Category | Restored / Driver / Show |
Make | Mercury |
Model | Cougar 'Eliminator' |
Body Style | 2-dr Hardtop Coupe |
Price | SOLD |
Engine & Transmission Specs | Ford Cleveland small block |
Engine Type | 5.8L 351-4v V8 |
Transmission | C6 3-spd floor-shift automatic |
Length | 4.98m (16' 4") |
Weight | 1600kgs (3527lbs) |
Fuel Capacity | 76 ltrs |
Exterior Colour | Ford Competition Blue |
Interior Colour | Black |
VIN | 0F91M5375578 |
1970 Mercury Cougar ‘Eliminator’ 2-dr hardtop coupe powered by a 5.8L 351cui-4v ‘M-code’ V8 Ford Cleveland small block engine and matched to an upgraded C6 3-speed floor-shift automatic transmission and driven through a rebuilt Ford 9″ True Trac posi rear differential with 3.00:1 gearing.
History :- As far as rarity goes it is really hard to beat the Cougar Eliminator’s with only 2268 examples built for 1970. Of that build number this car is one of only 100 that were custom ordered by Hertz and built to their specification for their fleet of ‘Rent-a-Racers’ for that year. Only Hertz Eliminators received the Power Sunroof making them highly prized and sought after when their rental term had expired. Now these cars are very rare indeed and bare legendary status.
This car was produced on the 21st January 1970 in Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan plant as a Cougar 2-dr hardtop coupe with the ‘Eliminator’ package and was fitted with an ‘M-Code’ 351cui-4v V8 Cleveland ‘335-series’ small block engine. The trim/body plate identifies it as painted in Ford’s Competition Blue and trimmed with White vinyl interior and with hi-back bucket front seats. It was matched with a FMX 3-speed Select Shift automatic transmission and paired to a conventional rear diff with a 3.00:1 gearing ratio. The car when built was delivered to the Twin Cities, Minnesota district sales office where it was sold new by Quality Mercury Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota on 10th February 1970 to Hertz as a fleet car. It was only 1 of 100 Eliminator’s built for the Hertz ‘Rent-a-Racer’ program that year.
This car underwent a receipt documented restoration in late 2012 with over 800 labour hours spent in total. There are only 100 reported miles on the restoration of this Hertz Rent-a-Racer. A large file of invoices & receipts documents the work that has been done. The paint on this Eliminator is in excellent shape especially considering it is now some 10 years on. A testament to the quality of the paint as well as the integrity of the body. The bright trim is in excellent condition, the panels line up well and the doors open and close nicely.
This car was actually built to be driven so there are some non-correct components, the final product would easily out-perform the original. The undercarriage was shot with what appears to be ‘Raptor’, a tough and versatile bedliner style coating. The trunk was shot with it as well making for easy clean up and dramatically improved corrosion resistance.
Inside the interior restoration came out beautifully. The seats were done in Black Comfort Weave with new seat buns. They are just as comfortable as they are good looking. The car was restored using components from West Coast Classic Cougars and a few other well-known vendors.
Under the bonnet the 351 Cleveland has the ‘Quench’ cylinder heads with an aluminum intake manifold; a Holley 735cfm carburetor off of a ’71 429 SCJ; a 1972 Cobra Jet block; electronic ignition and a performance camshaft. The engine runs excellent. Unfortunately, we didn’t get any engine or transmission receipt documentation.
All Hertz Eliminators came equipped with factory air conditioning and power sun roofs. The air conditioning in this car was upgraded with a modern compressor to run reliably on modern 134 refrigerant. It was just serviced and blows ice cold.
The Eliminator sports package suspension was rebuilt with quality reproduction components, with the rear sway bar now having been upgraded with a 7/8″ sway bar.
The tyres & wheels have just been installed. They are the correct Cougar specific 14″ x 7″ Styled steel wheels from Specialty Wheel with Cooper Cobra 225/70/14 tyres.
So, a very rare car from the infamous Hertz ‘Rent-a-Racer’ program that presents in excellent condition. The car now with all the upgrades drives far better than when it first left the factory. If you want to stand out in a sea of Mustangs and Camaro’s, then dare to be different and own the only original Hertz ‘Rent-a-Racer’ Cougar Eliminator in Australia.
Please find below two (2) VIDEO’s of this car :-
1970 Mercury Cougar ‘Eliminator’ 2-dr hardtop coupe powered by a 5.8L 351cui-4v ‘M-code’ V8 Ford Cleveland small block engine and matched to an upgraded C6 3-speed floor-shift automatic transmission and driven through a rebuilt Ford 9″ True Trac posi rear differential with 3.00:1 gearing.
History :- As far as rarity goes it is really hard to beat the Cougar Eliminator’s with only 2268 examples built for 1970. Of that build number this car is one of only 100 that were custom ordered by Hertz and built to their specification for their fleet of ‘Rent-a-Racers’ for that year. Only Hertz Eliminators received the Power Sunroof making them highly prized and sought after when their rental term had expired. Now these cars are very rare indeed and bare legendary status.
This car was produced on the 21st January 1970 in Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan plant as a Cougar 2-dr hardtop coupe with the ‘Eliminator’ package and was fitted with an ‘M-Code’ 351cui-4v V8 Cleveland ‘335-series’ small block engine. The trim/body plate identifies it as painted in Ford’s Competition Blue and trimmed with White vinyl interior and with hi-back bucket front seats. It was matched with a FMX 3-speed Select Shift automatic transmission and paired to a conventional rear diff with a 3.00:1 gearing ratio. The car when built was delivered to the Twin Cities, Minnesota district sales office where it was sold new by Quality Mercury Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota on 10th February 1970 to Hertz as a fleet car. It was only 1 of 100 Eliminator’s built for the Hertz ‘Rent-a-Racer’ program that year.
This car underwent a receipt documented restoration in late 2012 with over 800 labour hours spent in total. There are only 100 reported miles on the restoration of this Hertz Rent-a-Racer. A large file of invoices & receipts documents the work that has been done. The paint on this Eliminator is in excellent shape especially considering it is now some 10 years on. A testament to the quality of the paint as well as the integrity of the body. The bright trim is in excellent condition, the panels line up well and the doors open and close nicely.
This car was actually built to be driven so there are some non-correct components, the final product would easily out-perform the original. The undercarriage was shot with what appears to be ‘Raptor’, a tough and versatile bedliner style coating. The trunk was shot with it as well making for easy clean up and dramatically improved corrosion resistance.
Inside the interior restoration came out beautifully. The seats were done in Black Comfort Weave with new seat buns. They are just as comfortable as they are good looking. The car was restored using components from West Coast Classic Cougars and a few other well-known vendors.
Under the bonnet the 351 Cleveland has the ‘Quench’ cylinder heads with an aluminum intake manifold; a Holley 735cfm carburetor off of a ’71 429 SCJ; a 1972 Cobra Jet block; electronic ignition and a performance camshaft. The engine runs excellent. Unfortunately, we didn’t get any engine or transmission receipt documentation.
All Hertz Eliminators came equipped with factory air conditioning and power sun roofs. The air conditioning in this car was upgraded with a modern compressor to run reliably on modern 134 refrigerant. It was just serviced and blows ice cold.
The Eliminator sports package suspension was rebuilt with quality reproduction components, with the rear sway bar now having been upgraded with a 7/8″ sway bar.
The tyres & wheels have just been installed. They are the correct Cougar specific 14″ x 7″ Styled steel wheels from Specialty Wheel with Cooper Cobra 225/70/14 tyres.
So, a very rare car from the infamous Hertz ‘Rent-a-Racer’ program that presents in excellent condition. The car now with all the upgrades drives far better than when it first left the factory. If you want to stand out in a sea of Mustangs and Camaro’s, then dare to be different and own the only original Hertz ‘Rent-a-Racer’ Cougar Eliminator in Australia.
Please find below two (2) VIDEO’s of this car :-
Category: | Restored / Driver / Show |
Make: | Mercury |
Model: | Cougar 'Eliminator' |
Body Style: | 2-dr Hardtop Coupe |
Price: | SOLD |
Engine: | Ford Cleveland small block |
Engine Type: | 5.8L 351-4v V8 |
Transmission: | C6 3-spd floor-shift automatic |
Length: | 4.98m (16' 4") |
Weight: | 1600kgs (3527lbs) |
Fuel Capacity: | 76 ltrs |
Exterior Colour: | Ford Competition Blue |
Interior Colour: | Black |
VIN: | 0F91M5375578 |