about them. Your prose captures the sense of magic cars like that 428 Cougar possess. In its way this car is as exotic as anything from Europe - it's the stuff of teenage dreams. But before we can start taking our favorite musclecars too seriously and put them on a pedestal, you bring us down to earth by reminding us they are meant to be fun, fun, fun till her daddy takes the T-Bird awayyyy.
I know it'd bog down or sit n spin in a 1320 drag race, but with that 428 and 3.00:1 tall tail gear I'm wondering what the result might be in a standing start 1 mile trial.
everybody says these words....i had 1 years ago.....but i did.....a 67 351c 2v....metalic blue....black interior...auto on the floor....."yep"...." i wish id kept it"....but i did and i do.....sigh????
A truly lovely car, I had the pleasure of riding in a friend's car in Australia, don't recall the engine but it was one speedy a classy ride, I certainly would have considered one back in the day.
These were cool cars from back in the day when the choices were many. You were more likely to see a 302 powered Cougar than a 428. Still it was a awesome time to be young and buying a car. Plus they looked better back in 69.
Here's more comment: Ten point "six" to one compression. 3.00 is the default rear gear ratio when ordered with A/C. Mercurys are "CJ428" and Fords are "428CJ".
A real shame Ford put a 3.00:1 non-locking rear end in a performance car. They did that in a lot of 428's. It should be at least 3.25 or 3.50:1 limited slip.
I had a 3.00:1 in my '69 Mustang, 302/4spd. The thing was a DOG until like 70, and then it would almost burn rubber after that! From 70 to 110, seemed to take only one second. Such a fun-fun car!
I can't have a convertible I live in the far southeast side of Chicago I'll need a hardtop go back a year '68 n a 390 with a good c-6 transmission. Ma big gulp from 7_11 cause my am radio got am 740 at night that picks up rock n roll from Canada cruising n my cougar 😻 meeeow heh heh meowski s .
Sorry not sorry... not a muscle car. A nice cruiser yes, but not a beast. I owned a New 1973 CR7 and I also owned a New 1971 Buick GS Stage 1. Therefore I consider myself somewhat of an expert.
Your comment was irrelevant as soon as it was typed. The cougar did more factory racing then any "muscle" Buick could. Dan Gurney? Dyno Don? I understand you don't understand.,you see a convertible and automatically assume.
