1973 MERCURY COUGAR
Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 10:44AM By Vern Parker
Jerry Laski hasn't always owned his 1973 Mercury Cougar XR7 convertible . His first new car was a 1971 Ford Torino GT but after that car was totaled in November 1983 he began looking for a replacement.
After months of searching for a suitable replacement Laski saw a newspaper ad offering the Mercury for sale. “I drove to Great Falls, Va., to inspect the Cougar,” Laski says. His attention was captured by the Gold Glamour Poly-colored stylish convertible with white leather interior.
Original documents with the well-equipped car indicate that it was ordered with options including a 351 Cobra Jet engine, a C6 automatic transmission, Traction-lok differential, power steering, power seat, air conditioner, AM/FM radio, body side molding, intermittent windshield wipers, appearance protection group, color keyed racing mirrors, tinted glass and power side windows.
Laski purchased the 10-year-old car August 27, 1983. At that time the odometer had recorded 62,875 miles. According to Laski the serial numbers indicate that his car was the last Cougar that was manufactured with the much-coveted Cobra Jet V-8 engine.
The original owner purchased the Mercury from the Andy Clark Ford dealership in Princeton, W. Va.
The many extra cost options and assorted dealer add ons pushed the purchase price of the car up to $4,421.73.
The Cleveland Cobra Jet engine really impressed Laski. “I was quite familiar with this fine motor as my Torino also had a Cleveland engine,” Laski says. “I pulled the Torino motor after the accident as the engine was good. I still have this engine,” Laski says.
Five years later, with 70,000 miles on the original engine, Laski reports that some of the nylon teeth on the camshaft timing gear broke and prevented the engine from starting. “I could have replaced the defective cam gear,” Laski says, “but instead I decided to have the motor rebuilt.”
Once the engine and transmission were removed and sent off for rebuilding, Laski decided that would be the perfect opportunity to clean, paint and detail the engine compartment. He has proof of his detailing efforts in the empty engine bay because of his wife's photographic efforts. “She did this to show our friends what a car crazy person she was living with,” Laski says.
Over the last quarter century Laski has consistently worked to keep his car in like new condition. “I have rebuilt the nine-inch Ford Traction-lok differential, the front and rear suspension, drive shaft, brakes and even replaced the fuel tank.
The original air conditioner compressor and air conditioning hoses remain in place. “It still works,” Laski says. He plans to rebuild the entire system and convert it to the environment friendly 134A Freon gas system.
In September 1990 Laski replaced the Ginger-colored carpeting in the cockpit. That carpeting provides a contrasting background to the white leather seats. Stamped in the back of each seat is a Cougar emblem. The same Cougar emblem is also on the hub of the three-spoke steering wheel. The wheel is equipped with a rim blow feature enabling the driver to sound the horn by simply squeezing the rim of the three-spoke steering wheel.
Above the chrome bumper at the rear of the Cougar, flanking the license plate and backup lights, are the taillights that continue on to the outer edges of the fenders. Of course, the taillights have the popular sequential feature when the turn signals are activated.
At the other end of the car are the quad headlights which are the round, sealed beam units. Below the headlights is the chrome bumper which is proected by a horizontal rubber strip in addition to a pair of vertical bumper guards, also with protective rubber strips.
Laski is always ready to slip into the drivers seat and, with the black convertible top up or down, set the B.F. Goodrich tires rolling for some highway therapy. The automatic transmission is controlled by the lever in the floor console. That console also houses the clock.
The miles recorded on the odometer are now approaching a total of 89,000. Despite the pristine appearance of the Mercury, Laski says, “My Cougar is not strictly a show car as it has acumulated some rock chips from driving the vehicle on the roads over the past 26 years.”