The 1983 Mercury Cougar
F ord engine Company was a student in a critical financial problem during early 1980s. Not simply did the petroleum crisis, the economy and recession, and pollutants statutes on the later part of the 1970s badly crimp any forward development associated with the automotive business, the styling of these days was in a touch of a rut. The only modern-looking car that Ford developed ended up being the latest Mustang (and probably the Fairmont Futura). Given, with Chrysler near bankruptcy proceeding and GM shedding orous time for you maintain the vehicle sector. Nevertheless, Ford believed they may move the proverbial bunny out of the 
In 1980, the Cougar ended up being suddenly downsized from the former two-ton heft and put about Fox chassis, discussed by many people additional Ford vehicles at that time. Automatically this was an excellent step, as it future-proofed the automobile. The styling, though, had been boxy and simple, a simple massaging associated with previous looks which finished up searching a tiny bit sterile. In 1981, in an attempt to strengthen the Mercury product range, Ford resorted to slapping the Cougar term on a few 4-door vehicles whose beginnings ended up being the Fairmont/Zephyr range. Sales always plummet without desire around the corner, and badge manufacturing wouldn’t save your self Ford this time.
Meanwhile, Ford developers were at a crossroads: the 1980-82 vehicles were not attempting to sell, performance ended up being nonexistent, and any remaining semblance of Cougar traditions was being rapidly missing. Nevertheless objective for an all-new Cougar and Thunderbird had been slated for 1983. The manufacturers introduced Ford main developer Jack Telnack with the preliminary sketches; he was underwhelmed as you would expect. He now infamously asked them, “might you getting happy having this automobile in your own driveway?” If the responses are a resounding “no”, the guy encouraged them to reach further and start once again. The outcome comprise the 1983 Cougar and Thunderbird that people know these days, undoubtedly modern-day aerodynamic masterpieces both after that and today.
Nevertheless in the preliminary stage on the designs, the developers had been advised to maximize the distinctions within Cougar and its mechanized cousin, the Thunderbird. An integral necessity had been a noticeable streamlined search, which not just produced the types with the cars much more liquid but additionally contributed to energy economic climate. Furthermore of note was actually substantial utilization of computer-aided layout (CAD), something that used to be the items of fantasy, today a reality with all the Cougar and Thunderbird.
The purchase market had been separate evenly within Thunderbird and also the Cougar; they loved one and hated another, mainly because associated with roofline treatments.
One of the first brand new sketches ended up being a slim, swoopy “luxury athletics coupe” which Telnack decided to use subsequently another vehicle, the 1984 Lincoln level VII. Giving the same fastback roofline into Thunderbird meant there was just one good way to differentiate the Cougar: by heading vertical. A near-upright straight back windows cures is plumped for, which gave it the bonus vs. the Thunderbird in back seat headroom, but conceded a diminished pull coefficient (Cougar’s .40 against .36 the Thunderbird). The cars would show back and front bumpers, hoods, fenders, doorways and 1 / 2 of the cup. The rest of the human anatomy screens would-be unique to each product. This areas discussing assisted to help keep tooling expenses all the way down, building in a bit more profits also.
The Publish
The vehicles debuted on February 26, 1983 as virtual mid-year products. Some preliminary problems-ramping up V8 production and receiving the unique uplevel product Thunderbird, the Turbo Coupe, inside mix-helped wait the launch by two full months. Ironically they didn’t also topic: both trucks are immediate hits and deals shot rapidly upwards. The purchase community was actually separate evenly between the Thunderbird together with Cougar; they family member and disliked one other, simply because from the roofline treatment options. Hence in fact had been the master plan for Ford’s advertisements. The swoopy Thunderbird had an extended history and is the darling of NASCAR racers; the formal Cougar appealed to more luxury-oriented, innovative buyers. Even experts happened to be divided, but all consented that these automobiles marked the beginning of something totally new at Ford, and top quality is always pointed out as an important enhancement.
