1967 Mercury Cougar Resources

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1967 Mercury Cougar Facts – Body Paint Color Codes

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1967 Cougar

1967 Mercury Cougar Facts and Specifications

General Year Information – 1967 Mercury Cougar  Facts

Why the Cougar
Unlike what GM did with the Pontiac Firebird and the Chevrolet Camaro where the two models we merely each Division’s interpretation of the same car, the Mercury Cougar was intended to create its own market segment apart from Mustang. It would combine attributes of a pony car and a personal luxury car. Slotted between the Mustang and the Thunderbird, the Cougar offered more comfort and features than the Mustang and was tuned for better road manners than the Thunderbird.

A Big First For Mercury
The Mercury Cougar was released by Lincoln-Mercury on September 30, 1966. Far exceeding initial sales projections, the Cougar would account for nearly 40% of the 1967 sales of the entire Lincoln-Mercury division! In contrast to the Mustang, the Cougar was initially released solely as a two-door hardtop. Priced $284 more than the equivalent Ford Mustang, the base price of the Cougar was $2,854. A fully-optioned Cougar XR-7 reached $4,500, essentially matching the base price of the Ford Thunderbird. Exactly as Mercury projected in their initial marketing strategy.

The Cougar received the 1967 Motor Trend Car of the Year award, becoming the first and only) Mercury vehicle to do so.
This first-generation Cougar shared its chassis with the Mustang’s 1967 revision. The Cougar has a longer wheelbase than the Mustang, extended 3 inches to 111 inches. Both vehicles derive their underpinnings from the rear-wheel drive Ford Falcon unibody compact chassis architecture.

At its launch, the first-generation Cougar shared its engine lineup with the Mustang, however it only offered V-8 engines exclusively. A 289 CID V-8 was available in either two-barrel 200 HP or a four-barrel carburetor 225 version. Like the Mustang, a 390 CID “Marauder” V-8 was offered as an option. It produced 320 HP. When So equipped the car was annotated as a “Cougar GT”.

The 1967 Cougar featured a unique body design while continuing the popular “long-hood, short-deck” proportions of the Mustang. The model line was marketed as having “European” style and features. It was the first Lincoln-Mercury vehicle with hidden headlamps. These headlight doors were powered by vacuum actuators with one for each headlight door. The vacuum was provided by the engine and stored in a reservoir under the fender. The front fascia was distinguished by a split grille, featuring vertically slatted chrome trim. The rear fascia was styled similarly, concealing dark-lens taillamps behind vertically-slatted trim. Significant was the standard sequential turn signals that were adopted from the Thunderbird.

The $185 upgrade to the XR-7 brought further European influence; in addition to a simulated wood-trim dashboard, were full instrumentation with black-face gauges, toggle switches instead of buttons, and even an overhead console. The Cougar was offered with nearly every Mercury option, including the ultra-rare speed control. A “Tilt-Away” steering wheel found on the Thunderbird was also offered – this was a power-operated steering column that swung up and out of the way when the driver’s door was opened and the transmission in “park” with the ignition off.

Cougar Goes Racing
In 1967, NASCAR race car builder, Bud Moore, campaigned Mercury Cougars in the Trans-Am Series with Ford Motor Company factory support. (This allowed them to use the Hi-Po 289 CID parts in the race Cougars). The team featured drivers Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Peter Revson, David Pearson, and Ed Leslie. Ultimately, Mercury lost the championship to Ford by two points! but it was a huge marketing success for Cougar – it labeled the car as a performance vehicle as well as a luxury Pony Car.

Historical Notes
Only 7,412 Cougars came with the optional front bench seat. Just 5.3 percent were equipped with a four-speed manual transmission. 123,672 Cougars were delivered and the mid-year introduction XR-7 added 27,221 to total production. It was a smash success for Mercury!

1967 Mercury Cougar Facts – Powertrains

• Transmission Ratios
  
• • Three-Speed Manual Transmission
    • 289 V-8: First: 2.99:1, Second: 1.75:1, Third 1:1. Reverse: 3.17:1.
    • 390 V-8: First: 2.42:1, Second: 1.61:1, Third 1:1. Reverse: 2.33:1.
  • Four-Speed Manual Transmission
    • 289 V-8: First: 2.78:1, Second: 1.93:1, Third 1.36:1, Fourth: 1:1. Reverse: 2.78:1.
    • 390 V-8  V-8: First: 2.32:1, Second: 1.69:1, Third: 1.29:1, Fourth: 1:1. Reverse: 2.32:1 (This is a heavy duty unit).
  • Three-Speed Automatic Transmission
    • 289 CID: Low: 2.46:1, Second: 1.46:1, Direct 1.00:1. Reverse: 2.20:1. Max Stall: 2.02:1.
    • 390 CID: Low: 2.46:1, Second: 1.46:1, Direct 1.00:1. Reverse: 2.18:1. Max Stall: 2.10:1.
• Rear Axle Ratios
• • 200 HP V-8:
    • Three Speed: 2.80:1; 3.20:1 optional.
    • Four-speed: 2.80:1; 3.20:1 optional.
    • Automatic: 2.80:11; 3.20:1 optional.
  • 225 HP V-8:
    • Three Speed: 3.00:1.
    • Four-speed: 3.00:1.
    • Automatic: 3.00:1.
  • 320 HP 390 CID V-8
    • Three Speed: 3.00:1; 3.25:1 optional.
    • Four-speed: 3.00:1; 3.25:1 optional.
    • Automatic: 3.00:1; 3.25:1 optional
  • Equa-lock axle available on all models.

1967 Mercury Cougar Facts – Powertrain Options

Engines

• • Challenger 200 horsepower V-8 ($106).
  • Challenger four-barrel 225 horsepower V-8 ($158).
  • 390 CID 4V GT V-8 ($265).
  • NOTE: Ford authorized the 271 horsepower high-performance V-8 including Special Handling Package for Cougar. Not mentioned in early literature. See: Cougar Goes Racing.

Transmissions

• • Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission optional.
  • Four-speed manual floor shift transmission, standard with XR-7, optional all others.
  • Three-speed manual transmission standard, except XR-7.

GT Performance Package

• • The GT performance package included the 390 CID V-8, a special handling package, wide-oval whitewall tires, low back-pressure dual exhausts, power disc brakes, and identifying medallions.

1967 Mercury Cougar Facts – Significant Options

• • Air conditioning ($355.95).
  • Comfort-weave vinyl interior ($33.05).
  • Courtesy light group ($16.85).
  • Deck lid luggage carrier ($32.45).
  • Door edge guards ($4.40).
  • Electric clock ($15.76).
  • Front bench seat with center armrest ($24.42).
  • Heavy-duty battery ($7.44).
  • Oxford roof ($84.25).
  • Power brakes ($42.29).
  • Power disc brakes ($84.25).
  • Power steering ($95).
  • Radio, AM ($60.05).
  • Radio, Am with Stereo-Sonic tape system ($188.50).
  • Radio, AM/FM ($133.65).
  • Rear bumper guards ($12.95).
  • Shoulder belts ($27.06).
  • Speed control ($71.30).
  • Sports console ($57).
  • Styled steel wheels ($115.15).
  • Tilt steering wheel ($60.05).
  • Tinted glass ($30.25).
  • Tinted windshield ($21.09).
  • Two-tone paint ($27.06).
  • Visual check panel ($39.50).
  • Wheel covers, deluxe ($18.79).
  • Wheel covers, wire ($69.51).