One of the most fun things about this job is being surprised, pretty much on the daily of the existence of cars we never knew were made. We’re not total luddites around here and while we’re not exactly going be making the finals on Jeopardy any time soon, we know a little bit about this car stuff. That’s why when guys like our ace Craigslist hunter Rocco Bastone find machines like this one, we have to scratch our head and applaud. A literal discovery that we never knew was ever built. Did you know?
We had no idea you would walk into a Mercury dealer in 1986 and click the boxes to get the high performance XR-7 Cougar with a 2.3L turbocharged four banger. This the same engine in the SVO Mustang and the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. Listen, we know it makes total sense. Same chassis, drop the thing in there and go. We just never knew Mercury sold anything with this little turbocharged beastie in it.
The car is of course 30+ years old now and it has some chips and dings but that’s really where the issues end. Owned and cared for by a Ford engineer for more than a decade, this thing is mechanically sound, has no rust to speak of, and could be driven across the country tomorrow. The Craigslist ad was clearly made by an engineer because it includes the entire maintenance history of the car, any modifications that have been made (they have all been minor and helpful) and any of the machine’s short comings.
Personally? The factory goofy nose on this thing makes it less desirable to us than the more lithe SVO Mustang and the cleaner looking Thunderbird but that’s literally a matter of taste.
Mercury, you sneaky little brand!!! This is a fun surprise.
Craigslist: Turbocharged 1986 Mercury Cougar XR-7 is weirdly awesome
I’ve seen this mentioned when I had to look up something on Alldata. If not for that, I’d have had no idea that existed either. This is the first time I’ve seen what the package looked like.
You say in the article that the engine is the same one found in the SVO Mustang and the Thunderbird Super Coupe. WRONG. The engine is the same that was found in the Thunderbird TURBO COUPE. The Super Coupe was the MN 12 platform that followed the Fox platform. From 1989 through 1995 Ford put a supercharged 3.8 V6 in the Super Coupe and the 1989 and 1990 Cougar XR7. Most people do not know that the Turbo and Super Coupes are 2 completely different beasts.
I sold these at a Lincoln Mercury dealership back in the day. We usually ordered in the two tone silver ones. Only moved a handful a year so I’m not surprised that nobody has seen one.Here is one making a pass.
https://youtu.be/kGsz7PdEqTI
These things are ultra rare! I almost bought one of these back in the late 90’s from a local dealership wholesale lot for $250, and I had no idea it existed back then. I ended up buying the 1987 Cougar XR7 that was sitting next to it instead, also for $250. And strangely, I bought another $250 Cougar XR7 from the same lot about 6 months later! But it doesn’t end there. Another family member bought a base model ’86 with the 5.0 from the same lot a few weeks after that! I’m pretty sure all of the Fox-Body Cougars sold in the 1990’s in Massachusetts came from that wholesale lot.
Same engine as the thunderbird turbo coupe, not super coupe. The super coupe was from 89-95, and had a supercharged 3.8 v6, which the XR7 got in 89 and 90 only. Also the SVO mustang engine was intercooled, same as the 87/88 turbo coupes, but this XR7 was down on power compared to it, as were the 85/86 turbo coupes because they didn’t have the intercooler.
It’s obscure for sure. But the 89/90 Cougar XR7 supercharged 3.8 v6 with a manual transmission is much better and still rare! They have the distinction of being the only supercharged Mercury ever sold it also was the last rear wheel drive manual transmission vehicle that the Mercury division ever offered to the public.
I have one and have owned it almost 28 years. Medium Canyon Red metallic over flat black (it was originally flat gray). Currently has almost 249K miles ands still purrs like the cat she is.
It looks like a Volvo got rear ended by a Thunderbird – but a tuned Ecoboost would give even more power.
Know about them ??
My Wife has OWED one, 2nd owner, for almost as long as hers has been on-the-road.
GREAT Car !!
..even been seen working on it..myself.
I own an 84 XR7 turbo. It runs low – mid 12s with the stock t3 best being a 12.3 @ 111 mph. here\’s a pass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz3mXNMWCbg
I thought all XR7\’s came with the quad shock rear end, I cant see them in the picture maybe its just the angle. I have an 83 Turbo coupe and I love it.