Ever ones to spot a niche market by 1967 Ford Motor Company saw a gap between their face lifted Mustang and Thunderbird models and planted the Mercury Cougar right between the two, in much the same way as General Motors the same year planted the Pontiac Firebird above the Chevrolet Camaro in it’s line up.

Mercury’s first generation “pony car” was only available as a two door hard top in either base as seen here or XR7 variations.

The Cougars platform was derived from the some one as the ’67 Mustang, but with a 3″ longer wheel base covered in an all new body.

A 200hp 4.7 litre / 289 cui Windsor V8 powered the base version of the Cougar, though a GT option offered a 335hp 6.4 litre / 390 cui FE motor.

With it’s headlights hidden behind the front grill and tail lights, sequential as per contemporary Thunderbird the electric shaver styling front and rear of the Cougar completely disguises it’s Mustang underpinnings.

Among the cars accolades Motor Trend named the Mercury Cougar as Car of the Year 1967, and the sale of 150,893 units in 1967 contributed substantially to the Lincoln Mercury divisions place in the market.

Gwinny seen here was purchased new from a dealer Chicago Il in January 1967 and shipped to the UK by the original owners nephew in March 2011 making her a one family car with 50,000 miles on the clock, both the 289 motor and exhaust have been replaced.

Thanks for joining me on this “Thundertang” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !