eBay Find of the Day: ’70 Cougar 428 Cobra Jet Convertible

We miss Mercury. Not new Mercury either, with its entry-level luxury and its senior citizen aesthetic appeal. No, we miss old Mercury, the Mercury that took its name and symbol from the Messenger to the Greek Gods. Speed and luxury were equal parts important in Mercury cars, which is why unlike the Mustang, the Mercury Cougar could only be had with a V8. And it could be had with almost any V8, including Ford’s legendary big blocks like the 428 Cobra Jet.

These cats are rare, but they still exist, like this Concours-quality 1970 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Converitble with a 428 Cobra Jet under the hood. Only a handful of these cars were made, and this one we found on Ebay might be one of the cleanest.

By 1970, the Mercury Cougar had grown from a small, sleek car, into something bigger and bolder. Unfortunately, the extra poundage hurt acceleration on the base engines, though there were plenty of options for those looking for something faster. Top of the line for 1970 was either the BOSS 302, or the 428 Cobra Jet (depending on your preference.)

While the 428 engine is uncommon, what makes this car truly collectible is the droptop option. Records indicate that for the 1970 model year, less than 50 Mercury Cougar convertibles were outfitted with the 428 engine and an automatic transmission.

And being an XR-7, it is outfitted with an upscale interior compared to its Mustang cousin, allowing you to cruise in comfort. The car is numbers matching, fully restored, and thoroughly awesome.