Rare 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT-E with 427 Side-Oiler V8 Surfaces

Mercury launched the Cougar in 1967, positioning it as a plusher, more refined sibling to the Ford Mustang. A year later, the division pushed its pony car further up the ladder with the GT-E, a low-volume package that swapped in Ford’s potent 427-4V engine.

That big-block gave the GT-E serious straight-line capability for its era, and examples are scarce today. This particular car is an XR-7 GT-E, meaning it carries the more luxurious XR-7 trim alongside the range-topping drivetrain.

It has turned up as a barn find, the kind of unrestored discovery enthusiasts watch for closely, since the combination of the 427 and the GT-E package makes it a standout among late-1960s Cougars.

Details on its condition and history are limited at this stage, but the car’s rarity alone should draw attention from collectors of Ford and Mercury performance models.