This Survivor 1967 Mercury Cougar XR7 Came From The Dealer With A Television Set

Dick Dalik of Freehold, NJ has always been infatuated with classic rides and late 1960s muscle cars. When the opportunity arose to check out a stunning, survivor 1967 Mercury Cougar that his son found on the internet, he was game from the start. What he found was a pony car that was still wearing most of its factory Inverness Green paint and running on its original 289 four-barrel V-8. However, there was something else about the Cougar that really set this one apart from the rest.

“This particular Mercury was sold new locally here in Jersey at Miles Mercury in Lyndhurst. There were plenty of interesting features that came with this car, including tilt-away wheel, AM 8-track stereo, and speed control. However, it was a dealer add-on that really made this ride a must buy as far as I was concerned. And that was the fact that this Cougar was equipped with a television set from dealership,” says Dick.

The Mercury Cougar was marketed as an upscale pony car and catered to the consumer that wanted a little luxury in their new vehicle. So, the inclusion of the nine-inch Philco-branded television set, which plugs into the cigarette lighter for power, makes sense. In 1961 Ford had purchased Philco, which was at one time the leader in radio and television production. They were also pioneers in battery design and transistor use in electronics equipment. So, marketing something such as a television to consumers seemed like a good strategy.

Dick bought the Cougar and started bringing it around to local shows. The Cougar was an immediate home run with the local car connoisseurs. “The car itself was a big hit. There’s not that many survivors left out there, of any make or model, and this one shows particularly well. Even the interior is in excellent shape. But once they get a peek at the TV, well, that starts the conversation flowing. It really is a neat add-on,” according to Dick.

However, there is one piece that he would love to have. “I have the TV, but I do not have the mounting bracket. It’s a metal piece that hangs over the front passenger’s seat. It hooks the TV to the back of the seat so the backseat passengers can watch. I’ve tried to find one, but they are basically unobtainable I’ve heard that the mount and TV together can go as high as $2k on the market. So, I might try to have one made so I can mount the TV for show.”

Overall, the 289/four-barrel engine and C4 drivetrain is original to the car and runs great. Besides the wearables, the only main parts that have been replaced are the radiator and the gas tank. “It’s a fun car to drive and I hope to keep it in the family for the years to come,” Dick says.

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