In 1969 Mercury got serious about performance and no car made the point more clearly than the Mercury Cougar Eliminator. Although the Eliminator was available with any engine offered in the standard Cougar, it was often the home of the 428 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet, and Even home to the Boss 302! The Cougar Club of America describes the Eliminator this way:
1969 & 1970 ELIMINATOR
The Eliminator package was an option available for the 1969 and 1970 model years. The car starts with a standard, non-XR-7 base Cougar (91 Body Series). To the base Cougar, Ford added the Eliminator equipment package, which included:
Hi-Back Bucket Seats w/Comfortweave Vinyl.
Unique Camera-case Dash and Instrument Panel, including Tach (8000 rpm for Boss 302), Rally Clock and Trip Odometer.
Automatic shift handle:
69 was a chrome 'T" handle, 3 speed and 4-speed was a woodgrain ball w/shift pattern on white background with 3 Blue stripes through middle of pattern
70 was wood w/chrome Running Cat, 4-speed was aluminum Hurst w/shift pattern in Black.
Visual Check Warning Lights (includes door- ajar & low fuel warning Lights).
Front Chin Spoiler (although part of the Eliminator package, this item was installed at the dealership).
Rear Air Foil Wing:
69 adjustable, painted Body color (also installed at dealership).
70 adjustable, painted Body color with Eliminator graphics. '70 ONLY has Trunk Prop Rod, and Spoiler Brackets on the underside of Trunk Lid. (These were dealer installed). Prop Rod hole is punched in Quarter extension.
Wheels:
69 Styled Steel Wheels (Argent w/chrome plain 5" center hubcap).
70 Wheels had Trim Rings and “dog-dish” HubCaps on 6" Black rims.
Blacked-out Grille assembly.
Hood Scoop:
69 painted Body color (functional w/428 Ram Air only).
70 painted Satin Black in color (functional w/428 Ram Air only).
Body Side Stripes: NOTE: Body Pin Stripes are deleted
69 White or Black only
70 Black only
Left-hand remote control Racing Mirror Painted Body Color
RH Mirror NOT available in 69, manual available in 70 Painted Body Color
Performance Axle.
Exterior Colors:
69 White, Bright Blue Metallic, Competition Orange, and Bright Yellow.
70 Competition Orange, Blue, Yellow, Green, Gold and Pastel Blue (and Special Order Black).
Interior Trim:
69 3 colors ONLY, Black (5A), Blue (5B), and White w/Black components (EA).
70 Black or White only (except Blue w/Pastel Blue paint only).
Base Drive Train: 35l-4v (M-code) Engine: Windsor (69) Cleveland (70), with dual exhaust. (the 351-4V was required extra cost equipment), 3-Speed manual transmission, 3.25 open Rear Axle or 3.00 w/air conditioning.
69 Only Eliminator Decor Group (required/extra $)
Curb Rocker Moldings
Rimblow Steering Wheel
Custom Door Trim (Decor Interior Panels)
Rear Arm Rests
Door-mounted Courtesy Lights
Padded Interior Moldings
69 Only Performance Tire/Handling Group (required/extra $)
Heavy Duty Springs
Heavy Duty front Sway Bar
F70 x 14 belted traction Tires on 6" rimsOptional equipment: The Eliminator could be ordered with any option that was available on the standard Cougar with the following explanations and/or exceptions:
Wheel opening Mouldings were deleted
Drag Pack Option: (available with Boss 302 and 428CJ only); 3.91 or 4.30 Rear Axle Ratio, included Oil Cooler, heavy duty Battery. (428CJ now becomes 428SCJ with Drag Pack Option). NOTE: Air conditioning could NOT be ordered with the Drag Pack Option.
Traction Lok Differential: Cars w/3.50 or higher ratio received 31 Spline Axles and Nodular Case (4.30 Axle Ratio received the Detroit Locker).
Engine Options:
69 390-4v: received either 3-speed, 4-speed, or C-6 automatic.
69 / 70 428-4v: received either 4-speed manual or C-6 automatic.
69 / 70 Boss 302: while requiring 4-speed Trans. and Traction Lok Rear Axle, both of these items were billed separately. NOTE: All Boss 302’s have Rev Limiter, and manual Choke. NOTE: 428 4-speed, and Boss 302 cars only, received Staggered Rear Shocks. NOTE: Boss 302 Engines were ONLY available with the Eliminator option. NOTE: In 1970, all 428’s w/4-speeds received Rev Limiters and Manual Chokes. NOTE: The 70 Eliminator does not have the Cougar Script in front of the rear Side Marker Lights. This is replaced by the Eliminator Decal. The Eliminator could NOT be ordered with two-tone paint, a Vinyl Roof, an XR-7 (code 93), or as a Convertible.