Just about every gearhead out there looks back fondly at their high school ride. Wile some of you may still have your first car, most everyone (myself included) sold their teenage chariot long ago. For me, it’s complicated: I had no less than four cars between my junior and senior years of high school. The first was a 1985 Honda Civic “Wagon/Van” thing that so bad it never made it to the road, and the second was a rusty 1964 Buick Skylark that was powered (and I use the term loosely) by a 225 “Fireball” V6 whose prime was left in 1967 or so. Numbers three and four were nearly identical 1987 Mercury Cougar XR-7’s. The story of their acquisition is a funny one: I had family who worked at a local dealership that had those “PUSH IT! PULL IT! TOW IT FOR GUARANTEED TRADE!!!!” promotions all the time, and their small wholesale lot overflowed with project fodder. They let employees snag cars prior to shipping them to the auction, and for some … [Read more...] about Rare Fox: This 1986 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Turbo Is A Nearly Extinct 80’s Performance Car You Probably Forgot Existed!
Mercury cougar
Automoblog Book Garage: The Complete Book of Classic Ford & Mercury Muscle Cars
The 2018 Mustang GT has the whole nine: a redesigned 5.0-liter V8, quicker response times for the 10-speed SelectShift transmission, and even custom-designed Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires in the Performance Pack. The new 5.0 registers 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque, and hits 60 in less than four seconds in Drag Strip mode. If there ever was an American performance car, this is it. And modern technology has taken nicely to the great pony car. However, the glory days stand tall, thanks to the work of author Donald Farr, who penned this recently-released wonderful gem we are featuring this weekend. The new Mustang might be hot but these old Fords sure could stoke the fire. Total Performance The Complete Book of Classic Ford and Mercury Muscle Cars spans the Blue Oval’s catalog of classic machines from the early 1960s to 1973. Farr takes us through this prolific time, from the Fairlanes and Galaxies with their 390 bigblock V8s to the iconic Shelby … [Read more...] about Automoblog Book Garage: The Complete Book of Classic Ford & Mercury Muscle Cars
Rare Rides: The Mercury Monarch Which is Grand and Ghia and 1976
Our own Sajeev Mehta pointed out this grey brougham box the other day. He always keeps his ear to the pulse of the Internets for any old Ford, Ghia, or Ford Ghia vehicles which come up for sale. It’s luxury and elegance on a Grand level! Come have a look. Mercury was no stranger to using the Monarch name on cars; it first appeared in Canada in the 1940s. Ford rebadged higher-end Mercury vehicles and sold them over the border as Monarchs. Lower-level Mercury cars became Meteors (once Monarch disappeared; Ford provided the bodies earlier on). Canadians must hate the word “mercury.” But why? In the United States, the Monarch nameplate was a short-lived one. On offer at Mercury dealerships between 1975 and 1980, the good people at Ford used the Granada as a starting place for an upmarket Mercury version. Mercury customers received a different grille and light arrangements front and rear, as well as luxurious trim. Trim is an important consideration for our Rare Ride … [Read more...] about Rare Rides: The Mercury Monarch Which is Grand and Ghia and 1976
Chat with Steve Magnante on Episode 4 of Junkyard Gold!
Steve Magnante digs deep into Denver’s Colorado Auto & Parts and pulls up some serious muscle cars on episode four of Junkyard Gold. He finds a 1965 Mustang 2+2, four-speed car, a 1968 390 monster, and a worse for wear four-speed Mercury Cougar. He also spots a 1968 Pontiac GTO Convertible as well as a 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst Convertible mystery car. You’ll also get to ask Steve questions as you watch the episode. That’s right! If you use the new commenting feature on MTOD, Steve will be answering any and all of your questions! Head over to Motor Trend on Demand right now and check it out. … [Read more...] about Chat with Steve Magnante on Episode 4 of Junkyard Gold!
Daniel Sexton Gurney, 1931–2018
“Motor racing has been very kind to me,” wrote Dan Gurney for the New York Times sports pages in 1975. “It has exposed me and those around me to a wide spectrum of experiences, from utter tragedy to intoxicating joy and happiness. Tears at both ends—and a very worldly and interesting in‐between.” In an era when anything seemed possible, Daniel Sexton Gurney did everything. His wife, Evi, has confirmed that Gurney died just before noon on January 14, 2018, at age 86, leaving behind one of the most singularly impressive biographies of any sort in American history. Pretty much all the legends about him—from his brilliant driving to his winning cars and fearless innovations—are true. Gurney was born April 13, 1931, in Port Jefferson on Long Island, New York, into an athletic and artistic family that was an unlikely incubator of racing talent. Gurney’s parents met at Ohio’s Oberlin College, where they … [Read more...] about Daniel Sexton Gurney, 1931–2018