The Mercury Cougar XR7 Convertible is a stylish and powerful muscle car. With limited production numbers, especially for those equipped with the potent 428 Cobra Jet engine, finding an original build in excellent condition is almost impossible. This piece is about one of its rarest units, distinguished by other exclusive features besides the engine.

A Rarity With a Rich History 

Mercury produced the Cougar for 34 years across eight generations, making it the second-longest vehicle after the Grand Marquis. The brand started the line in 1967 as its iteration of the Ford Mustang (its parent company). As a middle ground between the sporty Mustangs and the personal luxury Thunderbirds, Chevrolet marketed the Cougar as a “cat” vehicle.

1970 Mercury Cougar XR7 Convertible

Cougar’s convertible was a smoother ride than the Mustang due to its extended rear leaf springs and longer wheelbase. This two-door pillarless hardtop was also less extravagant than the Thunderbird. It has several V8 engines, including the 351 V8 with 300 HP, the Boss 302, and the 428 Cobra Jet with 335 HP.

The XR7 Has The Looks

Mercury designed the Cougar XR7 to look like an elegant European grand touring car. With 6.7 inches more than a 1967 Mustang, it had hidden headlights, a distinctive grille, and sequential taillights. The Cougar XR7 also had a luxurious interior with wood-grain accents, toggle switches, and an overhead binnacle of warning lights, making it sleeker than the Mustang. 

This Exclusive Car Was a Movie Star

Joining elite supercars like Aston Martins and BMWs, the XR7 appeared in a 007 film. Diana Rigg drove a red one in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” as she and George Lazenby’s James Bond tried to escape Blofeld’s henchmen on an ice racing track. Producers chose this elegant yet untamed muscle car to reflect Tracy’s polished but reckless nature.

Its Special 428 Cobra Jet Engine Was “More Than Meet the Eye”

The 1969-1970 428 Cobra Jet engine was deceptively powerful. Although Ford claimed 335 HP and 440 lb.-ft. of torque, the rating seemed off. These figures were soon debunked, leading the NHRA to place the 428 CJ in higher classes. Despite NHRA adjustments, Ford never corrected the figure, and the true horsepower of a stock 428 CJ remains a mystery.

Other Models Had to Cop This Impressive Engine

Besides being in the XR7, the 428 Cobra Jet engine powered several Ford and Mercury models from 1968-1970. These included the Ford Mustang (1968-1970), Ford Fairlane (1968-1969), Ford Torino (1968-1969), Ford Cobra (1969), Mercury Cyclone and CJ (1968-1969), Mercury Montego (1969), Mercury Comet (1968), and Shelby GT500KR (1968).  

The Four-Speed Transmission Was Limited-Edition 

Mercury fitted the Cougar XR7 with both 4-speed manual and 3-speed Merc-O-Matic SelectShift automatic transmissions. The former had a clutch pedal and gear shift lever, each offering different torque and speed levels. This one-off car is one of the 17 units with the four-speed.

Proving the Rarity of This Rare Find

This 1970 Mercury Cougar XR7 convertible with a four-speed Ram Air 428 Cobra Jet engine is exceptionally rare. Mercury only built 66 units with the 428 CJ engine, and just 17 had the four-speed manual transmission. Reportedly, only two were painted Competition Blue, and this car is the only one with a black leather interior.

This XR7 Still Has Original Parts Despite Other Factory Upgrades 

After a lengthy inspection, this rare Q-code was in great shape, retaining many original parts. Although it underwent a rotisserie restoration in 2015 to preserve its factory blue paint, its black power top, center console, power front disc brakes, power steering, and intermittent wipers are in excellent condition.

Further Performance Improvements on its Engine

The restoration featured a period-correct 428-cubic inch Cobra Jet V8 engine (non-numbers matching), upgraded with hardened valve seats for unleaded fuel, balanced, and blueprinted. This powerful muscle car delivered an impressive 391 HP during dyno testing. To add to its allure, it has only covered 200 miles since its meticulous restoration.

This XR7 is a Valuable Collectible Item

Carroll Shelby prepped and tuned all four XR7 Convertibles used in the James Bond film. One was destroyed during filming, and another resides in the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. Considering the current locations of other units are shrouded in mystery, muscle car enthusiasts will struggle to find a more original Cobra Jet-equipped car than this Blue Cougar.