Ford Cougar V6 | Spotted

Even in advance of the recent mayhem, traditional quick Ford values had shot up. Capris, Cortinas and Cossies of each individual stripe have been significant money for a although now, the highly effective blend of nostalgia and the common decimation of survivors sending inquiring selling prices into the stratosphere. Then appreciation started off to get to the more contemporary fast Fords, then the less notable – then seemingly just about every car at any time created with a Blue Oval on the front and a spoiler on the back. 

Today we are living in the earth of the £30k Granada V6, £70k Capri and £150k Escort Cossie. Irrespective of how a great deal you loved staying taken on holiday getaway in the back again of dad’s Ghia X or observing the WRC on telly, that is madness. And let us not overlook what happened with Diana’s RS Turbo, a hammer price so obscene we’ll not repeat it for anxiety of resulting in offence.

Stage getting that, though great fast Fords like the Concentrate RS and Racing Puma will normally deservedly draw in consideration, there are a good deal of everyday autos out there with chunky asking price ranges purely on account of a badge and comparative (sometimes merely supposed) rarity. Which ought to signify that this Cougar V6 prices about £40k there were being in no way that lots of in the first spot, it’s in fantastic issue and it hails from that New Edge period – imagine Ka, Puma, Aim – which is now prime contemporary traditional territory. When they’re not complete rust buckets.

But no – this 74,000-mile, just one-proprietor Cougar is just £3,995. You’d shell out far more for a equivalent Mondeo with the exact engine. It appears to be that the Cougar’s unpopularity when new (it is thought that just 12,000 have been bought in the Uk) has continued into its secondhand life and accompanies it now all the way to around-obscurity. Which, you know what, would seem a bit unfair. 

Alright, there weren’t numerous supporters of the styling when new, and it would likely be good to say this is not a person of the timeless New Edge greats in the way that both of those Emphasis and Ka are. On the other hand, it now appears so flawlessly of its time (and the 1990s are fashionable again) that to exclusively maintain style and design versus the Cougar appears unfair. You are surely heading to look two times in 2022 purely on account of how (genuinely) exceptional it is. Moreover, the Cougar could hardly ever quite rival the scaled-down Puma as a coupe to genuinely seize by the scruff of the neck and travel – but that was usually going to be a incredibly lop-sided comparison, pitched as it was versus 1 of the biggest front-wheel push chassis at any time. By all accounts the Cougar was not negative (it was Mondeo-primarily based following all, and anyone beloved that), it just lacked the conventional rear-push charm of a Capri or the sheer brilliance of a Puma.

Now, pretty much 25 decades right after start and with this one previously past 20, probably it’s time to reassess the Cougar. Or at the very least lower it some slack. It’ll under no circumstances be the best-searching or best driving Ford at any time, but, as we’ve included, that hasn’t stopped plenty of many others from commanding huge bucks. Today it’s a rare and interesting retro cruiser, a throwback to the times when coupes weren’t SUV based mostly and a major V6 with a handbook gearbox was a desirable flagship. This just one even has the X Pack, for total prime-of-the-vary bragging rights. It’ll be the fantastic matter for a Ford competition, safe in the understanding you have not experienced to expend £20k for some thing suitable.

The MOT on this one particular has not long ago expired, which is a pity, however there is practically nothing as well frightening in the new heritage to recommend a new ticket ought to be tough to get. Some thing to element into an give, possibly. Far more than just about anything it would seem like the outdated bruiser just wants driving it obtained by 70,000 miles in 2015 yet, is now staying bought with less than 75k 7 decades afterwards. So possibly the vehicle is likely to want a bit of income used to convey it again to its best, but so will most autos from 2001 by now. As a unusual and attention-grabbing bit of quickly(ish) Ford heritage, it isn’t hard to see the attraction in this previous Cougar. Give it one more 21 a long time and it might be worthy of as much as all the others…

Motor: 2,544cc, V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual, entrance-wheel travel
Ability (hp): 170@6,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 162@4,250rpm
MPG: 29.4
CO2: 228g/km
12 months registered: 2001
Recorded mileage: 75,000
Value new: N/A
Yours for: £3,995