Vehicle Description
Introduced as an upscale alternative to Ford's beloved Mustang, the
Mercury Cougar was about as close as buyers could get to a
luxurious pony car. So, when Mercury debuted the Eliminator, a
package that gave buyers a chance to ditch most of those upscale
appointments in favor of stripped down performance, it seemed a
bit... Counterintuitive? That said, no one could deny neither the
legitimacy of the car's performance nor the effectiveness of its
'halo' appeal. And today, classics like this magazine-featured
Eliminator 428 are a paragon for both collectors and investors
alike. Looking for a different kind of pony car? This documented
ram air coupe is your weapon of choice!
GT-E-LIMINATOR
In May of 1969, this buff coupe was delivered to the hot and dry
suburbs of Ford's Atlanta Ordering District. Then, as now, the car
wore striking Bright Blue Metallic paint under White Eliminator
striping that's a perfect complement to Dean Beck's peaked profile
lines. That said, Ford's production-focused assembly wasn't nearly
as exacting as the car's professional, ground-up restoration. And
1970 single-stage just didn't possess the shine and durability of
modern 2-stage pigment. This coupe's big presence likely started
with big labor, as its sculpted body is nice enough to impress
pretty much anyone who lays eyes on it. There is little to fault in
the car's paintwork, which presents clear reflections and a
distinct absence of noteworthy flaws. And overall, this surly
Cougar is clean, solid and ready to prowl!
Nobody does power like Detroit, and nobody does pony cars like
Ford. When you combine those two dynamisms you get some of the
coolest muscle cars ever produced. And in the muscle car world,
appeal begins with aesthetics. The front of this Cougar is
dominated by a requisite blackout grille, which hangs epic emblems
between hidden headlights, a squared bumper and ornate parking
lamps. Above that grille, a "Cougar" branded header leads a pinned
hood, which centers a functional scoop in front of straight trim,
satin wipers and a correct, color-keyed mirror. At the sides of
that glass, chrome-trimmed marker lamps triangulate old school door
handles. And at the back of the car, small "Cougar" quarter scripts
lead a tall wing, ornate tail lamps and a second squared
bumper.
COBRA JET POWER
Hoist the hood and you'll find 428 cubic inches of legendary,
date-correct V8 that looks as fresh as the day it rolled out of the
restoration shop. Long regarded as one of the meanest MoTown mills
ever created, Ford's fabled Cobra Jet utilized revised heads, heavy
duty Le Mans connecting rods and a nodular iron crank to ensure
blue oval pony cars remained the kings of stoplight muscle. At the
top of the Ford Blue mill, factory Ram Air induction funnels wind
through a dressed and decaled air cleaner that's propped on a
modern Holley carburetor. At the sides of that carb, finned
aluminum valve covers shade restored exhaust manifolds. In front of
those tubes, a correct points distributor sequences fire through
pliable Autolite Radio Resistance cables. Below those wires,
reproduction Autolite hoses circulate water through era-correct
screw clamps and a grease-marked radiator. Items like correct air
conditioning and factory smog equipment add an increased level of
value and detail. And, if you're looking for a bit more
authenticity, the car's sale does include its vintage Holley
4-barrel.
PROVEN DEARBORN MECHANICALS
Take a look under this awesome coupe and you'll find clean, Red
Oxide floors that are restoration-fresh in virtually every way.
Just aft of the legendary V8, a numbers-matching C6 3-speed spins a
tough 9-inch axle that's finished with a Traction-Lok differential
and big, 3.73 gears. A factory-spec suspension centers correct
power steering between factory drum brakes. In the middle of the
car, an aluminized, true-dual exhaust system funnels spent gases
through an H-shaped crossover and throaty turbo mufflers. And at
the edges of the car, power meets pavement through correct Argent
wheels and F70-14 Goodyear Polyglas Custom Wide Treads.
STAY TRUE, STAY BLUE
Between the doors, a correct Blue interior features correct Hi-Back
vinyl seats that are complemented by black, Cougar-themed floor
mats. In front of those Comfort-Weave buckets, a monochromatic dash
founds rebuilt factory telemetry next to a rebuilt clock, correct
Philco audio and correct Whisper-Aire air conditioning. A simple
shifter is caged in clean carpet and correct, wood-trimmed Decor
Group side panels. And the driver spins an ornate, wood-trimmed
steering wheel.
Mixing a legendary drivetrain with incredible style, the Mercury
Cougar virtually defines exclusive Motor City muscle. And,
documented, restored and ready to turn heads, this
magazine-featured Eliminator 428 is a great choice for any
collector who's looking for a fun classic that doubles as a great
investment. Don't miss the chance to make this Merc a centerpiece
of your collection!
HIGHLIGHTS
Documented Cougar Eliminator 428 that's benefitted from a
professional, ground-up restoration
One of only 2,250 1969 Cougar Eliminators produced
One of only 302 1969 Cougar Eliminators equipped with a 428 Cobra
Jet V8
Date-correct 428 cubic inch Cobra Jet V8 / Correct ram air
induction
Numbers-matching C6 Cruise-O-Matic 3-speed automatic
transmission
Correct Ford 9-inch rear axle / Traction-Lok differential / 3.73
gears
Factory Whisper-Aire air conditioning
Correct power steering
Correct Blue vinyl interior
Correct Bright Blue Metallic paint
Deluxe Marti Auto Works Report photocopy
Muscle Car Review feature article
All RK Motors vehicles receive a comprehensive, multi-point
inspection
We can ship your new classic anywhere in the world
