Pick Of The Day: 1970 Mercury Cougar Xr-7

The crossroad of automobiles and fashion is something that has resonated with designers for a century or more. Whether it’s an outfit that matches a car or a car’s palette being designed by a fashion designer, there clearly have been synergies between the two industries. Our Pick of the Day is a forgotten example of this intersection. This 1970 Mercury Cougar XR-7 hardtop is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Mesa, Arizona.

As far as I can tell, the first American car to feature houndstooth was the 1967 Cadillac Eldorado’s Dalmatian cloth Strato bench seat. This would suggest houndstooth was more of a fancy accoutrement during the era. For 1968, Chevrolet introduced houndstooth as a choice among the selections of the Custom interior upgrade, initially in Black or Ivory houndstooth, then expanded to Orange or Yellow for 1969.

Ford introduced houndstooth for the Mustang starting in 1970, with coupes (including the Grande) available with a matching vinyl top. Mercury adopted a similar feature, though its origin may be different as couturière Pauline Triger was commissioned by Mercury to design a special trim package for the Cougar that included a special interior and matching roof (though they could be ordered separately). Available in two colors (Black or Ginger, the latter a darker gold), the houndstooth interior was available on base Cougar and Cougar XR-7 models, both hardtops and convertibles. Of course, the houndstooth vinyl tops were only available for hardtops, both base and XR-7. Additionally, the black houndstooth interior was available for Cougars equipped with the Eliminator performance package.

The Cougar received a facelift for 1970 that included reverting back to the electric shaver-like grille that resembled the 1967-68 grille. Taillights remained concave but featured vertical bars in a different manner from 1969. Engine options were similar although not completely the same, thanks to the introduction of the 351 Cleveland. If you recall, the standard Cougar engine was the 351 two-barrel, though it could be either the older Windsor or new-for-1970 Cleveland. The 351 four-barrel was strictly a Cleveland and offered 300 horsepower. The next step up was the 428 Cobra Jet, which also scored you a hood scoop if ram air was ordered. There also was a Boss 302, though it was limited to the Eliminator.

When the 1970 model year was finished, Mercury had produced 7,544 Cougars with the houndstooth interior — 2,644 in Black and 4,900 in Ginger, according to Marti Auto Works. Based on this page from the Cougar Club of America, we know that 338 1970 Cougar XR-7 hardtops were built in White with the Black houndstooth interior. Glance at the Marti Report below and you’ll notice this car was built with a white vinyl top, but it looks like someone in the past installed a factory-correct Black houndstooth top, which completely changes its character. Other highlights of this XR-7 include the 351 Cleveland two-barrel with upgraded Holley four-barrel, FMX automatic transmission, tachometer, wire wheel covers, dual exhausts with glasspacks, power front disc brakes, power steering, vintage Pioneer AM/FM/cassette radio, and more.

There are some things in fashion that transcend time, remaining in the public’s consciousness despite changing styles. Houndstooth is one of those classics, so when you spend the $35,995 being asked for this classic, you know you’ll never go out of style.

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