Rare 1960s muscle car that rivals the Ford Mustang but is half the price

The Ford Mustang Boss may be the crown jewel of 1960s muscle car culture, but the Mercury Cougar Eliminator is the forgotten rival that deserves a second look.

While collectors have driven Boss values into the six-figure stratosphere, the Eliminator quietly delivers nearly identical performance for half the price.

It shares Ford’s hardware, racing DNA, and plenty of muscle under the hood, yet it remains far more affordable.

For savvy buyers, that combination makes the Eliminator one of the best-kept secrets in the classic car world.

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It gives the Ford Mustang Boss a run for its money

Launched in 1969, the Mercury Cougar Eliminator was designed to prove Mercury could play in the same league as the Ford Mustang Boss.

It transformed the Cougar from a stylish, upscale pony car into a true performance machine with options that mirrored the Mustang’s menu.

The standard 351 Windsor V8 provided solid punch, while buyers could upgrade to the Boss 302 for Trans Am credibility, the 390 FE for torque, or the 428 Cobra Jet for brute-force acceleration.

This versatility meant the Eliminator could serve both road course enthusiasts and quarter-mile drag racers, although it wasn’t the fastest car around in the 1960s.

Styling set the Eliminator apart, too.

A chin spoiler, decklid wing, and bold side stripes gave it an aggressive profile that stood out in dealership showrooms.

Exclusive colors like Competition Orange and Bright Blue Metallic, paired with the Cougar’s hidden headlights and blacked-out grille, ensured the car looked every bit as mean as it drove.

Inside, Mercury blended sporty intent with comfort, offering bucket seats, competition trim, and multiple transmission choices.

The Mercury Cougar Eliminator is very rare

Performance lived up to the looks.

The Boss 302-equipped Eliminators offered high-revving agility, while the 428 Cobra Jet delivered quarter-mile times in the mid-13s, which outpaced certain Mustang Boss models.

With horsepower estimates often topping 400 in real-world testing, the big-block Eliminator proved it wasn’t just Mercury’s flashy cousin to the Mustang, but a true muscle car heavyweight.

What makes the Eliminator especially appealing today is its rarity.

Mercury built just over 2,200 in 1969 and slightly more in 1970, a fraction of Mustang production.

Yet despite its low numbers, the car remains relatively attainable.

Most examples trade between $40,000 and $70,000, even for big-block cars, while Mustang Boss 302s and 429s routinely bring $100,000 to $150,000.

That discrepancy makes the Mercury Cougar Eliminator a genuine bargain.

It’s a rare and powerful muscle car that flies under the radar.

If you’re a collector, this is something you can consider chasing before the rest of the market catches on.

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