Luxury Cougars (1977-79)

1977 Mercury Cougar XR-7

Cougar XR-7: a car like nobody else’s car. Again!

Cougar XR-7 is more than ever a one-of-a-kind car. For ’77, Cougar XR-7 remains a truly unique personal car. Coveted for its uncompromised luxury and comfort. If you’re an admirer of spaciousness and deep comfort — if you think a car like Cougar should offer such amenities as optional full instrumentation and the enviable list of standard features Cougar is noted for, you’ll be glad to know here is one personal-size car that’s on your side. Among other things, try it on for size!

1977 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Decor Group

New action for the Cat Set. And “Ride-Engineered by Lincoln-Mercury.” All yours in the Cougar XR-7!

Is XR-7 a sporty road machine? Or a glamorous luxury car? Actually, it’s a little of both. And unique in a number of exciting ways. There’s never been a Cougar so deeply elegant or styled with more sophisticated flair. Cougar XR-7 is also famous for the abundance of personal touches in its thoughtfully conceived interior. Richly spacious and quiet. Consideration for your comfort and convenience is everywhere. If this isn’t enough, you can go even further in personalizing your own XR-7 from the broad choice of options.

Choose, for example, the optional Decor Group. It lets you select either of the two interior designs shown at the left.

Above are shown the Twin Comfort Lounge Seats in chamois colored leather with vinyl, also available in the following:

• Dove Grey
• Dark Red
• Medium Blue
• Jade
• Saddle
• Ssaddle/White
• White with your choice of color coordinated components

Shown below is the Decor Group interior with all-vinyl bucket seats and console in white-with-lipstick. Decor groups are also available with cloth and vinyl in all the same color choices above except saddle/white, and white with colored components.

Features (cont.):

• Luxury Cougar wheel covers
• Deluxe steering wheel
• Electric clock
• Walnut instrument panel applications
• Cut-pile carpeting
• Day/night rearview mirror
• Concealed windshiled wipers
• Dual-note horn
• Glove box with lock
• Inside hood release
• Full compliment of Ford Motor Company Lifeguard Design safety features

Cougar Running Mates

And now, more new action for the Cat Set in a whole new breed of Cougars.

If ever a time was to be destined as the “year of the cat,” ’77 must surely be it! This year XR-7 unleashes fresh, youthful excitement in six new Cougar Running Mates. The Cougar Brougham, 2-door and 4-door; the Cougar, 2-door and 4-door; and two new wagons. Glamorous family cars. Bold in their newborn styling. Exciting in their sureness on the highway and the smoothness of their ride. Elegant in the way they blend interior roominess with high decor and meticulous tailoring. The look and the excitement are new. But you’ll find in these new Cougars a proud Mercury heritage of careful research and development. “Ride-Engineered by Lincoln-Mercury” …a detailed and attentive concern for engineered excellence in the Cougar ride. New excitement for the Cat Set: Cougar XR-7’s thoroughbred pack of Running Mates. Drive one. Celebrate the “year of the cat!”

1977 Mercury Cougar Brougham

Cougar Brougham: “Ride-Engineered by Lincoln-Mercury”

You’ll know it’s an elegant offspring of the renowned XR-7 the moment you experience its sophisticated road manners.

It doesn’t take a purist to recognize the kinship of this excitingly styled car to its Running Mate, the Cougar XR-7. If its youthful looks and bold stance don’t tell you, its ride most certainly will. You’ll find both 4-door and 2-door offer generous room for relaxing as you drive. Quiet. Smooth. Responsive to your bidding. Just a few moments at the wheel, or as a passenger, and you, too, will become a Mercury enthusiast!

Features (cont.):

• Deluxe wheel covers
• Deluxe steering wheel
• Electric clock
• Cut-pile carpeting
• 12-inch day/night rearview mirror
• Concealed windshiled wipers
• Inside hood release
• Full compliment of Ford Motor Company Lifeguard Design safety features

1977 Mercury Cougar

Mercury Cougar! A beautiful idea for families who would like to enter the exciting world of the Cat Set without a setback in their budget.

This is the year of the cat, make no mistake about it! And if your family is ready for the fun that this new kind of Cougar has in store, maybe it’s the year of your cat! It’s our Cougar XR-7’s most affordable Running Mate, a real show-winner on its own. Choose the 2-door hard-top or the 4-door sedan. Like all other Cougar models, it can be made personally yours with a long list of options ranging from sports instrumentation group to anew AM/FM/MPxX radio with Quadrasonic-8 tape player.

And of course this Cougar’s wonderful ride is made even more so by the family-room comfort of its generously dimensioned interior. Standard Bench Seat decor in jade cloth-and-vinyl is shown at the top left.

It is also available in the following:

• Dove Grey
• Dark Red
• Medium Blue
• Chamois
• Saddle

Illustrated below left is the optional bucket seat interior in saddle-with-white vinyl.

Also available in the other colors mentioned above.

Features (cont.):

• Dual headlamps
• 2-Spoke color-keyed steering wheel
• Cut-pile carpeting
• 12-inch day/night rearview mirror
• Concealed windshiled wipers
• Inside hood release
• Full compliment of Ford Motor Company Lifeguard Design safety features

1977 Mercury Cougar Dimensions

1978 Mercury Cougar

1978 Mercury Cougar XR-7

Cougar XR-7 is the luxurious and exciting extension of the spirited and untamed Cougar personality. The embodiment of personal luxury and comfort in a true intermediate size automobile. A car whose increasing sales are the foundation for its greatness, a classic and handsome motif different than its peers.

Cougar XR-7 is indeed glamour and excitement. Yet when you get beyond its beautiful and exciting attributes and enjoy Cougar XR-7 ownership, you discover a well-engineered automobile.

From its inception it was accepted as motoring excitement by those who love Cougar as a fun-to-own automobile. Ride-engineered, Cougar XR-7 is a masterful combination of form and function, built and tested to please today’s action crowd. You’ll sense it as an exquisitely balanced machine. Its responsive 5.0 Litre (302 CID) V-8 engine purrs contentedly. And Select-Shift automatic transmission, power brakes and power steering are all standard. And you’ll feel pride in its bold, innovative exterior and interior styling.

1978 Mercury Cougar XR-7 with Decor Option

In addition to the Midnight/Chamois Decor Option car, Cougar XR-7 offers another choice in elegance, the Cougar XR-7 with Decor Option. In it, too, you find an emphasis on refinement, on comfort and luxury. Its exterior styling is readily recognizable as XR-7, with its graceful linear theme grille and rectangular headlamp treatment, its “Continental” style rear tire deck. And, as are all Cougars, the XR-7 with Decor Option is ride-engineered, and possesses a lively, responsive 5.0 litre (302 CID) V-8 engine, 5.8 litre (351 CID) or 6.6 litre (400 CID) V-8 required in California), with all drive train components working as a unit to provide a pleasing experience.

Features (cont.):

• Dual headlamps
• Unique Cougar wheel covers
• Deluxe steering wheel
• Baby burl walnut woodtone instrument panel appliques
• Cut-pile carpeting
• Day / night rearview mirror
• Concealed windshield wipers
• Dual-note horn
• Glove box with lock
• Inside hood release

You’ll find a high level of interior execution in the Cougar XR-7 with Decor Option, as the interior shown left reveals. It is in saddle color vinyl and features Twin Comfort Lounge seats with a passenger recliner. If you prefer, bucket seats and a console are also available.

When you choose Cougar XR-7 with the Decor Option you get the complete catalog of standard XR-7 engineering, comfort and convenience features plus the following items:

• Styled road wheels (4)
• Full-length bodyside molding with color-keyed vinyl inserts
• Color-keyed remote control rearview mirrors
• Choice of Twin Comfort Lounge seats and passenger recliner or bucket seats with console
• Luxury steering wheel
• Decor door trim panel
• 18 ounce Tiffany carpeting
• Deluxe seat belts
• Hood stripes

1978 Mercury Cougar with Brougham Option

Cougar with Brougham Option adds gracious elegance. Standard features include opera windows on 2-door models and opera windows and full vinyl roof on 4-doors. Flight Bench seats, electric clock, deluxe steering wheel, deluxe wheel covers, paint stripes and bright moldings throughout help complete its picture beauty interior and exterior.

For even more beauty and luxury, add the Cougar Brougham Decor Group Option. It includes Twin Comfort Lounge seats with passenger recliner (or bucket seats and console with 2-door models), plush 18 ounce Tiffany carpeting, luxury steering wheel and deluxe seat belts. The harmonious effect is a unity of conception and execution in this gracious interior design. Exteriors of two- and four-door models also include wide color-keyed vinyl insert bodyside moldings to enhance the already elegant styling.

The striking motif of the Cougar Brougham interior with the Decor Group Option, is pure luxury and comfort on wheels. But only through a test drive can you truly appreciate what Cougar Brougham has to offer. And, as you drive, take note of admiring eyes that follow your course along city streets. For Cougar has the styling that attracts, the elegant lines that provoke envious glances.

Take Cougar on the highway, around a few curves, through city streets. Only when you personally sit in Cougar’s comfortable cockpit, turn the starter switch and take off along your own kind of roads, can you truly appreciate Cougar for 1978.

And there are so many ways in which you can make your Cougar choice reflect your own personality. There’s such a wide range of options to choose from you’ll find real pleasure in personalizing your Cougar. Items to beautify your Cougar even more. To put added convenience and fun into your driving, to bring you more comfort as you watch the miles swing by.

1978 Mercury Cougar

In 2-door hardtop and 4-door pillared hardtop models, this is the most affordable Cougar, priced surprisingly low for a fine automobile offering so much in styling, comfort and driving satisfaction. Whichever you choose, 2-door hardtop or 4-door pillared hardtop, your car is thoroughbred Cougar, ready to take you where you want to go in comfort. A car of sensible size that permits six-passenger seating inside, yet is trim enough outside for maneuvering and parking Front to back, Cougar was engineered to serve your needs. Its trunk capacity — 17.1 cubic feet with the no-extra-cost inflatable spare tire option — provides the roominess today’s active people on the go need for short of long trips.

On the freeways or in urban areas, Cougar is an eye-catcher. Front to rear its styling says excitement. There’s the distinctive Cougar hood ornament. Dual rectangular headlamps. Wraparound parking lamps with integral side markers. And so much more. With all it has to offer, this most affordable Cougar is rich in standard features.

Illustrated here is Cougar’s optional bucket seat interior in dark jade vinyl.

They are also available in the following:

• Dove Grey
• Russet
• Medium Blue
• Chamois
• Saddle

On Cougar XR-7 models there is also a choice of six tu-tone white combinations. So plush an interior is especially appreciated in an automobile as affordable as Cougar. The seats, beautifully finished, cradle you in comfort. Your feet rest on cut-pile carpeting. You are surrounded by touches of comfort designed to raise your spirits and add to the pleasure of driving Cougar.

And driving Cougar is pure fun. Before your eyes is Cougar’s handsome instrument panel, with gauges and instruments conveniently and harmoniously placed. Controls, easy to reach. Cougar was designed with driver convenience and comfort foremost in mind.

And Cougar offers so many options that enable you to tailor your Cougar to your own personality, like the following:

• Day / date clock
• Landau or front vinyl roof for your 2-door
• Full vinyl roof for the 4-door.
• Deluxe, luxury or wire wheel covers.
• And you can while away the fleeting miles with any one of six radio combinations.

If driving is your passion, if you want comfort and excitement plus sporty appeal, a car that’s thrilling and a source of pride to own and navigate, you should try Cougar.

Equipment (cont.):

• 10 ounce cut-pile carpet
• Simulated rosewood applique on instrument panel
• Lockable glove box
• Day / night rearview mirror
• Dual rectangular headlamps
• Vertical theme swing-away grille with bright surround molding
• Bright windshield molding
• Full wheellip moldings
• Bright outside rearview mirror
• Bright backlite moldings
• Bright taillight bezels with ornament
• Cougar script on deck-lid

Mercury Cougar: Sporty Luxury

Six great Cougars to choose from. All are ride-engineered, their engines, transmissions, matched gear ratios and suspension capabilities combining to help provide Cougar’s ride. Following are some of the features that make owning Cougar a stimulating experience.

Hood Ornament

A dramatic symbol of Cougar’s total commitment to styling, ride and comfort. You’ll find it prominently displayed on both Cougar XR-7 and Cougar 2- and 4-door models

Front Suspension

Fully independent coil springs and shock absorbers cushion front wheel movements, to soak up the bumps. A link-type front stabilizer bar fights excessive sway and “lean” when cornering.

Rear Suspension

The rear suspension is based on calibrated helical coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers, with rubber bushings at all pivot points.

Cougar is a car you will have to personally drive to fully appreciate. Test Cougar and enjoy.

Cougar Developement

The development of a Cougar from drawing board to finished car was a lengthy and involved process. After design approval for product styling, the conceptual car came to life in a three dimensional clay model.

This was produced under the supervision of Ford stylists by applying warm clay over a wooden armature. As the clay was applied, measurements within 1/10,000 inch control the shape of every surface. Once the final design was completed and approved, the car was ready for engineering and manufacturing.

Meanwhile, in Ford’s Utica Trim Plant, approved interior appointments were assembled, everything from instrument panels and upholstery to door pulls.

1979 Mercury Cougar

Cougar carries the tradition of personal luxury another step ahead for 1979. It provides room and sophisticated surroundings without sacrificing the adventurous feeling you want in an automobile.

Unleashing Mercury Cougar XR-7 for 1979. An Exciting Extention of Cougar’s Untamed Personality.

Pictured below is the 1979 Cougar XR-7 with the Chamois Decor Group option. Note the black finish with chamois color accents that set off XR-7’s distinctive styling. Adding a sophisticated look to XR-7 is the half-vinyl roof with its unique crossover strap motif, and the padded “Continental-type” tire deck. Also included in this special XR-7 Chamois Decor Group are bodyside paint stripes, full-length bodyside moldings with color-keyed vinyl inserts, and
styled wheels.

In addition to Cougar XR-7, there are two-door and four-door Cougars with Brougham Option, and the Mercury Cougar two-door and four-door models. A wide choice in fine Cougars to help make entry into the Cat Set compatible with your budget and taste.

 Creature comforts are not overlooked in Cougar. Consider the Chamois Decor option interior with bucket seats and console shown above.

The saddle Huntsman Cloth upholstery, trimmed here in chamois vinyl, is also available in blue with chamois trim.

Other interior amenities include door trim panels pleated to harmonize with the seat design, and with a carpeted lower section.

Walnut woodtone appliques adorn the two-spoke luxury steering wheel, the instrument panel cluster and area above the locking glove box.

Deep-pile Tiffany carpeting, padded door armrests and deluxe seat belts are other Chamois Decor Group interior features.

And note, the spaciousness of the Cougar luggage compartment, with the inflatable space-saver tire available as replacement for the conventional spare at no extra cost.

1979 Mercury Cougar Brougham

Mercury Cougar with Brougham Option Elegamnce. A Glamourous Way to Join the Cat Set.

The Mercury Cougar with Brougham Option is available as a four-door pillared hardtop or two-door hardtop. You see the four-door pictured below in dove grey. With its full vinyl roof, opera windows, fine paint stripes on the upper body, full-length bright bodyside moldings and deluxe wheel covers, it is a family car with flair. And it’s all Cougar.

For added good looks and comfort with your Brougham Option, you can include the Decor Group option. This features Twin Comfort Lounge seats with passenger recliner. Also included: nylon cut-pile carpeting, luxury steering wheel, deluxe seat belts and color-keyed vinyl inserts in wide bodyside moldings.

The AM/FM stereo radio with search feature is one of seven radio/radio-tape combinations to help entertain you as the miles pass by. You can add to that choice a 40-channel CB that uses the radio speaker system. There is a large list of Cougar options—all designed to add to the pleasure of Cougar ownership.

Features (cont.):

• Flight Bench seat with folding center armrest
• Choice of cloth-and-viny! or all-vinyl luxurious interior trim
• Door trim with carpeted lower area
• Deluxe steering wheel
• Deluxe sound insulation package

1979 Mercury Cougar XR-7

Mercury Cougar XR-7. A Unique Personal Car.

Year after year, since its introduction, Cougar XR-7 has represented excitement in a sporty personal car. Check the 1979 XR-7 shown below in the new-for-79 dark red exterior. Note the new one-piece grille with body color tape and black and bright accents. Also note the new headlamps and parking lamp frames. And there are seven new exterior colors among the total of fifteen, and three new color choices for the vinyl roof (nine in all).

XR-7’s optional bucket seats with console, like dove grey, are just one of the seating and color choices you have when you choose Cougar XR-7.

Door panels are designed to harmonize with the trim in style and color.

As with any Cougar you select, you have more than sixty options to help personalize your XR-7.

There’s the comfort of air conditioning, for one.

Then there’s the Sports Instrumentation Group with ampere, engine oil pressure and engine temperature gauges, trip odometer, tachometer and luxury color-keyed steering wheel and column.

Another option is the wire wheel covers available with optional whitewall steel-belted tires.

Features (cont.):

• Deluxe steering wheel
• Hood rear edge molding
• Upper bodyside paint stripes
• Opera windows with louvers
• Fully padded Landau vinyl roof
• Decklid with lock cover, lower molding and paint stripe
• Horizontal theme taillamps w/bright horizontal bars
• Dual-note horn

1979 Mercury Cougar

Mercury Cougar. Stylish and Affordable.

The most affordable Mercury Cougar is available as either a 2-door hardtop or 4-door pillared hardtop. Like all Cougars, it is ride-engineered.

The 2-door Cougar hardtop is shown below in medium dark orange metallic, one of its seven new colors for ’79. And Cougar’s practical size is trim enough for easy parking and maneuverability, yet permits comfortable seating for six.

 And you can personalize your Mercury Cougar from an extensive list of available options, like with the AM/FM radio and Day/Date electric clock.

Options to Personalize your 1979 Mercury Cougar

With respect to extra-cost optional equipment, make certain you specify the type of equipment you desire on your vehicle when ordering it from your dealer. Before taking delivery of the vehicle, we suggest that you verify that it includes the optional equipment you ordered or if there are changes, they are acceptable to you. Some options have restricted availability or require other options as a requirement of availability. See your dealer for details.

a. Power moonroof. (Cougar XR-7 only.)
b. Illuminated visor vanity mirror.

c. 6-way power seats. (Driver’s side only w/bucket or Twin Comfort seat.)
d. Illuminated Entry System provides ring of light around front key holes and interior lights are activated by lifting outside door handles.
e. Power lock group. Includes decklid release and power door locks.
f. Citizens Band radio option. (Only in combination with radio or radio/tape option.)
g. Available Cougar wheels: (l to r) Luxury Wheel Covers, Deluxe Wheel Covers, Styled Steel Wheel w/bright trim rings(4), Wire Wheel Covers, Styled Road Wheels(4), Cast Aluminum Wheels(4).

Production Numbers

1977-79 Mercury Cougar Press Releases, Promotions & Advertising

1977 Mercury Cougar XR-7 2-Door Sedan Postcard

1977 Mercury Cougar Brougham 4-Door Pillared Hardtop Postcard

1978 Mercury Cougar Brougham 4-Door Sedan 3D Dealership Showroom Promo Sign

1978 Mercury Cougar XR-7 w/ Optional Decor Group Postcard

1978 Mercury Cougar Brougham 4-Door Sedan Postcard

1979 Mercury Cougar 2-Door Sedan Postcard

Colors of the 1977-79 Mercury Cougar

Paint Code: 1C | Ditzler #: 9000, 9300 | Paint Color: Black

Paint Code: 1G | Ditzler #: 2593 | Paint Color: Silver Metallic

Paint Code: 1N | Ditzler #: 2847 | Paint Color: Dove Grey

Paint Code: 2J | Ditzler #: 3175 | Paint Color: Maroon

Paint Code: 2M | Ditzler #: 2609 | Paint Color: Dark Red

Paint Code: 2P | Ditzler #: 3169 | Paint Color: Bright Red

Paint Code: 3A | Ditzler #: 3035 | Paint Color: Dark Midnight Blue

Paint Code: 3G | Ditzler #: 2472 | Paint Color: Bright Dark Blue Metallic

Paint Code: 3H | Ditzler #: 3033 | Paint Color: Medium Blue Metallic

Paint Code: 3U | Ditzler #: 2907 | Paint Color: Light Blue

Paint Code: 3V | Ditzler #: 2908 | Paint Color: Bright Blue Metallic

Paint Code: 46 | Ditzler #: 2725 | Paint Color: Dark Jade Metallic

Paint Code: 5N | Ditzler #: 3173 | Paint Color: Medium Dark Orange Metallic

Paint Code: 6P | Ditzler #: 2790 | Paint Color: Cream

Paint Code: 7L | Ditzler #: 2911 | Paint Color: Light Jade Metallic (1977) / Medium Jade Metallic (1978-79)

Paint Code: 7W | Ditzler #: 3044 | Paint Color: Medium Jade

Paint Code: 8N | Ditzler #: 2920 | Paint Color: Dark Cordovan Metallic

Paint Code: 8W | Ditzler #: 2923 | Paint Color: Chamois Metallic

Paint Code: 85 | Ditzler #: 3058 | Paint Color: Tangerine

Paint Code: 83 | Ditzler #: 3057 | Paint Color: Light Chamois

Paint Code: 9D | Ditzler #: 2684 | Paint Color: White