From the time we are born we are taught to recognize shapes, as this is a fundamental part of our perception of the world. By the time we get into our teens this perception is well defined, and our brains can comprehend complex shapes. Now it's no secret that the shape of a vehicle has a major role in how it is sold and marketed. So at one point or another, the shape of the Cougar is what helped to influence your decision to purchase it. It is a rather complex shape, much more sophisticated and elegant than most any other cars of its era. Yet it's simple at the same time, a hearkening to the roots of the Cougar line. The aero Cougar means so many things to so many people, but perhaps the most common thing heard about it is, "I just like the way it looks." Yet have you ever stopped to wonder why it looks that way? This section will systematically deconstruct the styling components used in the creation of the aero Cougar, and explain why the car ended up being styled the way it was.

Keep in mind the original goals of the car: maximum differentiation from the mechanically-similar Thunderbird, unique aerodynamic properties, and a blending in of familiar styling cues. Any car's styling is a blend of different elements, much like a batch of chocolate chip cookies. The eggs, flour, chips, sugar, oil, and butter all have their own unique textures and tastes, but blended together in just the right way and in just the right amounts, you have a cookie that delights the senses. So, too, should a good car design be, and we certainly had one of the best of the decade. The aero Cougar made just about everything else look square, which it pretty much was at that time. The Cougar's main competition, GM's G-bodies (Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Cutlass Supreme, Regal), had nary a rounded line, and even the softening of the Mustang's fascia in 1987 did little to remove the inherent squareness of its body lines. This gave the Cat an enviable position and contributed to its success in its rear-drive midsize coupe market segment. To this day, the 1983-88 Cougar's unique shape and relatively low drag coefficient make it a clear standout amongst a sea of boxy cars. A lot of people like to refer to these cars as the "jellybean" designs, but that really belongs to the 1986 Taurus/Sable. These cars were based more on a rounded wedge shape than anything else; the mixture of formal and modern cues made for an instant classic. Read on and discover the magic in the styling of the 1983-88 Mercury Cougar:

[ top ]