HotCars digital artist Timothy Adry Emmanuel recreates a Cougar that combines the classic styling of the original and adds some modern appeal.
In the heyday of American muscle cars during the 1960s and 1970s, the race for muscle car supremacy was a hard-fought battle between GM, Ford, and Chrysler, with each automaker producing a portfolio of muscle cars that suited the taste of a wide range of buyers.
One such vehicle was the Mercury Cougar, built to offer a more luxurious version of the Ford Mustang, with the Eliminator trim of the Cougar being particularly noteworthy. In an exclusive render, HotCars digital artist Timothy Adry Emmanuel imagines the Cougar Eliminator with a restomod treatment in a design that fits with the iconic muscle car look of the Cougar and fuses in modern appeal.
Mercury Cougar Eliminator Restomod
The Cougar received unique styling elements apart from the Mustang including hidden headlights, a design choice that Timothy Adry Emmanuel keeps in place for the render. In addition to its halo-style lighting, the render features a stealthy, modern-looking design that is closely aligned with the classic Cougar.
The lights have a similar feel as the modern Dodge Charger rear taillights that use a halo light style that surrounds the perimeter of the rear of the car. The Cougar restomod has an exposed engine with a massive supercharger on top, a clear symbol of the car’s power and capabilities.
The overall shape of the front of the car is in line with the classic Cougar, as is the general shape of the car from the back. The lines in the restomod are more aggressive than a production Cougar, particularly on the side, with noticeable side exhaust pipes being one of the primary differences. The horizontal grille placed in the middle of the headlight bezels is also a close design to the original Cougar. The Cougar Eliminator Restomod has a lower profile, wider tires, and larger racing wheels.
The rear of the Cougar Restomod keeps the taillight design and rear wing that you’d find on an original Cougar Eliminator, combined in a gunmetal gray paint finish. The fenders on the car are wider, partially to accommodate the wider tires and changed stance of the car. A more pronounced underbody spoiler lip at the front of the car further updates the look of the Cougar over a 1960s muscle car version and further changes the car’s look to fit with modern muscle car design.
Updating The Mercury Cougar With A Modern Ford Engine
Since the Eliminator served as a counterpart to the Boss 302 Mustang and Ford Mustang Mach 1 in the classic version, this restomod can also borrow from its modern Mustang cousins.
With that in mind, a modern Coyote 5.0-liter V8 engine from a Ford Mustang Mach 1 makes the most sense for this Cougar since it is technically a 302 cu. in. engine. With some modifications, this engine with the massive blower sticking out of the hood should make north of 1,000 hp. Then, this Cougar should have no problem hunting down Hellcats, Demons, and anyone else brave enough to challenge.
