ford4v429 Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 Those kinda look like the wheels they put on the Mark VII LSC's very similar- except these have about an inch more depth and a stepped machined rim that really makes them look less flat than the mark vii wheels. Something about deeper wheels just pulls me in... my 89 mark VII has centerline telstars on it(had the finned wheels same size/similar depth to the one you pictured) the centerline was the only wheel I could find that had any depth at all due to the deep offset(45mm?) on the mark vii. I was pretty proud of the fit too, as I could deflate the suspension and everything still cleared by 1/4"...put coils on it last summer, so the old air suspension worry is gone- one of those "what were they thinking" engineering exercises...coils ride exactly same, with no hassles. heres a pic of whats on it now- dont have a pic of the whole car- but its lookin pretty ugly right now...time for a paintjob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigheadmike Posted April 23, 2006 Share Posted April 23, 2006 I did a bunch of new Cougars based off the Mustang platform at Mercurycougar.net and The Mustang Source. Bad ass,I'm a previous owner of a 67 cougar [high school car] and a current owner of a 69 cougar[MY BABY].Market this car and i would buy one as soon as i get transfered.[Currently laid off from ST.LOUIS assembly plant.] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FUD Posted April 24, 2006 Share Posted April 24, 2006 I like it. - Great Transformation! A Retro Cougar would probably outsell any Modern Cougar that they could come up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark B. Morrow Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 I like it. - Great Transformation! A Retro Cougar would probably outsell any Modern Cougar that they could come up with. Cool this would make a great Mach 1 :bandance: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted May 20, 2006 Share Posted May 20, 2006 Challenger & Camaro....how about a Cougar? There's a new Cougar in Hot Rod magazine (too Mustangy IMHO), so I'm not the only one thinking along these lines....is anybody at Mercury paying attention to any of this? Do they need a write in campaign? My e-mail is still TIMBRANDS@AOL.com if anybody at Mercury is interested! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
79FairmontWagon Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 (edited) These are very, very nice and evocative of the original Cougar without being totally retro. Your sketches and those posted earlier point out a key fact. The Mustang is unique and successful. If Ford were to implement a Cougar, it would need a totally unique sheet metal set from the Mustang. And lamps, and interior... So that's going to make it a relatively high investment. And if the wheelbase needs to be lengthened, or if you need IRS standard, then that's more $$$$. So this product might be somewhat difficult to justify, at least for now when the plant is full..... But it sure would fit in nicely in the Mercury showroom. On pages 102 and 103 of "Mustang The Complete History of America's Pioneer Ponycar",by Gary L. Witzenburg ,are pictures of '69 Mustangs and Cougars going down THE SAME PRODUCTION LINE! If it could be done then, it could be done now, if the affirmative action incompetents running Ford would actually pretend to be car men for a short while. Edited May 25, 2006 by 79FairmontWagon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 On pages 102 and 103 of "Mustang The Complete History of America's Pioneer Ponycar",by Gary L. Witzenburg ,are pictures of '69 Mustangs and Cougars going down THE SAME PRODUCTION LINE! If it could be done then, it could be done now, if the affirmative action incompetents running Ford would actually pretend to be car men for a short while. And if there was capacity at Auto Alliance to build one, which there currently isn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 For some reason, I've always gravitated towards the '86 Cougar over the '69 Cougar. What would an '86 Cougar look like modern? Also, what about bringing back the name Cyclone and putting it on a fast four-door sport sedan - like an aggressive fastback? Think 2006 Dodge Charger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSenstad Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 I think the design in post #24 on the right is great for a capri where the messenger in a two seater built on the same platform for cost would be great as a Cougar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 There was a similar wheel on 68 XR7Gs: http://www.myteesamoyeds.com/radarwheels.html They were nearly all recalled for production problems however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebritt Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 I did a bunch of new Cougars based off the Mustang platform at Mercurycougar.net and The Mustang Source. The red one with the silver one's tail section would be awesome. Can you do the red one giving the grille sections a foward rake? do you like it better too, timmm? It's the one I prefer.......(still working on it though) because I like the 89/70 a bit better. The 67/68 is considered the more "pure" classic Cougar, but the "sweep" has such a strong character line it looks bland without it. A lot of the classic Cougar folk really REALLY want hidden headlights and sequential tail lights on a new Cougar. But I think "hiding in plain sight" headlights wold be fine too. Plus there would be a connection to the "light bar" of past Merc's like the Sable, not a classic, but when it came out in 86 I thought it was pretty cool. Here's my interior ideas: wood, leather, NAV, pull straps, full gauges.......a comfy place to be in. I had a Mark VIII before my 05 Mustang GT and included a bit of a swept away dash too.....goes well with the exterior. That is a nice interior...Ford should be paying attention here.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loyalbutconcerned Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 Great discussion! I still like the idea of the Meesenger as a "top hat" over the Mustang underpinnings with a few upgrades such as IRS and the likes. It should be strictly a v-8 though ... keep it from cannibalising too many Mustang sales. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted August 19, 2007 Share Posted August 19, 2007 Since the idea of a new Cougar came up....bump! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchdevil Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 (edited) Since the idea of a new Cougar came up....bump! We will just have to be persistant and keep bugging Ford until they come to their senses and bring great marques back like the Thunderbird and Cougar. As it is now... The only Ford of interest to me is the Mustang... The rest of them I don't give a shit about... Ten years ago I could find a number of Ford vehicles that captured my interest. Shortly after that everything went staight to hell... Edited August 20, 2007 by Watchdevil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 The Mercury Cougar should be built on Volvo C70 underpinnings with the hardtop convertible included in the mix. It would be a big hit and not cut into Mustang sales....rather it would enhance it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meelaan Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 Ten years ago I could find a number of Ford vehicles that captured my interest. Shortly after that everything went staight to hell... 1997 Ford Lineup: Aspire Contour Crown Victoria Escort Mustang Probe Taurus Thunderbird 2007 Ford Lineup: Crown Victoria Five Hundred/Taurus Focus Fusion Mustang I don't see anything from 10 years ago to get excited about compared to what's available right now. Major differences are the Probe (which was on its way out after attempting to replace the Mustang), the Thunderbird (on its last breath), the Contour (in decline), the Aspire (import from Kia on its last leg), and the Escort (would be replaced by the Focus three years later). ...But, to each his own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark B. Morrow Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 The Mercury Cougar should be built on Volvo C70 underpinnings with the hardtop convertible included in the mix. It would be a big hit and not cut into Mustang sales....rather it would enhance it. Although I think a Mustang based Cougar would be easier to do, the C 70 idea has merit since it would be more upscale. The down side would be importing the car since the C 70 isn't made here. I have seen rumours of a retractable hardtop for the Mustang which would be at home on a Cougar. Timmm did a great job on the designs preserving all of the best of the original Cougars with a modern look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonas1022 Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 I think the design in post #24 on the right is great for a capri where the messenger in a two seater built on the same platform for cost would be great as a Cougar. Flying Buttress Cougars were manufactured from 1971 throught 1973. Check out ebay, lots of photos. They were a little too heavy in the day, but then so was the Mustang. :reading: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Flying Buttress Cougars were manufactured from 1971 throught 1973. Check out ebay, lots of photos. They were a little too heavy in the day, but then so was the Mustang. :reading: Yep, I was trying to use some of 71-73 cues too, mostly just the roof though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Re-reading the thread...I agree as well that any new Cougar should NOT be retro-styled....Mercury could and should evoke Fords finest efforts globally and bring them to NA in a reliable and affordable manner. Volvo C70 with current Mercury styling cues (to fit within the lineup), steel folding drop top, twinforce 3.2L inline six from Dagenham, 6 speed with Haldex AWD optional. Upscale interior appointments, standard SYNC, THX sound.....this would set all comers from European and Asian marquees on point that the "Sign of the Cat" is alive and well at your Lincoln / Mercury dealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted August 25, 2007 Share Posted August 25, 2007 Additionally, Mercury could showcase Ford of Europes' "Kinetic Design" for those in the NA market that clamor for it. in North America, the following styles should be used: Ford .......... "Bold Moves" equals bold "American" designs...i.e: 2 and 3 bar grille, clean chiseled styles etc Mercury ..... Ford of Europe's "Kinetic Design" with a Mercury themed grille treatment Lincoln....... "Classic style" , suicide doors, four door convertible, performance with style Seems simple enough to implement, seeing as Ford's Global Operations already have all these elements, they just need to bring them together in a way the differentiates the marquees while tying in the Ford name so that no one forgets that they are driving some of the best vehicles in the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Does anybody remember the last Cougar from the FWD Mondeo/Contour/Mystique chassis? They sold a handful in Europe as the Ford Cougar. The Cougar faithful hated it. I think it was OK. But Cougar has to go to it's roots and be Mustang derived. It could be based off the Messenger (shortened Mustang). If you've seen the side profile of the 63 Cougar prototype it's apparent the Messenger was inspired by it. Or as I prefer the personal lux/sport Mustang sister. I wouldn't just rebadge Euro Fords as Mercurys....think "orphan" as in Merkur. Better to think global platform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 The Mercury Cougar should be built on Volvo C70 underpinnings with the hardtop convertible included in the mix. It would be a big hit and not cut into Mustang sales....rather it would enhance it. While the C70 hardtop/convertible is interesting in it's own right, it's hardly a "hit". And a rebadged or based Cougar version wouldn't do any better unless it was a totally original revamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 do you like it better too, timmm?It's the one I prefer.......(still working on it though) because I like the 89/70 a bit better. The 67/68 is considered the more "pure" classic Cougar, but the "sweep" has such a strong character line it looks bland without it. A lot of the classic Cougar folk really REALLY want hidden headlights and sequential tail lights on a new Cougar. But I think "hiding in plain sight" headlights wold be fine too. Plus there would be a connection to the "light bar" of past Merc's like the Sable, not a classic, but when it came out in 86 I thought it was pretty cool. Here's my interior ideas: wood, leather, NAV, pull straps, full gauges.......a comfy place to be in. I had a Mark VIII before my 05 Mustang GT and included a bit of a swept away dash too.....goes well with the exterior. that interior looks great! I'd take that over a Mustang anyday (I prefer the more upscale, luxurious look) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meelaan Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Great work here, Timmm. I really like your execution. :beerchug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.