1973 Mercury Cougar

Michigan

$20,295

Vehicle Details

Make

Mercury

Model

Cougar

Year

1973

Mileage

111,111 miles

VIN

AMS40870

Body Type

Coupe

Transmission

Automatic

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

351 Cleveland V8 4 Barrel

Description

1973 Cougar XR7 351 Cleveland 4bbl., V8 AT /AC, Pwr. Strg./Pwr. Brk. Nice condition, very solid. Original interior and original paint color. Did have a repaint at some point. Clear is peeling some. Strong Engine and Trans.

Recent oil change Mobil Synthetic. Here's what was installed, or work performed up to date. Replaced complete front and rear suspension parts w/Hardware, all new steering linkage, including a New (not rebuilt) PWR steering box with new Rag Joint, new calipers, pads, brake lines, Whl.

Cyl, Hdwr, trunk seal, some door seals, etc., New fuel pump, flushed tank and line, new fuel sending unit w/plug, rebuilt carb, new plugs, repaired T-shifter bushings, along with other miscellaneous repairs. Finish what we started, and you'll have a nice unique vehicle. Have extra parts which are included in this sale. condition: good cylinders: 8 cylinders drive: rwd fuel: gas odometer: 1,111,111 paint color: green title status: clean transmission: automatic type: coupe

Classic Mercury Cougar Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Mike Sullivan

Muscle Cars

1967–1973

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

Definitive buyer's guide for classic Mercury Cougar 1967-1973. First-generation pony-car authentication, XR-7 trim verification, FE V8 identification, current pricing.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Cougar Buyer's Guide

Mercury Cougar Market Overview

Based on 16 Mercury Cougar listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$32,527

Avg. Asking Price

1967–1997

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site - Average Range

This car: $20,295

Low: $9,895 High: $109,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 81% ◄

Manual 13%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 6%

Good 13%

Fair 6%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 16 listings →

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Classic Mercury Cougar Buyer's Guide

The Mercury Cougar launched for 1967 as Mercury's upmarket pony car, sharing platform and drivetrains with the Ford Mustang but featuring distinctive styling (hidden headlights and sequential turn signals), slightly longer wheelbase, and more refined interior trim. The 1967-1973 first-generation Cougars represent the actively-collected era; the 1974-onward second-generation Cougars moved to the Torino platform and are dramatically less collectible. This guide focuses on the 1967-1973 first-generation cars, including the legendary 1968-1969 GT-E (with the 427 or 428 Cobra Jet V8, only 394 produced), the 1969-1970 Eliminator performance package, and the XR-7 high-trim luxury variants. From a collector standpoint, well-equipped first-generation Cougars represent the smart-money entry into Ford-platform pony-car ownership at slight discount versus equivalent Mustangs.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Order Marti Report for any 1967+ Cougar over $25K , Marti Auto Works has Ford original production records. $25 confirms original equipment.

✓

Verify VIN engine code with block casting , 5th digit of VIN identifies engine. 289, 302, 351 W/C, 390, 428 CJ each have specific casting numbers.

✓

For XR-7 claims, verify trim package via Marti Report , XR-7 was high-trim luxury package. Adds value when documented.

✓

For Eliminator claims (1969-1970), demand specialist auth , Eliminator was performance package on 1969-1970 Cougars. Specific equipment verification mandatory.

✓

Inspect Mustang-platform unibody for rust , Same chassis as Mustang. Torque boxes, cowl seam, floor pans, rear quarters universal rust zones.

✓

Magnet test rear quarters and rocker panels , Body filler is non-magnetic. Common on driver-quality cars.

✓

For 1968-1970 GT-E claims, demand specialist auth , GT-E was rare 427/428 high-performance Cougar, only 394 produced 1968-1969.

✓

Check shock tower welds for cracks , Big-block cars suffer from cracked shock towers. Common on hard-driven examples.

✓

Examine torque boxes from underneath , Front and rear torque boxes are critical structural elements. Rotted boxes = chassis flex.

✓

Compression test all eight cylinders , Should read 145-185 PSI uniformly. 428 CJ cars run higher.

Common Issues

Cougar rust patterns mirror Mustang patterns since the cars share platform. The torque boxes (front and rear, where unibody meets floor pans) are structural killers. Cowl rust hides under the dashboard where the windshield base meets the firewall. Floor pans rust through from underneath. Rear quarters, lower fenders behind front wheels, and trunk drop-offs are universal rust zones. The 1971-1973 cars (larger Big Body proportions) have additional rust concerns at the rear shock towers. Mechanically, Mercury Cougars used Ford engines: 289 (1967), 302 (1968-1973), 351W (1969-1973), 351C (1970-1973), 390 (1968), 427 (1968 GT-E), 428 Cobra Jet (1968-1970), Boss 302 (1969-1970 Eliminator). All are bulletproof when maintained. Common issues include broken motor mounts on big-block cars, worn timing chains, leaky valve covers and oil pan gaskets, and tired Holley or Autolite carburetors. The Toploader four-speed manual is bulletproof. The C4 and C6 automatics are robust but commonly leak from front pump seals. The 9-inch Ford rear axle is essentially indestructible. Electrical issues are universal classic-car concerns. The original wiring harnesses are 50+ years old and prone to chafing. Headlight switches and ignition switches commonly fail. The hidden headlight system on 1967-1970 Cougars uses vacuum actuators that fail when vacuum lines crack, common issue on neglected cars. Shock tower cracks on Big Block cars (390, 427, 428 CJ) are a known issue. Cracks radiating from the upper shock mount indicate a beaten chassis common on hard-driven Cougars.

What to Look For

Marti Report is the gold-standard verification for any 1967-and-later Cougar. Marti Auto Works has Ford's exclusive licensed access to original 1967-2007 production records. The Marti Report ($25 basic, more for elite) confirms original engine, transmission, axle ratio, paint, and options. Mandatory for any premium-trim claim. For GT-E claims (1968 only), demand specialist authentication. Only 394 GT-E Cougars were produced across two model years (357 cars in 1968 with 427 V8, 37 cars in 1969 with 428 Cobra Jet V8). Every chassis number is documented in the marque registry. For Eliminator claims (1969-1970 only), verify the unique Eliminator paint color (Bright Yellow, Competition Orange, Bright Blue, Pastel Blue, Bright Green, Wimbledon White, Vermilion) and graphics package via Marti Report. The Eliminator package was offered with multiple engine options including the rare Boss 302 and 428 Cobra Jet. Engine verification is essential. The 5th digit of the VIN identifies the engine code. Cross-reference against the engine block casting number. The most desirable engines: 390 GT (1968), 427 V8 (1968 GT-E only), 428 Cobra Jet (1968-1970), 428 SCJ Ram Air (1969-1970), Boss 302 (1969-1970 Eliminator only). Unibody integrity is the second non-negotiable. Pop the hood and look at the shock towers, cracks radiating from the upper shock mount are common on Big Block cars. Inspect torque boxes (front and rear) from underneath. Lift the trunk mat and look at the trunk drop-offs. Pull the rear seat and check the floor where the seat bolts down. For 1967-1970 cars with hidden headlights, test the headlight system through full open and close cycle. Failed vacuum actuators are common on neglected cars. Document the car. Photograph every panel, every chassis number stamping, every engine bay component, every dataplate, and every identifying tag. Order Marti Report before negotiating final price.

Price Guide

1967-1968 first-generation Cougars: driver-quality 289/302 V8 cars run $22,000-$42,000. Documented original cars: $35,000-$55,000. The 1967 launch year is more desirable than 1968. 1968 Cougar XR-7 GT (with 390 GT V8): driver-quality cars run $32,000-$58,000. Documented numbers-matching cars: $48,000-$80,000. 1968-1969 Cougar GT-E (only 394 total produced): driver-quality cars run $70,000-$130,000. Documented numbers-matching cars: $90,000-$160,000+. The 1968 427 V8 GT-E is the most desirable variant. 1969-1970 Cougar Eliminator: driver-quality cars run $35,000-$70,000. Documented Eliminators with the Boss 302 or 428 CJ: $60,000-$120,000+. Eliminator with 351W or 351C: $42,000-$80,000. 1969-1970 Cougar XR-7 (base XR-7 trim): driver-quality cars run $25,000-$50,000. Documented original cars: $38,000-$65,000. 1971-1973 Cougar (larger Big Body proportions): driver-quality cars run $18,000-$38,000. The 1973 Cougar XR-7 is the most desirable variant of this era. Convertible Cougars (1969-1973 only) command 25-35% premium over equivalent hardtops. Documented 1969-1970 Cougar Eliminator convertibles (extremely rare) command 50-75% premium. Project Cougars start around $10,000-$22,000 across most years. Stripped roller candidates: $5,000-$12,000.

Did You Know?

The Mercury Cougar launched for 1967 as the Mercury counterpart to the Ford Mustang, sharing platform and drivetrains but featuring distinctive Mercury styling. The Cougar's hidden headlights with sequential turn signals were Mercury's deliberate styling differentiation from the Mustang. The longer 111-inch wheelbase (versus Mustang's 108 inches) provided more interior space and a more refined ride. The Cougar received Motor Trend's "Car of the Year" award for 1967, significant recognition for a launch-year vehicle. The 1968 Cougar GT-E was Mercury's response to the Shelby GT350/GT500, a low-production high-performance package designed to elevate the Cougar's performance image. Total GT-E production was only 394 cars, all in 1968 (357 with the 427 V8 and 37 with the 428 Cobra Jet V8). The GT-E was Mercury's most exclusive performance Cougar of the entire first-generation production run, and documented original GT-E cars now command $80,000-$160,000+ at auction. The 1969-1970 Cougar Eliminator was Mercury's answer to the Mustang Boss series. The Eliminator package featured distinctive paint colors specifically chosen to be eye-catching on dragstrips and at car shows: Bright Yellow, Competition Orange, Bright Blue, and Vermilion. Engine options included the legendary Boss 302 (which homologated the engine for SCCA Trans-Am racing) and the 428 Cobra Jet. Mercury produced approximately 9,000 Eliminators across two model years, making them rare but more accessible than GT-E variants.

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$20,295

1973 Mercury Cougar

Michigan

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Model History

How the Mercury Cougar evolved (1967–1976) across 4 generations.

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