HomeCar CultureMy Classic Car: Her Majesty’s Cougar XR-7 Convertible

My Classic Car: Her Majesty’s Cougar XR-7 Convertible

A "Top Kat"

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In 1972 I went to the $0.49 movie theater on Hollywood Blvd. to see the film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. I was 12 years old and a little bummed out because Sean Connery had quit playing the lead role of James Bond. I needn’t have worried, it was a great film.
This was the first time I had ever seen a Mercury Cougar Convertible. In those days Bond films were always about beautiful people, in beautiful places, wearing beautiful clothes, driving beautiful machines. It’s no wonder that they used a Cougar driven by the lovely actress Diana Rigg.

Joe’s Mercury Cougar enjoying the ocean view

It was love at first sight for me with the Cougar, although Diana came in a close second. After seeing the movie, I vowed to myself that one day I would own a Cougar convertible.

In 2014 I was looking on ClassicCars.com, and I found a beautiful 1970 Cougar XR-7 Convertible. The thing about Cougars is: they really are an elegant, upscale Mustang with very unique features. I love the front grille with, as the ads of the day said, “dual concealed headlamps that gleam by night and hide by day” and “rear turn signals that flicker in sequence.” After a little soul searching I decided to buy the car.

Joe and his Cougar

The car is a real work of art. If you look at the center hood and front grille, you will see the nose of a cat. Also, the very front fenders resemble a cat’s ear. Amazingly, out of some 4,000 1970 Cougar convertibles built, only three came in this color combination of a Competition Gold exterior and Dark Tobacco Leather interior. Sometimes I think this must be the only Cougar on the planet in this color combination. This would make it one very rare cat indeed!

Joe C., California

11 COMMENTS

  1. I don’t care about the color combo, I just want to know how many people ordered their trunk lids hacked up with that ugly luggage rack. Ive never seen one.

    • As a teen I had a 67 Cougar XR7, I bought a 1968 Cougar XR7 20 years ago and drive it daily. I show at car shows and been to car shows. Never seen a 67,68,69 or 70 with EITHER a roof or trunk rack. Horrendous.

  2. The original luggage rack for this car was an over-the-counter dealer accessory called the rotunda. It was better styled than this imitation. Reproductions are available and the buyer could replace it with the proper one if the holes are drilled the same.

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