Ford introduced the Mercury brand in 1938 and discontinued it in 2011 after 86 years of proud car-making. From the start, Mercury was positioned above Ford in terms of luxury and features but used the same mechanicals and engines. During the 1960s, the brand was very active in racing and the muscle car segment, and that is why we wanted to remind you of the 10 best muscle cars produced by Mercury.
1. Mercury Cougar GT-E
The 1968 Cougar GT-E was Mercury’s bold statement in the muscle car arena. Initially equipped with a 390 cubic-inch V8, mid-year saw the introduction of the 427 cubic-inch V8, delivering a factory-rated 390 horsepower.
This made the GT-E one of the most powerful Cougars ever produced. With only 357 units built with the 427 engine, it remains a rare and sought-after collector’s item. The Cougar GT-E wasn’t just fast and good-looking but also prestigious and well-built.
2. Mercury Cougar Eliminator
Despite being a twin brother to the Mustang, the Mercury Cougar gained a cult following and created a name of its own in the late ’60s. But for the 1969 muscle car wars, Mercury had something special—the Cougar Eliminator.
The Cougar Eliminator was a top-of-the-line model with several interesting engine choices. You could get a Boss 302 engine, a high-revving 5.0-liter V8 in a slightly bigger body with more luxury features. However, more buyers opted for bigger 351 or 428 Cobra Jet engines, making the Eliminator Boss 302 rare. In 1969/1970, Mercury made only 638 of those great machines in two years.
3. Mercury Cougar XR-7
Positioned as the luxury variant of the Cougar lineup, the XR-7 offered refined interiors with wood-grain accents, leather seating, and full instrumentation. However, it didn’t skimp on performance. The ultimate version, which perfectly combined muscle car power and luxury, was the mighty Cougar XR-7. This model had the 390 V8 engine with 320 hp, and buyers could also opt for the GT package, which included beefed suspension, stronger brakes, and steering.
The XR-7 was a popular model, with over 27,000 produced in 1967, but only a little over 2,600 came with the GT package. Over the years, the Mercury Cougar has been in the shadow of the Mustang, but in recent years, prices have started to rise for this piece of the luxury muscle segment.
4. Mercury Cyclone Cobra Jet
The Cyclone was introduced in 1964 and stayed on the market until 1971, but the best version, which is the most interesting to collectors, is the Cyclone CJ. Those two letters marked the presence of the famed 428 Cobra Jet engine, the first truly street-muscle engine built by Ford. With a 7.0-liter displacement and advertised 335 hp, the Cobra Jet made over 400 horsepower. The Cyclone CJ was a serious street racing contender, and this new engine significantly increased its performance.
Along with Ford, Mercury was active in NASCAR racing during the late ’60s, and Cyclone CJ contributed to racing efforts. However, less than 3,500 Cyclones CJ were produced in 1969, while regular Cyclones without the Cobra Jet option were much more popular.
5. Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II
Ford had Talladega, so Mercury wanted its own Aero Special. Designers took Cyclone and copied design cues from Talladega, creating the Spoiler II model for 1969. The Cyclone Spoiler was mechanically identical; however, it was sold in two packages—Cale Yarborough Special and Dan Gurney Special. The packages had different color schemes, but otherwise were the same. The only differences between Talladega and Cyclone Spoiler II were the standard rear spoiler, front grille, and design of rear lights.
Even though there was an official rule that the manufacturer must produce 500 or more copies of its homologation special, there was some controversy on the exact number of Cyclone Spoiler IIs produced. Official literature provides 503 examples, but experts claim that the number is much lower (around 350 cars). Rumor is that Mercury was behind with the production of the Cyclone Spoiler II. When NASCAR officials came to check the vehicles, they sneaked regular Cyclones painted in Spoiler II colors. This way, it appeared that 503 cars were produced, hiding that there are far fewer Cyclone Spoiler II made.
6. Mercury Cougar GT 429
The 1971 Mercury Cougar GT 429 is a rare muscle car that combines luxury and raw power. Equipped with a 429 cubic-inch Cobra Jet V8 engine producing up to 370 horsepower, it offered thrilling performance with a refined edge. As Mercury’s upscale counterpart to the Mustang, the Cougar GT featured distinctive styling, hidden headlights, and available Ram Air induction.
The GT package added heavy-duty suspension, dual exhaust, and performance axle options. While overshadowed by more common muscle cars, the Cougar GT 429 remains a prized collector’s vehicle today, appreciated for its unique blend of elegance, brute strength, and limited production.
7. Mercury Comet Cyclone
The Mercury Comet Cyclone, produced from 1964 to 1967, was Mercury’s bold entry into the muscle car era. Based on the compact Comet, the Cyclone offered sporty styling and performance upgrades. Early models featured 289 V8 engines, while later versions introduced larger 390 and 427 cubic-inch powerplants, delivering serious horsepower.
With its distinctive trim, bucket seats, and rally gauges, the Cyclone combined style with speed. In 1966 and 1967, it gained a sleeker fastback design and optional performance packages. Though less celebrated than Ford’s Mustang, the Cyclone carved its niche as a potent, stylish, and underrated muscle machine of the 1960s.
8. Mercury Marauder X-100
Mercury was well in the muscle car segment but luxury performance models were scarce, until 1969 when a new generation of the Marauder was introduced. Imagined as a luxury coupe, the Marauder had a fresh design with interesting features like concealed headlights, a massive front end, and a sloping rear end with concave rear glass. It was a big, heavy car for cruising rather than street racing.
Behind the strange name was a regular 1969 Marauder with a 429 V8 engine producing 360 hp, bucket seats, heavy-duty suspension, blackout rear trim, and fender skirts. The performance was respectable, but it was still a big and heavy car, so it was significantly slower compared to some bare-bones, smaller, and lighter muscle models.
9. Mercury Capri RS
The introduction of the third-generation Mustang had a significant influence on Mercury, too, since the brand got its version in the form of the Capri in 1979. From 1970 to 1977, Mercury sold the Capri, which was an imported model from Germany with four—and six-cylinder engines, but in 1979, thanks to the Mustang, the Capri was brand new and featured a unique front-end design.
Mercury introduced the RS model as the performance version, which featured a 2.3-liter turbocharged engine with a whopping 135 hp. The performance was expectedly bad, but the car looked cool with a big air intake on the hood, big RS badges, and a rear spoiler. Today, those RS models are quite rare, although not very valuable or sought-after by collectors.
10. Mercury Marauder
Even though Ford never intended the Grand Marquis to be a performance car, Mercury decided to turn it into one. They installed a highly tuned 4.6-liter V8 with 302 HP and a revised suspension, gearbox and brakes. These changes turned this sleepy, comfy sedan into a sharp muscle car. It came in three colors, but the black Marauder had menacing looks and an aggressive stance, differentiating it from its sedate cousins.
The performance was impressive for a big, heavy sedan. It could go from 0 to 60 mph in around seven seconds. However, the most significant asset was its appearance. Seeing this big, black sedan in a rearview mirror could make drivers want to pull over to the side of the road.