There were two distinctly different versions of the Cougar, the Standard and the XR-7. The Standard came first, and it is fair to say that had it not been a resounding success, there never would have been an XR-7. The Standard Cougar was by far the most popular Cougar model; it sold at least three-to-one over the XR-7. Chances are, the Cougar that first caught your eye was a Standard.
In Issue 3, Legendary Cougar Magazine takes a look at three Standard Cougars:
- The ’68 Standard hardtop owned by John Stravrou, his first car.
- The ’70 sunroof Standard owned by Jeff and Carol Bingaman, a show winner.
- The award-winning ’73 Standard convertible owned by Dwain Barker.
These Standard Cougars are shining examples of the best of the breed, and for those of us in the Cougar Community, serve as a striking reminder of the magic that is Cougar. Read more in Legendary Cougar Magazine Volume 1 Issue 3.
In This Issue
Features
- First Love – Meet Cougar enthusiast John Stavrou’s first car, a 1968 standard hardtop he purchased more than two decades ago when he was just 14 years old.
- Let the Sun Shine In – Jeff and Carol Bingaman couldn’t find the exact Cougar they wanted, a standard model 1970 sunroof hardtop, but that didn’t stop Jeff, who built his to order.
- Blinking Wipers – Bill Basore shows just how easy it is to add intermittent wipers to your 1967 or 1968 Cougar. We say it’s a flash of genius.
- Last of the Breed – It turned out that 1973 was the last year for the classic Cougar. In this feature Gene Mullenberg photographs and writes about his friend Dwain Barker’s award-winning 1973 convertible.
- Power to the People – Continuing our series of inexpensive DIY upgrades for your classic Cougar, Bill Basore explains how to install a 12-volt source that is hot during both run and start.
- Not a Calypso Coral Coupe? – Roman Benoit owns a special-order-paint Cougar in rare Calypso Coral, originally ordered through Olympic Lincoln-Mercury in Seattle, Washington.
Regulars
- Cat Tracks – Co-editor Richard Truesdell introduces himself, and the genesis of the standard model issue, to the readers of LCM.
- Event Coverage – West Coast Classic Cougar open house.
- Mercury Archeology – The Calypso Coral Coupe was a dealer special offered by Eagle Lincoln-Mercury in Dallas, Texas for 1968.
- Charter Subscriber List — Thanks to everyone who made Legendary Cougar Magazine possible.
- The Cougar Bookshelf — Cougar by the Numbers 1967-73.
