Gateway Classic Cars of Dallas is excited to offer for sale a
Rarely seen 1973 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Convertible. After the
gigantic success of the Mustang, it wasn't long before Mercury got
their own version called the Cougar. Starting with the Mustang's
platform, they stretched the wheelbase for more rear-seat room and
added plenty of luxury features to make it a more sophisticated
alternative to the original pony car. At the same time, the car saw
success in Trans-Am with Dan Gurney behind the wheel, proving it to
be more than a watered-down muscle car.However, its original role
was short-lived, with its nameplate being placed on everything from
big station wagons to small front-wheel-drive coupes over the next
30 years. The 1973 XR7 Convertible was the last gasp for the
original Cougar.At first glance, the giant headlights and grill of
the 1971 redesign make the Cougar look big, and the mandatory crash
bumpers added in '73 exaggerate this even further. However, the
car's wheelbase grew by just an inch, and the body is slightly
shorter than a contemporary Mustang, netting a 100- to 200-pound
weight advantage over the Ford.Like its predecessor, Mercury didn't
skimp on the luxury. The top-of-the-line XR7 was lined with
wood-grain paneling and had a range of options, including power
leather seats, electric windows, and a factory-installed air
conditioner. Disc brakes and a compliant suspension round out the
package, making the car a good daily driver.The switch from gross
to net power figures meant the Cougar was down on power, but, aside
from some option changes, maintained the performance of earlier
models. The 428 was gone, but buyers still had a choice between a
168 hp 351 Cleveland V8 or a 264 hp 351 Cobra Jet. Under the old
system, these engines would have been rated at around 250 and 325
hp respectively.Less than 4,500 convertibles were built that year,
of which 3,166 were XR7's. That makes them rare today, but these
comprised the highest single-year sales for drop-tops in Mercury's
history. This was due to impending safety regulations that lead
buyers into believing this would be the last convertible Mercury
would ever build.A combination of rarity and practicality has made
the '73 XR7 Convertible a hit with collectors. It has features that
are expected in modern-day cars, yet its lightweight design means
it doesn't sacrifice performance over the Mustang.This 1973 Mercury
Cougar is featured with our Dallas showroom and can be seen in
detail including 100+ HD photos and an HD video at
www.GatewayClassicCars .com. For additional information please call
our staff at 817-310-9400 or email us at
[email protected]
.com. If you want to see it for yourself, come by our Dallas
Showroom located by the DFW airport.
