from the dust jacket:
As
the Ford Mustang zoomed up the sales charts in the fall of 1964, only those
within Ford's Design Staff were aware that it nearly came to market called
"Cougar." That name, of course, would linger in Ford's lexicon,
emerging two years later on a jaunty, European-inspired GT that became
Mercury's interpretation of the Mustang.
Twenty
years later, the Cougar is alive and well, offering the same blend of style,
sportiness and elegance that graced its 1967 counterpart. Mercury Cougar,
1967-1987, produced by the staff of AUTOMOBILE Quarterly, traces the
development of Mercury's unique cat throughout its 20-year history. The story
begins with an in-depth description of the Cougar's development with commentary
by its designers, accompanied by rare illustrations of Cougars that might have
been. The first section, covering the years 1967 to 1973, also includes a look
at the great Cougars: the original XR-7, the high-performance GT-E, the Dan
Gurney Specials and the muscle-bound Eliminators, all accompanied by superb
color photography.
With
the energy crisis and its effects on U.S. automakers, the Cougar split from
its Mustang roots and moved upscale. The second section of the book, covering
the years 1974 to 1982, traces Ford's challenging task of expanding the
Cougar's appeal with the addition of station wagon and sedan models while
struggling not always successfully-to retain its original character.
But
just as the original Mustang spawned the first Cougar, so too did the 1983
"new-generation" Thunderbird give rise to a new interpretation of
Mercury's cat. Crafted with fresh aerodynamic styling and a renewed emphasis on
handling and performance, the new Cougar has at last regained its personality.
For 1987, that new-found identity is celebrated with a special 20th Anniversary
Edition Cougar, of which just 5,400 examples will be constructed.
To
create Mercury Cougar, 1967-1987, Gary Witzen-burg, author of AUTOMOBILE
Quarterly/s comprehensive histories of the Mustang, Camaro and Firebird, went
behind the scenes to interview the designers and engineers who brought the
Cougar to life. Accompanied by detailed period illustrations and rich color
photography, it is the most comprehensive history of the Cougar yet produced.
Rounding
out the text are complete Cougar specifications from 1967 to the present.
