Did you know that in 1970 Mercury offered an optional houndstooth vinyl top for the Cougar?
The trim package, known as the “Houndstooth Cougar,” was offered in either white/black or gold/black and came with a matching houndstooth interior. It was the brain child of world reknown fashion designer Pauline Trigère.
With just over 7,500 Cougars outfitted with the houndstooth trim package, don’t expect one to come in your shop anytime soon.
However, on the off chance that one does, West Coast Classic Cougar offers reproduction vinyl for you to make your own replacement top.
Not your thing? How about Mopar’s alligator-grain vinyl top? It was made available as a factory option around the same time the houndstooth vinyl top hit the market… definitely an interesting era in auto upholstery.
My Mom had one of the first 1970 cougars when it first came out. We lived in Springfield Illinois and my folks Newark dealer we got it it seems way early and people just stared at it. It was gold but had a black and white houndstooth top. I’ve never seen one like it and I think I would buy it if I did. I often wonder if that car is still sitting in a garage somewhere. It was great fun and at 16 I loved to drive it! FYI Jim Joy. If you have a picture of one like it I would love to see it. Thanks