1968 Mercury Cougar: The "Mature" Muscle Car | MotorWeek

[@NeighborhoodCarReviews]

I'm a Cougar owner, so this video touches my heart! I love the love for these cars!

[@angelgjr1999]

So so sad that Ford killed Mercury. :(

[@theshield1613]

Mercury luxury cars

[@ChrisfromGeorgia]

I hope I get to own one of these amazing cars some day!

[@BigWheel.]

They are nothing but cool, I love the hidden headlights and split grille.

[@MYBALLSYC]

Me too … us cougar owners are not like the rest

[@thompsonterry4804]

Mom’s first new car out of college was a year 1 Cougar, supposedly the first one sold in NJ. She had it built with a 289 and a 4spd in green over white. I have many fond memories of it as she kept it until I was 10 and the car was only a year older than me. Nice review and good to see a revisit of one very cool car.

[@pmafterdark]

I'm a Mopar guy but I always loved the 1st gen. Cougars.

[@charlies.5777]

SAME here.

[@wesleywilson1175]

I own a 1967 Cougar. I have had it for 20 years.

[@cemeteryhill]

As the owner of a 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7 this video makes me so proud!

[@christopherrobinson4373]

How do you like the power and handling?

[@thebeatles444]

my dream car 🥹

[@joshuamorehead6124]

I think i want a Mercury cougar now

[@limehighliter]

Joe always makes the history so accessible to the classic car novice. Thanks for the great content!

[@67MercuryXR7]

Love it! My first car was a 67 XR7. It’s never left my heart.

[@ry64209]

Lucky

[@sixpack375]

It was my very first car also.. Never have I forgotten it and I will have another. I was 16yo then and now I'm 55. So I think I have waited long enough..

[@clarktferrill]

Yes..I too had XR 7 as my first car...To this day I wish I had it back...but?

[@charlies.5777]

VERY cool car!!

[@bartricky5894]

I bought a new '67. Nothing else looked like it and the XR7 interior sold me. It had tremendous advertising that carried over to all Mercury dealers. That car went through a lot with me and I wished that I kept it a lot longer than I did.

[@highdesertcougarcluboforeg7308]

That was a great video. This is a big "Thank You" from all of the classic Mercury Cougar owners out there.

[@Tbone0565]

I love the styling. I had a 71 Cougar for my first car as a teenager. 351 Cleveland v8. Loved that car but always love the first generation styling better.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

I love me some Mustang but the Cougar is a higher bucket list priority! Underrated classic and you won't see yourself coming and going!

[@cavalryman_s197]

This and the 66 t bird are of the nicest cars ever built

[@silweragentum739]

I have always loved this car, the hide away lights in the front, it looks best in black. I like the mustang if those years too and was clise to buy a 67 fastback in the 90s, a rusty one. Today its just to forget it all, crazy prices, so in another life maybe. But they had the 351c i remember.

[@pigflop]

Loved the video, and loved the car even more, I’m a little disappointed that they didn’t have all the correct engines for the 1968, they only mention the 302, 427 and 428 and left out the 390... but still recognition of our beloved cats is what matters most to me.

[@clarktferrill]

I'm thinking this guy is wrong about 289 available in 68 year model Cougars...302 was standard? Was it not?

[@et76039]

@@clarktferrill Unsure. My Marti report proves that my 1968 302 2v Cougar was initiated on August 11, 1967, implying that the 302 was the baseline for the model year. However, there was a strike at the engine factory that delayed my car's production for more than two months. It's possible that some 1968 Cougars had 289s as a stopgap measure; I've seen several '68 Mustangs with the 289, and my reprint owners manual does show both the 289 and 302. What skews this are documents from that time frame stating that sales brochures might show options no longer available. From Wikipedia: "During 1968, the 289 was temporarily substituted with the 302 cu in (4.9 L) V8 designed for the new federal emissions standards.[9] This engine produced 210 hp (2-bbl) and 230 hp (4-bbl); the former became standard on the XR-7.[9] At mid-year, a lower compression 289 was again available.[9]"

[@davidmacdonald8882]

Last year for the 289.

[@thomasdaum1927]

68 was a transition year from 289 to 302 . Some of the early 68s had 289s and the rest had 302 . I was 18 at the time and was a Ford nut ( and still am ) . I currently have a 2003 Marauder with 31,000 original miles !……

[@kevmiller6632]

Great video. I’m still looking for this great Mercury 1968. I had one many years ago 😢. Thanks again great video Mercury!

[@Alan-lv9rw]

My uncle bought a 1968 XR-7 new. 302 with a 3-speed. It was the most beautiful car I ever saw.

[@thomasc4753]

That’s a beautiful Cougar! I really miss the Mercury brand.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

As for Mercury, my mother loved her powder blue 99 Grand Marquis! I believe that was her favorite car. Hopefully, it's not lifted and wearing huge wagon wheel rims today.

[@thomasc4753]

@@MisterMikeTexas Yes, it pains my heart to see those cars abused like that.

[@dogsense3773]

I've been the 2nd owner of my 67 cougar for 43 years this calif car has no rust, done all repairs myself, I will say the rear disc brake modifications I did was not worth the trouble, and I'm a mechanic,

[@seththomas9105]

MotorWeek you guys and gals rock! I've been watching since the early 80's!

[@frankfrankenstein5933]

The 1967 Cougar was and still is my favorite pony car of all time, Mustang being second!

[@lindseylaquey7764]

I got one in '72: '68, low miles, immaculate, black vinyl over Red - like the vid, black carpet, white seats, 390 4v. One of the biggest mistakes of my life was letting it go. That was one sweet ride and in all the years since, I've never topped it. ...if only I'd known then what I know now. 😐

[@Sedan57Chevy]

FANTASTIC video! I absolutely love the car, and it's presented so well. Joe Ligo is a very talented guy who knows how to talk about cars! I'd love to see more of him in the future.

[@thomasdaum1927]

I had a 68 GT.E 7 Liter 427 back in the early 70s that I bought from Bob Estes Lincoln Mercury in Inglewood CA. It was maroon with silver at the bottom and black interior . Traded it for a 69 Mach 1 with a 428 CJ . They are long gone ( BUT NOT FORGOTTEN ) !…… Thanks for bringing up good memories !……

[@freshtowels3917]

This is an awesome looking car. I would love to own one of these.

[@jimmbobb]

Could probably count on one hand the number of Mercuries that weren't badge engineered. They were really getting their ish together just before they were axed though. Sable, Mountaineer, Milan, Mariner were all beautiful cars (albeit 98% Ford). Even an upscale Tracer coupe planned as well.

[@blondbowler8776]

"I'm gonna buy me a Mercury, and cruise on down the road". (Steve Miller Band; 1969).

[@et76039]

The 302 was first offered at the start of the 1968 model year, to replace the 289. The 428 CJ replaced the 427 in the middle of the 1968 model year.

[@cadsux]

Hmmm, I wonder what happened to the Cougar GT-E that was in the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service".

[@timetowatch2142]

That car was a 1969 Mercury Cougar with a 428ci. The GT-E was only made in 1968. 1967-68 had the same body style. It changed in 1969.

[@gmlover82]

Joe, this was awesome! Motorweek, keep these videos going! Love it!!

[@stevejones8660]

My dad bought our family a new 1968 Cougar XR7 with a 390 2V with 335hp. He bought a new F-150 for himself.:-) Took my driver’s license in it. Took it thru the local quarter mile 10 minutes later. Had to stop by a friend’s house before going home. Had to take gasoline to the rear quarter panels to remove all the burn rubber spatter from smoking the tires.

[@jhancock1575]

When the Mercury Cougar was still a Cougar before it got “fat.”

[@Maddog1911]

sequential turn signals... WOW... JUST WOW... THAT IS ABSOLUTELY COOL AS HELL

[@danc1197]

Mustangs and Camaros are everywhere. That's why I like Cougars better. Better looking and much rarer.

[@robrod2962]

I know this car personally and it is SWEET!!

[@charlies.5777]

Damn, SUCH a cool car . IF 007 EVER drove an Amurican car, I think he would've driven this. SO much cooler than a Mustang IMO.

[@radioguy1620]

If you are looking to buy one , pull the heater and check for cowl rust or perhaps use a tiny camera the bane of early small ford products.

[@venelinkeremedchiev9643]

Wow this car is mega cool and badass! Never knew that there was even cooler retro Mustang. I am talking about the 1968 version of course...i am not even gonna bother comment the one from the 2000s

[@redskies2813]

I liked the 1970 cougar eliminator

[@noahh.8737]

the interior is gorgeous.

[@jimmycline4778]

My brother had 68 mercury cougar in 1985 as senior in high school! It had a 302 4 speed stick! He only paid 1500 for it! It had a great interior, decent green paint! It was nothing special to own this car in 85! Now it’s 2019 and that car in the same shape as it was then would probably be worth at least 8 grand, or a little more! I had a wore out 1970 nova, bad interior, ok paint, perfect body, that car had a small block engine that had no power, I had this car in 85, and then it was considered junk, I was embarrassed to drive it! I payed a 100 dollars for it and sold it for 200 dollars, that car would sale for at least 6000 dollars in the same shape it was then! The body was perfect, with no dings dents or rust! It was blue with a white top!

[@timm9631]

Man, I love these!

[@ricardoflot2787]

My brother had one of that same year, it was common that it would overheat because the radiator was too small because for the design of the front.

[@sayonara8854]

Car shopping in 1968 would be a dream. I would drive off the lot in a brand new 1969 Chevelle for the price as my badly beaten 1999 Tahoe.

[@thaikothox2518]

Sayo Nara sampai berjumpa pulang

[@spook5756]

You understand the cost of living back then and inflation, right?

[@jimmbobb]

A 99 Tahoe would be a space ship to them (although most of the engine is right outta the 60's)

[@radsk8rbigollies594]

One of my all time fav muscle cars

[@BigWheel.]

John's voice hasn't changed a bit.

[@dannyp54]

I had a '68 back in the'0 '70s and sure loved that car. Red with a black vinyl top. 289/ and 3 speed automatic. Sure loved that car 🚓 got pulled over a few times for speeding

[@chuckchuck4016]

ford should really make the cougar again but make it a luxury mustang it would be so dope

[@bballguy4ever]

My father had a cougar .. 68 had it for 1 week and totaled it…passed at 56 3months ago ima get it again

[@lonniehinton9416]

I think the styling of the 68 or 69 cougar should be brought back with just a little modifications on the front and the back but keep the same image that would give mustang a run for the money that was a beautiful car the cougar

[@elijahwilliams6094]

I'm saving up for a 1968 cougar its my dream car

[@Aurum100]

My late aunt owned a 69 & I inherited it when she passed. Was in bad shape when I sold it. Even then I regret it to this day.

[@carldeithloff9412]

Beautiful car.

[@landyachtfan79]

A Review so Retro, MW didn't even exist yet when this pretty kitty was born!!!!!!

[@redskies2813]

The first hellcat

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

My dad's first car was a 1968 Cougar! of course when he owned it, at the time it a was a gas guzzling beater car.

[@hotwheel6663]

Love the '67-'68 Cougars. The 302 4v with a 4 speed was pretty fast wasn't it? Didn't they also offer the 390 GT engine in '68?

[@et76039]

Yes, there was the S code 390 (GT engine), and the X code 390 2 barrel.

[@jimmbobb]

Whoah!!! We're those factory LED tail lamps on a '68, or aftermarket??

[@garywood9525]

It's popular to upgrade to a solid state rear sequential light system and use Plasma LED bulbs while the front light grill doors become electric with more accurate Stopper to line-up the Bars to look like a one piece unit.

[@TBird100636]

0:20-0:26 - Well I'd have to disagree with that comment. For many years Mercury had unique body lines, interiors, and many standard features that would be optional on it's equivalent Ford models. Take this Cougar for example. It had a different body an interior than the Mustang, and the wheelbase was a few inches longer too. Mercury was essential an upscale version of a Ford, coming second to Lincoln in terms of luxury and price.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

TBird100636 After about 1971, almost every Mercury shared most of its body panels, engines, etc. with the Fords on which they were based. By 1979, all of them were simply badge-engineered Fords from the Bobcat, Zephyr, Capri, Monarch, Cougar, and Marquis... they were all just minor trim changes away from the Fords they were based on.

[@TBird100636]

@@judethaddaeus9742 Well... 83-97 Cougar, 84-94 Topaz, 86-05 Sable, and 92-97 Grand Marquis all had body lines unique from their Ford counterparts, not just badge engineered models.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

TBird100636 Except for the Cougar, the only major components that were different on those cars were the rooflines. And the Grand Marquis’s was simply a Crown Vic roof without the opera window stamped in it. Same with the early Topaz sedans. The Topaz coupes were essentially identical to the Tempo coupes for the entire 1984-94 run. The 1986-91 Sable’s lines were so similar to the Taurus’s, they used the same tooling to stamp them and from 92-95, the differences were even more minor. The wagons were identical in all but trim for the entire 1986-05 run.

[@christopherwilson7698]

Gorgeous car Bankers hotrod

[@PeterDemerly]

My first car was a 67 cougar with a 289 automatic with a floor shift. Loves the cars ever since and been looking for an affordable one

[@MrT-nh6di]

Gorgeous old muscle car!

[@ghaasl78]

I had a ‘68 Cougar for a while. It was never as nice as the subject of this video. Great “entry level” classic. I’ve since graduated to a ‘68 Malibu with a big block.

[@paxhumana2015]

Ironically, the Eighth Generation Mercury Cougar is called the Ford Cougar elsewhere in the world.

[@fernandochaves9665]

The Mercury brand doesn't exists in many places of the world so they sold them as Fords.

[@jkdflow670]

Ford Mercury Lincoln back when cars were real cars "ART" you could park the top selling of the three side by side and you would definitely see originality from the ground up mechanically internally & body trim. Rebadging of the same car with different trim with no excitment GM is the Ultimate king of that.

[@SuperBooboo02]

now why can they make small coupes like this not? NOT everyone wants an ugly suv or a dull 4 door sedan..ugh I miss personal luxury coupes

[@saulgoodman2018]

I love cougars.

[@dethmetel]

The trunk not lining up and the headlight covers not lining up with the rest of the grill, really bugs me, when the car has been restored

[@farmerbonjon]

Beer And Bacon I agree. Fix that and the whitewall tires and the car would look amazing!!

[@pigflop]

Keep in mind that this car has been around for fifty years, I hope the new shit cars that we make today with all the technology and automated robotic assembly line can make it to be fifty years old. You need to understand the these cars were all hand made and assembled, all the alignment of panels and sheet metal were done on jigs and had spot welded so non of these old care were as cookie cutter as today’s cars and panel figment was a issue on all old cars and even today. As for the tires, it’s keeping with the style of the era of this car, my 1968 XR7-GT came with white wall tires from the factory.

[@auaiao9]

The headlight covers didn't line up straight when the car was new. But I agree that if something can be done about it, it should be.

[@dethmetel]

@@auaiao9 The headlight covers on my 72 Mercury Marquis have bolts that you adjust in and out to line them up with the rest of the trim, but my right one doesn't goes down all the way too line up, it's like the spring is too strong. It probably has been like that from factory too

[@auaiao9]

@@dethmetel Many headlight covers back then DID line up correctly but I remember the Cougars did not. It seemed to be common probably on just about all of them..from what I remember. Maybe the Cougar's could've been adjusted but people either didn't know about it or just didn't take the time to do it.

[@dreamingcode]

Really well done

[@petergoettler8680]

Classic Cougar Cars.Thxs.,Merci.

[@TheBikemaster94]

I like the olds base cutlass

[@TheZProtocol]

Sequential tail lights in 1968!?

[@NeighborhoodCarReviews]

They had them from 1967 at its introduction all the way to the end of the 1973 model year! My 1971 XR-7 Convertible still has the factory sequential lights.

[@tenhundredkills]

I thought that was really cool too!

[@jaydawg4065]

Great video!!!

[@sxnmagicsgreatest8951]

My Dad sold this type of Cougar same color about 6 years ago.

[@angelmendosa2863]

Used to own a 97 Cougar.

[@mdctt9021]

If you drive this car for 30 minutes, you will grow chest hair and muscles.

[@spankynater4242]

Seriously? This comment sat here for 3 years with no likes? You deserve better. Have one, on me.

[@josemanuel5749]

Auto Moments!

[@musclecarappraisal]

Memories!

[@crw3673]

Makes me wonder what would have happened if Buick or Cadillac had a luxury version of the F body? And I already know the Pontiac firebird was supposed to be a more upscale version of the Chevrolet Camaro.

[@mikewasfaret9563]

The 427 was the top dog for HP.

[@johnbehneman1546]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I LOVE IT.

[@sponk2112]

Aw, dammit, now there's a NEW "yep, that's the classic car for me" car. You're starting to piss me off, KZbin!

[@chuckparnell9406]

We are the first owners of a 68 Cougar with over 250000 miles. I thought 67 came with 289 cid and 68 came with 302 cid base engine

[@fernandochaves9665]

Incredible balance between aggression and beauty; the name Cougar isn't in vain... Imagine Ford announcing a 2023 Cougar...

[@spencermunson6044]

I would’ve chosen this thing over a mustang back in the day

[@indamood8806]

Such a beauty... 🥲

[@Jordi7174]

Mercury Cougar vs Buick Riviera, is what I wish I could see.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

Jordi7174 They weren’t competitors. The ‘68 Cougar XR-7 weighed 1,100lbs less than the ‘68 Riv, came with just over half the standard power of the Riv, cost 40% less, and was over 2 feet shorter. They were farther apart in ‘68 than the Sonic and Impala are today.

[@mikenicholas8755]

what about the 390?

[@pigflop]

Mike Nicholas that’s exactly what I said... s code and x code..

[@davidilijevski8942]

That's what I had in my 67 xr7 was same color as that car with the same roof sure do miss that car

[@timetowatch2142]

I had a 1967 Cougar GT 390 4 speed in high school (1972).

[@Lefthandlayups]

So the XR7 didn’t come with a 351W? It came with a 402 BB?

[@gregbrooks3577]

289, 302, 390 or 427. Ford didn't make a 402.

[@asianinashed]

Anybody else get Craig Singhaus vibes from this guy?

[@rovervitesse1985]

Always preferred the cougar over any mustang

[@blues03]

2:25 is that pickaxe? Wtf??

[@kwekumensah5642]

My thoughts exactly

[@toasterbathboi6298]

Dear Santa....

[@StateEnema]

flawless 🙌

[@imsecond4094]

I am restoring a 68 cougar

[@dallisb1047]

Love it!

[@racerx2348]

performance! merc never even offered a 6cyl for this gen

[@codysmith9813]

They are nice cars but i would have gone with a charger rt in 68.

[@jeremythompson9122]

I'm a Mopar guy so I probably would've bought a Roadrunner or Super Bee in 68. You got a hell of a lot of car for under $3,000...You got the 335 horsepower(rated)383 4 barrel engine with the heads and camshaft from the 440, a 4 speed manual transmission, and a 3.23 rear axle if you chose to buy the base model. The 426 Hemi, the 727 Torqueflite Automatic Transmission, and 3.55 and 4.10 rear axle ratios were all optional equipment in 68. If you wanted the 375 horsepower 440 4 barrel as standard equipment and a bit more creature comforts your best bet was a Plymouth GTX, a Dodge Charger R/T, or a Dodge Coronet R/T

[@arca9e295]

I thought sequential taillights was a modern thing

[@pigflop]

Your not the first person I hear say that thinking it was the mustang... but yeah the cougars had it all back in the day, even a GT aversion of the car, and unlike mustangs that after 1966 you could get the GT package on any v8 engine mustang, the cougar you had to order the car with the S code Marauder 390 GT big block engine in order to get the optional GT handling package, cougars were the rich cousins to the mustangs, more luxury, more sound sending material, options that weren’t available with the mustang like the sequential tail lights, hide away headlights, tilt-tilt away steering.. (when you shit the car off the steering wheel would tilt up and to the right when you opened the door automatically) to make it easier to get in and out of the car..

[@pigflop]

Squirmin Herman the one eyed German yes Mercury.. the cougars didn’t come on the scene until 1967 so that’s about right, the Lincoln Mercury brand was a luxury division of ford, and had privilege of high end options offered before ford brand cars, one example is the Lincoln Navigator with the 5.4 supercharged dual overhead cam engines, also the Lincoln mark viii with the DOHC 4.6 that later became the engine for the cobra mustang in 96, Mercury had them in the mark eight I think around 1990-1991 several years before the mustang and other ford vehicles including trucks.

[@CTN-dj7fr]

I didn't think sequential taillights existed on new cars.

[@timetowatch2142]

The sequential taillights were first introduced on the 1965 Ford Thunderbird. Then were used on the 1967 Mercury Cougar and 1968 Ford Shelby Mustang.

[@GabrielCurityba]

Mano do céu, eu entendo que é pra melhorar a aerodinâmica e tudo, mas que coisa triste esses novos design dos carros.