Mercury

The Mercury Cougar began life in the summer of 1962, as both Ford and Lincoln-Mercury styling teams submitted design proposals for the T-5 project (the 1965 Ford Mustang). Though the Ford design was selected, Lincoln-Mercury retained interest in its proposals. Following the successful release of the Mustang, Ford approved the project. The Mercury Cougar was released in September 1966. In contrast to the Mustang, it was initially available solely as a two-door hardtop. Far exceeding sales projections, the Cougar would account for nearly 40% of the 1967 sales of the entire Lincoln-Mercury division. 

For the 1977 model year, Mercury introduced the fourth-generation Cougar, expanding the model line into a full intermediate range. Replacing the Montego, the Cougar was now positioned between the Monarch and Marquis and became Mercury’s counterpart to the Ford LTD II. For the first time, the Cougar was offered not only as a coupé but also as a sedan and station wagon, significantly broadening its appeal. Built on the Torino platform, the redesign focused on updated styling and improved fuel economy rather than a complete overhaul. The bodywork was extensively revised with sharper lines. Despite being a transitional model, the 1977 Cougar proved successful, becoming Mercury’s best-selling Cougar generation since its debut.