1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G Prototype Ad Card
1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G Prototype LM Calendar Blue
1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G Prototype LM Calendar Green

1967 Detroit Auto Show

Mercury Cougar XR7-G Prototype @ 1967 Detroit Auto Show
Mercury Cougar XR7-G Prototype @ 1967 Detroit Auto Show

Note the Differences

The following images are close-ups of the Mercury Cougar XR7-G Prototype. Since this was a 1967 Cougar XR-7 that had been modified into the XR7-G Prototype, you will note that some of these atlerations were changed when the 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G came rolling off the line. 

The rearview mirror is mounted to the headliner, not the windshield.

Mercury Cougar XR7-G Prototype Rear View Mirror

The side marker light and rear reflector didn’t make it to production. Both are flush to the body and the rear reflec­tor looks like it has a running cat mounted on the fender covering part of the reflector.

Mercury Cougar XR7-G Prototype Side Marker Lights

There is a small rectangular fender badge located low on the fender that didn’t make it to production. Within the rectangle is an almost square dark area with maybe a running cat at the front. The lighter area behind the dark area looks like it may have some writing on it.

Mercury Cougar XR7-G Prototype Fender Badge

The fog lights are mounted out board where theparking lights would normally be. There doesnot appear to be any parking lights. The produc­tion G cars have the fog lights mounted inboard,one on each side of the license plate and retainthe standard parking lights.

Mercury Cougar XR7-G Prototype Fog Lights

The hood scoop has three dividers and the pro­duction scoop has two.

Mercury Cougar XR7-G Prototype Hood Scoop

Hood Pin Clips do not have lanyards.

Mercury Cougar XR7-G Prototype Hood Pin Clips

 Right hand racing mirror didn’t make it to production. In the picture, it is mounted so close to the vent window that the window cannot be opened.

Mercury Cougar XR7-G Prototype Hood Racing Mirror

Dan Gurney has stated that he didn’t have anything to do with the Mercury Cougar XR7-G, except get his picture taken with the cars.

Text from The Big Book Mercury Cougar: The Classic Years 1967-1973

Compare the XR7-G’s

For comparison, please not the subtle differents on a production 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G.

1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G
Dan Gurney & 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G