Custom 1967 Mercury Cougar Packs Mystery V8 With More Power Than a 2024 Mustang Dark Horse

It’s been alive, give or take a few years, beginning with 1967 and up until 2002, and while 35 years may not seem like a lot when you consider, say, the age of an American classic, as far as nameplates are concerned, it’s very impressive – we're talking about a total of eight generations of the Cougar here.

The first-gen models are arguably the most desirable when looking for something nice to wake up the neighbors with. This car was successful right off the bat, with the original 1967 model year Cougar accounting for nearly 40% of all sales for the entire Lincoln-Mercury division during that period.

It would initially feature the same power units found in the Mustang, albeit only the V8 ones. Now, the car we just found getting auctioned off, which is a 1967 Cougar Hardtop, used to be powered by a 289 ci V8, which meant it had 220 horsepower.

Today, it’s packing something a heck of a lot different, namely a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 sourced from a 2007 Ford Mustang GT500. Unless told otherwise, this engine should be sending 500 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque to this Cougar’s rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, sourced from that same Mustang.

Engine mods include a Walbro fuel pump, e Kenne Bell Boost-A-Pump, aluminum radiator and intercooler, a custom Hotwire Auto engine harness and a custom fuel tank.

Visually, this car used to be Maroon Metallic, but was repainted black during its refurbishment. Other highlights include the gray rocker panel stripes, concealed headlights, front spoiler lip, hood scoop, hood pins, dual side mirrors, quarter vent windows, a dual exhaust system, plus a set of 15-inch American Racing wheels with Cooper Cobra Radial G/T tires.

We should also note the four-wheel disc brakes, red calipers with slotted and drilled rotors, and the rack-and-pinion steering.

As for the interior, that’s where you’ll find the black leather front bucket seats and rear bench, digital stereo, a heater, lap belts, Cougar-branded door sill plates and floor mats, a leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel and the New Vintage USA instrumentation.

The only downer, as far as this car is concerned, is that it’s not exactly mint condition – for example, the window seals will leak, according to the seller. Still, that wouldn’t be an expensive fix and ultimately, this car should prove to be as enjoyable to drive as it is to look at.