{"id":358389,"date":"2015-03-01T00:54:42","date_gmt":"2015-03-01T00:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/?p=358389"},"modified":"2020-03-03T17:07:02","modified_gmt":"2020-03-03T17:07:02","slug":"1968-mercury-cougar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/1968-mercury-cougar\/","title":{"rendered":"1968 Mercury Cougar"},"content":{"rendered":"

1968 Mercury Cougar<\/h1>\n

Produced by the Mercury brand of Ford Motor Company’s Lincoln-Motor Division with a small dealer base, the Cougar was a runaway success, selling 150,000 units in its debut year of 1967 and more than 100,000 units in 1968. It was proof that America in the mid-sixties was ready for the pony car.<\/p>\n

Plugged between the Mustang and the Thunderbird, in 1967 the Cougar came in three models: the base, the GT, and the XR-7. The GT was available on both the base and XR-7. Having won the Motor Trend’s Car of the Year in 1967, Lincoln-Mercury could then boast, as part of its advertising for that year, “the best-equipped luxury sports car money can buy.”<\/p>\n

The 1967 Cougar was really a Mustang but with a 3-inch longer wheelbase and new sheet metal. They came with Remington shaver grilles, concealed headlights, and faired-in bumpers. The interior had walnut-grain steering wheel, standard bucket seats, center console, and floor shift. The dual hydraulic brake system allowed separate operation of front and rear brakes.<\/p>\n

The 1968 models came with 210 bhp 302cid V8 as standard fare. Three-speed manual came in as standard and power could be increased with a 230 brake version up to 335 bhp 428cid GT-E V8. In this respect, the pony had just transformed into a muscle car. Added to the colossal engine could be a twin hood scoops, steel wheels, quadruple exhausts and heavy-duty suspension. With sequential tail lights like a Thunderbird, what you have is a good-looking car.<\/p>\n

The 1968 model year included federally-mandated side marker lights, front outboard shoulder belts, among some minor changes. A 210 hp (157 kW) 302 cu in (4.9 L) two-barrel V8 was the base engine on all XR-7s and early standard Cougars.<\/p>\n

Three new engines were added to the option list this year: the 230 hp (172 kW) 302 cu in (4.9 L), four-barrel V8; the 335 hp (250 kW) 428 cu in (7.0 L), four-barrel V8; and the 390 hp (291 kW) 427 cu in (7.0 L), four-barrel V8.<\/p>\n

In addition, the 289 cu in (4.7 L) engine was made standard on base cars without the interior decor group midway through the model year.<\/p>\n

1968 Mercury Cougar Specs<\/h2>\n