THE LAST AND GRANDEST OF THE BIG CATS - INCREDIBLE ORIGINAL CONDITION

Mercury Cougar 1979 Description

THE LAST OF THE BIG CATS. TOP OF THE LINE MODEL. COVER-GIRL FOR THE 1979 BROCHURE!!!

NO RESERVE - LOW MINIMUM BID

If you are a fan of these big Cougars, this is the cat you have been waiting for. Mercury only made these biggest and most luxurious Cougars for three glorious years, and this was the final year of the run. An absolute show car, and the best looking big cougar out there.

*XR7 with original 351 V8 - best engine available that year

*"Chamois Decor" trim package, also the best available in 1979,and loaded with options - power everything

*Rare and desirable "Huntsman Cloth" interior in brown/tan (not blue) that presents like new

*Two-part half vinyl top that feels soft looks like it was installed yesterday

*Ultra rare matching soft vinyl faux continental trunk panel

*Louvered rear opera windows

*Paint looks mostly original

*"Deep-pile Tiffany carpeting"

*Original carpeted spare tire cover and what looks like the original spare - try to find another one of these covers!

*Edelbrock4-barrel carburetorand full 2 1/2" performance dual exhaust installed during restoration - sounds mean!

*A/C blows cold

*Extensive maintenance and restoration records

*Original build sheet and window sticker

*Recently serviced

This exact model, including the interior, was featured on the cover of the 1979 Cougar brochure. Hell, this might even be that actual car! The car runs great and goes straight down the road, sounding perfect. I have not found rust anywhere. It was just serviced by a top local shop to clear up any nagging issues and to make sure that everything that should works properly. This car could be shown as is, or subject to a further restoration which would make it the ultimate Cougar.

Try to get more car for the money. This XR7 spent the first 20 years of its life in Nevada and California, before retiring to the East Coast for a partial restoration/refurbishment and the comfortable life of a show car. The odometer shows 78,929 miles, but it has likely turned over. Over the last ten years, it has traveled only about 3,000 miles, and I have the records to prove it.

During those first 20 years, the car was meticulously maintained, and comes with stacks of service documents back to 1982. In the late nineties, the car was brought to Pennsylvania, where a new owner had substantialengine work done, and refurbished or replaced any interior or trim that needed it, including the rear portion of the vinyl top. All of those records come with the car too, and it's a big pile.

Yes, there are flaws. A ding here, a scratch there and a small missing piece or two. Some of the paint is rubbed, and there are some scuffs to the plastic parts of the bumpers. I have included photos of the worst. But these are trifles in a nearly 40 year old car. You will not be disappointed with its appearance. This car makes everyone smile and say, "Wow!" Any replacement parts should be easy enough to find, as Mercury made a bunch of these over the three year run, and many of the parts are compatible with Ford models.

Just about everything works, including all of the power options. The clock does not work, which is typical. The radio is newer, but could easily be replaced by a period piece. A CB radio was an original option for this model, so if you can find one of those, you will certainly be the coolest person on the planet. The instrument light could be brighter, but this is not really a car for driving at night.

Buy this car now be ready for Carlisle's 50th Anniversary Cougar show in June. If I still own the car at that point, I'm definitely going, and planning to take home some hardware.

Like all cat owners, I want this baby to go to a good home. Email me with any questions for for more photos. I hate to let it go, but I have too many cars, and this beast takes up some space.

In addition to the restorationand service records, the car also comes with the original build sheet and a copy of the original window sticker, the original owners manual, the Mercury brochures, including the one with this model on the cover, and a few other odds and ends.