BigOldChryslers has posted a raft of pictures at the Cohort, including this nicely groomed Cougar: That’s a nice pussy cat. The question is the exact breeding of this cat, as it seems to have some qualities that weren’t quite part of the 1967 Cougar family: hood pins, hood scoops and spoiler. I seem to remember those bells and whistles mostly arriving in 1968, with the XR-G and GTE. So why wouldn’t someone adorn their big cat with a few trinkets? Obviously none at all. At least they didn’t go overboard, like with a rhinestone collar.
Before I forget; BigOldChrysler stated that he shot this feline at “Crappy Tires”. Just curious: is that a euphemism, or?
Original Cougar – the gentelman’s pony car.
It’s more than a euphemism, but less than a real name…
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/07/04/canadian_tire_loses_fight/
“…this has become so ingrained that it no longer means anything bad…”. Oh yes, yes it does.
“Crappy Tires” is what many hardcore car guys call the ubiquitous “Canadian Tire” chain here in the Great White North. Nothing causes your street cred to drop faster than equipping your favorite classic ride with Motomaster tires…
As a married man who will soon be aquiring a “hobby car” let me rush to his defense. Sometimes the lady in your life will only allow so much to be spent on the hot rod at a time without having to sleep in said hot rod.
As a married man of many years, allow me to share my strategy? I’ve encouraged my wife to take up an occassionally cash-intensive hobby (sewing; gotta have lot of fabric, etc.). This, I have found, has given me a lot more latitude when it comes to vehicle-related expenditures. More importantly, it keeps her occupied (and by extension not making snarky remarks) while I wrench on whatever rustbucket I have hauled home…
Holy Can*** Batman! Typing “Crappy Tire” into Google giveth “Canadian Tire” as the first result.
First one of these that I remember was an XR7. Want to say it was a 67 bought in 66. Guy I knew in Submarine School who alternated between bragging about his Foxy wife and his Cougar car. IIRC they were both gone in a year and with some guy on shore duty who was actually there some of the time.
Oh well. Sometimes memories should best be left alone.
There one guy, Keith Kaucher who did some photoshops and renderings of various customized cars and imagined what if there was a 1967 Cougar fastback. http://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/BLKGT350/vehicles/25178
Imagine what might have been. 😉
I think in the real world, a Cougar fastback would have looked suspiciously like the original Dodge Charger.
That was a great link, Stephane! I really liked the fastback Cougar. That would have been a gorgeous car had it been produced.
I Googled “crappy tire” and as CarCounter stated, the result comes up Canadian Tire. I also liked the definition in the Urban Dictionary.
I always thought that the 1967 (original) Cougar was the best looking one they ever built. I don’t think they EVER improved it.
To a large degree I think you’re right. I think subsequent changes to the original smaller Cougar didn’t work quite as well. Once the Cougar grew to Brougham-ness size, the car looked OK, but could have been called something else. But those were what the times demanded…
Well, the ’68 was the ’67 body with different trim, to me they are equal. Then the 69-70 was new sheetmetal, 2nd best version.
The hood scoop is from a 69-70 Mustang, and the 67-68 Cougar was never offered with a rear spoiler, IIRC. Sweet ride, my favorite Mercury and my favorite color for this generation.
Funny coincidence — I’m building a Ford Probe for duty in the “24 Hours of LeMons”, and my theme is Dan Gurney’s 68 Cougar Trams Am car.
Even that looks like a knock off of the Mach1 et al hood scoop.
The only early (68 only) Cougars that got a hood scoop were the GT-E (427 W code had a nonfunctional “bubble” hood scoop, 428 CJ had an Eliminator style hood scoop) and the XR7-G (see link).
No rear spoilers till the 69 Eliminator, “tribute” cars non-withstanding.
http://xr7g.mercurycougarregistry.com/
Royce has a few great Cougars. I got a ride several years ago in a dual quad 427 GT-E…….pretty wild ride!
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Hah! Awesome 🙂
Thanks for sharing my picture, Paul. Yes, I am Canadian (eh?). I live in a rural community that has a large population of car enthusiasts, so for the warmer months of the year it’s not uncommon to see some nice old cars driving around or parked at a local business, such as this. On Friday I took a picture of a green Cougar that looks completely stock down to the hubcaps, which I have yet to post to the cohort.
Crappy Tire is a nickname for Canadian Tire, but it’s definitely not a term of endearment. They suck. The closest thing we have to a “real” chain of car parts stores is NAPA, followed by Parts Source. Parts Source stores are also owned by Canadian Tire, and are basically what the auto parts department at CTire used to be before they started trying to compete with the likes of Walmart.
I’m getting ready to sell mine. I’ve got too many projects and too little time. And that Cougar requires more time and cash than any other car I own.
What year etc?
It’s a ’68 XR7. It needs EVERYTHING- including a drivetrain.
It was my old college ride I’ve owned since 1990. Blew the motor in ’99 and it’s sat ever since. Yanked the motor and trans to repair or replace the shock towers.
Never did because of my aging parents’ continuing home and garden projects I somehow got roped into helping them with…
Ah, the money pit/sentimental trap! It’s always cheaper in the long run to buy the best one you can find. At least running and as rust free as possible.
Unless it’s an R or W code etc……..
Wire in the head lights to the sequential turn signals on the rear and have loads of fun.
This guy obviously had the same Matchbox toy as a boy:
I’m a bit surprised at postmandougie looking down on the famous Tornado white letter 70 series tires. EVERYONE had them, including me. He must have been the only one in the country with the scratch to spring for something else…