Miracle Mercury Cougar

A MAJOR event is being scheduled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the launch of the legendary Mercury Cougar.

The Carlisle Ford Nationals is already one of the world’s biggest motoring events and next year’s will pay homage to the Mercury by showcasing the first Cougar ever produced, somewhat miraculously found in tip-top condition in the hands of a local collector. 

This particular car was one of eight sent by Ford and Chrysler icon Lee Iacocca to Canada on loan in 1967. It returned to the dealership in 1979 and was sold to a local shopkeeper who got bored driving it after a few years and placed an ad for sale in 1982.

Nobody wanted the classic vehicle and it sat in his garage for 12 years until an avid Cougar fan came across the old 1982 motoring magazine and saw the ad and, feeling lucky, gave the owner a call on a whim.

He still had the same telephone number, he still had the car, and absolutely he was willing to sell.