Weekend Edition – Brown Car Face Off; A 1971 Mustang Grande vs A 1971 Mercury Cougar

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Yes, I know what you’re thinking… Jim, these are basically the same car. Why yes, they are basically the same car, but it is their subtle differences that actually make them unique. It’s not like the cars are just re-badged for the sake of moving more units. The front sheet-metal is totally different, as are the front and rear bumpers, tail-lamps, and trunk lids. So what if they share the same lineage?

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This is a 1971 Ford Mustang Grande, and at first I had a hard time believing this was the Luxury Mustang. It looks like it lost it’s vinyl roof years ago, along with it’s color keyed wheel covers. It is being offered at no reserve. According to the listing:

Features include: 351 V8 Holley 4 BBL, C4 Automatic, NOT Matching Numbers, AM-FM Radio (not hooked up), Original Color Medium Brown Metallic, Chrome Mustang Wheels, Marti Report, Recent Headliner.

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Clean Car in & out, Nice Chrome & Trim, Car Was a A/C Car (have most parts if wanted), Floors were repaired & patched,
Car was Painted with NO BLOCK SANDING. “A 10 FOOTER” Has Waves in body & Roof. Good Driver or Cruise Night Car.

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High bid for this car is currently sitting at $5,300 with about a day and 1/2 to go. Is this the Brown Pony Car of your dreams, and is it affordable enough for you? See the listing here: [sc:ebay itemid=”171075820716″ linktext=”1971 Mustang Grande 351 V8″ ]

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The other car is a 1971 Mercury Cougar, and this is a non XR-7 version of the famous brand. This car looks a lot better that the above Mustang, probably due to the fact that it only has 43,000 miles on the odometer. According to the listing:

THIS CAR RUNS GREAT, ALWAYS STARS UP NO PROBLEM. I’VE OWENED IT FOR 2 YRS NEVER HAD AN ISSUE. PS, PB (DISC) FRONT/ NEW TIRES BF GOODRICH RADIAL T/A’S. WHITE WALL LETTERS ARE REVERSED. NEW MAGNUM 500 RIMS, UPGRADED FROM FACTORY 14×6 TOO 14×7. NEW RADIATOR, FUEL PUMP, NEW ELECTRONIC PERTRONICS IGNITION, (ORIGINAL POINTS INCLUDED), NEW DIST CAP, COULD USE THE PLASTIC FLOOR SHIFTER BUSHINGS THEY ARE INLUDED WITH THE CAR, MUSTANGS AND COUGARS ARE KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM. HAVE PAPER WORK FOR THINGS DONE TO THIS CAR.

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I DRIVE IT ON WEEKENDS TO CAR SHOWS, OR JUST A NICE CRUISE. AM RADIO. SUPER CLEAN DOOR JAMBS AND TRUNK UNDERSIDE IS ALSO IN SUPERB CONDITION. ALL FRAME RAILS ARE IN PERFECT CONDITION ! LOOK AT THE PICS, AND ALSO NOTE THAT THE OIL CHANGE WAS DUE 5/22/02 @ 43.156 MILES. THIS CAR JUST TURNED 43,000 MILES LAST YR! SO YOU DO THE MATH AND YOU WILL SEE THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVIN MUCH. MY SELF I HAVE PUT ABOUT 600/700 MILES ON IT IN 2 YRS THAT I HAVE HAD IT. BUT I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL 3 TIMES. ONLY ISSUE WITH THIS CAR IS IT MAY NEED U-JOINTS! IT DOES HAVE CLUNK WHEN PUT IN GEAR, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT THIS WAY SINCE I BOUGHT IT. NO SMOKE NO KNOCKS, THIS CAR RUNS GREAT FOR BEING 43 YRS OLD.

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Well, after being shouted to by the owner of this Cougar, you may not be at all interested in it. If you still are, the auction has a little over 3 days to go, and the top bid for this car is $4,800, with an unmet reserve. See the listing here, [sc:ebay itemid=”261248548167″ linktext=”1971 Mercury Cougar” ] ; and tell me if this is the Brown Pony Car for you.

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11 responses to “Weekend Edition – Brown Car Face Off; A 1971 Mustang Grande vs A 1971 Mercury Cougar”

  1. Batshitbox Avatar

    (RE: lede photo)
    Yo, Cougar! Nice Rims. Wanna buy a Checker-bago? Hah! Just messin' with ya. I see in your ad you got new ones all 'round. Still, posting pics from years ago on CL? Yeah, you're a Cougar, alright!
    Still, Maybe 'cause I'm a cat person, I'll take the Cougar and it's 2bbl over the 'Stang. Much cleaner overall, and less likely to be treated like a Mustang by the owner (including me) and the guy in the next lane.

    1. ron Avatar
      ron

      car was NEVER on craigs list I own the brown cougar !!

  2. scoudude Avatar
    scoudude

    I'd take the Cougar for sure, seems to be in much better condition overall. Plus I'm kind of a Mercury guy with 3 in the driveway already. In addition to all the unique sheet metal there is 3" more wheelbase in the Cougar vs the Mustang, one of the last of the Mercuries that was still longer than its Ford sibling.

  3. Alff Avatar

    Mustang's "jump the shark" transition came the moment that it reached the proportions that the term "Grande" was applicable. My first car was very nearly a '72 Grande with a 460 (!). That's a goddam truck engine. My Dad killed the deal before I killed myself. Probably a good idea on his part. In hindsight, that engine has no business in a proper "pony car" but this generation of Mustang was no pony car. The much maligned Mustang II was way more Mustang than this beast.

    1. Batshitbox Avatar

      Really? A 460 in a Mustang? This is the first I've heard of the 460 since back when I went looking for a 360 (or something) for my 1970 F-250 Sport Custom Camper Special. Yes , it's a truck motor, and specifically a tow-truck motor! Gawd if they were putting those in Mustangs they must have just been making shit up at that point. Those big blocks were torque motors, not famous for horsepower, but roomy in the displacement.
      If you had got it, and it it had killed you, it would be understeering into a tree while towing a nuclear powered RV, not street racing.

      1. Searcher Avatar
        Searcher

        The factory displacement was, of course, the 429 which is the same engine family as the 460 just having a 3.59 inch stroke instead if the 460's 3.85 stroke. The Mustang would also have the Cobra Jet version which featuredhhigher flowing cylinder heads than the regular passenger car or truck 429/460

  4. ptschett Avatar
    ptschett

    The Cougar's my pick. Didn't have to think about it – my 1st car was a '73 XR-7 with the 351C-2V.
    I didn't think the 2V even came with a C6. Apparently it was a relatively rare option.
    If a person wanted to turn up the power, IIRC the 2V heads were the better starting point for street use than the 4V heads. I think I'd leave it alone though.
    I'd have to have the tires dismounted to turn the RWL tires the right way out. U-joints should be way easier than the '96 Thunderbird I just got done with last week (exhaust & gas tank wouldn't be in the way.)

  5. JayP2112 Avatar
    JayP2112

    I'd run with the first one with a manual… so 'eh.

  6. mseoul Avatar
    mseoul

    Grande's must be rare these days. They could not have been very big sellers in the first place and this body style 'Stang has not been a survivor anyway. Despite the condition, I'd have to go with the Grande for odd rarity. I wonder, does it say "Grande" on the passenger side dash as it should? Didn't they have a clock over there too?

  7. HTWHLS Avatar
    HTWHLS

    Take the Cougar! It reminds me of my friend's XR7…the one where the entire right front hub came off the car and took off about a mile down the road. Still better than the obese Mustang.

  8. MVEilenstein Avatar
    MVEilenstein

    Late to the party again. That's what I get for spending all weekend outside.
    To my mind, t hese two cars serve as useful examples of the transitioning from pony/muscle car to personal luxury performance car. The Cougar especially demonstrates this. Ford was starting to respond to the market's desire for a fast car, but more comfortable than the cars from the 60's.