Top 20 Most Underrated And Forgotten Classic Cars

October 1, 2017

Mercury Cougar (First Generation)

Years produced: 1967-1970

The Mercury Cougar had an exceptionally long life, spread across multiple generations but I’m going to avoid talking about its later editions. Like so many classics, it went from being an exceptional Pony Car to the blandest of the bland. Let’s go back to the good times for the Cougar: the late 1960s. It drew its inspiration from the strangest sources, going for a meld of American and European style. For example, since the Jaguar E-Type was all the rage, a woodgrain dashboard was installed, as was leather-vinyl upholstery. The engine choice was spectacular, with everything from a 289 ci to a Ford 427. There was also the exceptionally badass Eliminator package, which blacked out the car and made the 351 ci Windsor V8 standard.

While it may never have been the tragic failure that the Studebaker Avanti was, it certainly doesn’t get as much recognition as it deserves. While its development actually began before the Ford Mustang (and the Cougar name was considered for the Mustang before its completion,) it wasn’t released until a few years after. As such, it never truly reached the same place in the public consciousness. Hey, it keeps prices down at least!

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