1979 Mercury Cougar
The 1979 Mercury Cougar represented a significant shift in the model's lineage, moving away from the sporty, personal luxury coupes of its predecessors towards a larger, more luxurious, and arguably more American-style grand touring automobile. This generation marked a substantial redesign, both in terms of size and styling, aiming to appeal to a broader market segment that valued comfort, quietness, and a plush interior.
Key Features and Design:
- Platform and Size: The 1979 Cougar was built on Ford's new panther platform, shared with the Ford LTD and Mercury Marquis full-size sedans. This resulted in a noticeably larger vehicle than previous Cougars, both in length and wheelbase. This increased size contributed to a more imposing presence on the road and enhanced interior space.
- Styling: The exterior design was characterized by crisp, angular lines and a more formal, upright stance. A prominent grille, often featuring a waterfall or egg-crate pattern depending on the trim level, defined the front fascia. The rear featured a distinctive taillight treatment, often a full-width bar with integrated lenses, giving the car a more substantial and upscale appearance. The overall aesthetic was a departure from the sleeker, more European-influenced designs of earlier generations, leaning into a distinctly American luxury car aesthetic.
- Body Styles: The 1979 Cougar was primarily offered as a two-door coupe. While previous generations had seen variations like convertibles and station wagons, this iteration focused on the coupe format as its core offering.
- Interior: The interior was a major focus for this generation, emphasizing comfort and luxury. Plush seating, often upholstered in velour or optional leather, along with extensive use of woodgrain trim and chrome accents, created an opulent cabin. The dashboard was designed for functionality and ease of use, with clear instrumentation and intuitively placed controls. Standard features often included power steering, power brakes, and an automatic transmission, with many creature comforts available as options, such as air conditioning, power windows, and a premium sound system.
Powertrain:
The 1979 Mercury Cougar offered a range of V8 engines to cater to the grand touring ethos. While specific engine options could vary slightly by market and year, common choices included:
- 302 cubic inch (4.9L) V8: This was often the base engine, providing adequate power for comfortable cruising.
- 351 cubic inch (5.8L) V8: A step up in performance, offering more readily available torque for effortless acceleration.
- 400 cubic inch (6.6L) V8: In some markets and early production, a larger V8 might have been available, emphasizing smooth power delivery.
These engines were typically mated to a three-speed automatic transmission, further reinforcing the car's focus on comfortable and relaxed driving.
Trim Levels and Options:
Mercury offered different trim levels to cater to varying customer preferences and budgets. While specific names could evolve, the Cougar typically featured:
- Base Cougar: Offering a solid suite of standard features for its price point.
- XR-7: This performance-oriented (though still luxurious) trim often included more aggressive styling cues, upgraded suspension components, sportier interior appointments, and potentially more powerful engine options. It aimed to bridge the gap between pure luxury and a more engaging driving experience, albeit within the context of a large personal luxury car.
A wide array of optional equipment allowed buyers to customize their Cougars, including premium sound systems, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, power seats, and various exterior appearance packages.
Market Position and Legacy:
The 1979 Mercury Cougar entered a segment of the automotive market dominated by vehicles like the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and its Ford counterpart, the Ford Thunderbird. Its larger size and more traditional luxury styling positioned it as a direct competitor in this "personal luxury coupe" segment. While it may have lost some of the sporty edge of earlier Cougars, it offered a compelling package of comfort, refinement, and a substantial road presence that resonated with buyers seeking a comfortable and stylish American grand tourer. This generation set the stage for future iterations of the Cougar, which would continue to evolve within the Mercury lineup.