Failed Fan: 1973 Mercury Cougar XR7 – Sold?

October 10, 2021 Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

September 9, 2021 Update – We just confirmed the private seller of this ’73 Cougar we first featured in July just posted a fresh listing relying on the same pictures, description, and asking price from last month.

August 10, 2021 Update – We uncovered a fresh listing for this nicely optioned ’73 Cougar we first featured in July 2021. The seller continues to ask for the revised price of $15,000.

July 18, 2021 Update – As we were preparing our latest Malaise Monday features, we confirmed the private seller of this Cougar XR7 just lowered their asking price from $16,100 to $15,000.

1973 proved to be the final year of the Mustang-derived Cougar before Mercury executives elected to use the brand name on an LTD variant the following year as a personal luxury offering.  We’re big fans of the more upscale XR7 versions and this green over dark tan example originally listed in September 2021 on Craigslist in Walnutport, Pennsylvania (Allentown) is one of the prettier examples we’ve found in a long time. Reported to be a 75K unmolested survivor, the current caretaker currently has it offered for $15,000 (down from $16,100 originally). Comparing that price against the Collector Car Market Review Online Tool confirms the private seller has their XR7 priced one hundred dollars less than this guide’s #1 “Excellent” estimate of $16,200.

Building on a successful launch of the first-generation car in 1967, For 1971, Lincoln-Mercury released the second-generation Mercury Cougar. Seeking more direct competition for the model line, the division largely benchmarked the Cougar against the numerous GM A-body coupes, placing the Cougar in competition with the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. While again sharing much of its bodyshell with the Ford Mustang, the Cougar began to transition away from its role as a “plush pony car”, deriving aspects from both sports cars and luxury cars. Similar in size and performance, the Cougar overshadowed the Mercury Cyclone intermediate coupe, leading Mercury to phase out the latter model line during 1972. Slightly smaller than the 1964 Mustang, the imported Capri (not officially badged as a Mercury) began to succeed the Cougar within Lincoln-Mercury as the division’s sporty car.

We love the classic color combination and depending on how hard it is to get to the part, we would try to replace the car’s expired fan motor as soon as possible so that we could enjoy cruising in this car for the remainder of the summer and into fall.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“*Offers Considered*
1973 Cougar XR7
75000 miles
A Survivor car, in near original configuration.
XR7 pkg with the badging, upgraded dash, leather interior, console, and clock.
351Clevland with a 2 barrel.
Automatic C6 and a posi rear.
All unmolested and intact, only maintenance items replaced and front left fender.
It has factory AC, but the fan motor in the dash is shot.
You can see the hub caps are still there and I have some new wheel well trim.“

Show or go: what would you do with this Cougar survivor?  Comment below and let us know!