1971 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Convertible 5-Speed

This 1971 Mercury Cougar XR-7 is one of 1,717 convertibles produced for the model year and has been owned by the same family since it was purchased new in Cincinnati in 1971. The seller’s father bought the car when the seller was 10 years old and drove it from Ohio to Florida, where it stayed until 1980. It then spent the better part of four decades in California and was relocated to Texas in 2017. The original 351ci Cleveland V8 and C6 automatic transmission were replaced in 2016–2017 by a 427-horsepower Boss 351 crate engine with Holley Sniper EFI and a Tremec five-speed manual transmission; the original powertrain is included. The car was serviced in January 2026, with more than $23,000 in recent work at Jerry Dixon’s Automotive and Klassic Car Center in Austin, Texas. Finished in Bright Blue Metallic over Medium Blue leather and vinyl, the car also features a replacement white convertible top, 14″ steel wheels with covers, power steering, front disc brakes, and dual exhaust. This Cougar is now offered in Texas with a window sticker, service records, spare parts, a car cover, and a clean California title in the seller’s name. The car is finished in Bright Blue Metallic (6) and features a replacement white convertible top fitted in 2002, though it currently does not go up. The car was repainted some time before 2014. A few chips on the hood have developed rust.