Mike_B_SVT

Many people have not heard of a Boss 302 Cougar. For Mercury, you could only get the Boss 302 in a Cougar, and the Eliminator Option was mandatory with that engine. There were 2,250 Cougar Eliminators built in 1969. That year you could stick with the base drivetrain (351W-4V with 3-speed manual trans), or you could opt for the Boss 302-4V, 390-4V, 428CJ (with or without Ram-Air), or upgrade the CJ further to a 428SCJ (again, with or without Ram-Air). Only 169 Eliminators were built with the Boss 302 engine in 1969. Each engine also had various transmission options; 351W-4V = 3-speed manual (base), 4-speed manual (wide or close-ratio), FMX automatic. Boss 302-4V = 4-speed manual (wide or close-ratio). 390-4V = 3-speed manual (base), 4-speed manual (wide or close-ratio), C6 automatic. 428CJ/SCJ (with or without Ram-Air) = 4-speed manual (wide or close-ratio), C6 automatic. In 1970 there were 2,268 Cougar Eliminators built. The base drivetrain was the 351C-4V (again with 3-speed manual trans), while optional engines were the Boss 302-4V, 428CJ (with or without Ram-Air) - again upgradable to a 428SCJ (with or without Ram-Air). 469 Eliminators were built with the Boss 302 engine in 1970. Transmission options were similar to the previous year; 351C-4V = 3-speed manual (base), 4-speed manual (wide or close-ratio), FMX automatic. Boss 302-4V = 4-speed manual (wide or close-ratio). 428CJ/SCJ (with or without Ram-Air) = 4-speed manual (wide or close-ratio), C6 automatic. You will notice that the Boss 429 is not listed above. While the B9 engine appeared in vintage literature as an available engine option for the Cougar Eliminator, none were built for the public (despite a number of orders placed). There were three Boss 429 Cougars built in 1969: 2 were built for drag racers Dyno Don Nicholson and Fast Eddie Schartman (both cars have been found and restored), 1 was built as a magazine demo car (unaccounted for and presumed crushed). NONE of the Boss 429 Cougars had the Eliminator Option - they were all built well before Eliminator production began. As far as survival rates, considering the relatively low production numbers, time has been kind to the Boss 302 Eliminators. 195 Boss 302 Eliminators from 1970, and 58 Boss 302 Eliminators from 1969 are currently accounted for (note that these numbers include cars that are known to have been scrapped or destroyed, or documented only from VIN-stamped drivetrain components, or from vintage documents). If you have any Eliminator-related questions, please feel free to contact me - I help track and document Eliminators for the Cougar Club of America and the Eliminator Registry. Or you can contact the Eliminator Registry directly, here: https://eliminator.mercurycougarregistry.com/ Thanks, and have a great day! Mike B.