1978 Mercury Cougar XR-7

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE 

Out of a combination of a lifelong automotive passion and an unyielding desire to support the people of his Alabama community, the Generous Collection was born. Mr. Greg Rusk, a successful business leader in the cardboard industry, with a big heart for helping families and friends in times of need, would regularly pay overly generous fees to acquire an interesting vehicle. After decades of collecting and supporting local automotive enthusiasts, the Rusk family is ready for these vehicles, each with their own story, to write their next chapter back on the road, where they belong. 

The Generous Collection debuts with Part 1 offering over 200 cars in October, all offered without reserve, emerging from years of long-term silent storage. Many additional lots will be offered in the coming months. From the quiet shadows of the Generous Collection to the sunshine of backroads and highways, enthusiasts now have the opportunity to own a piece of a generous car-collecting legacy. 

* * * 

As part of the fourth-generation Mercury Cougar lineup, the 1978 model shared its platform with the Ford LTD II and embraced a more formal, upscale design. The XR-7 trim was the top-tier offering, featuring opera windows, a vinyl half-roof, and plush interiors that emphasized comfort over performance. The XR-7 embodied the late-1970s trend toward boulevard cruisers — stylish, spacious, and ideal for leisurely driving. With over 166,000 units produced, it was the most popular Cougar variant that year.  

Buyers could choose from several V8 engine options, paired with Select-Shift automatic transmissions, including a 351 cubic-inch version with two-barrel carburetor like the one up for auction. 

Standard features for ’78 included power steering, front disc brakes, bucket seats, and performance instrumentation. Buyers could opt for numerous luxury upgrades, including Automatic Climate Control and power windows, door locks, mirrors, and seats — all of which were selected by the original owner of this Dark Jade 1978 Cougar XR-7. 

Highlights 

• Offered from The Generous Collection 

• Powered by a 351 cu-in V8 with two-barrel carburetor 

• C6 three-speed automatic transmission 

• The data plate/sticker decodes as: 

  • Color: 46XU – Dark Jade Metallic with Chamois vinyl landau roof 

  • DSO: 32 – Cincinnati (Ohio) District Sales Office 

  •  Body: 65L – XR-7 2-Door Hardtop 

  • Trim: DT – Chamois Vinyl Interior 

  • Sch. Date: 08C – 8 March 1978 scheduled build date 

  • Axle: 1 – 2.75:1 rear axle ratio 

  • Trans: X – C6 automatic transmission 

  •  A/C: A – Factory air conditioning 

• The chassis number (8H93H602143) decodes as: 

  • 8 – 1978 model year 

  • H – Lorain (Ohio) assembly plant 

  • 93 – Cougar XR-7 two-door hardtop 

  • H – 351 cu-in 2bbl V8 

  • 602143 – Sequential Production Number 

Features 

• Power steering and front brakes 

• Optional power windows, door locks, mirrors, and seats 

• Automatic Climate Control 

• 85-mph speedometer 

• Woodgrain dashboard trim 

• Kenwood AM/FM/Cassette stereo 

• Center console 

• Uniroyal Tiger Paw GTS  

• “Continental” style rear deck 

• Opera windows 

Known Imperfections 

• While reasonable efforts were made during preparation for the sale, due to the volume of cars in this collection, it was not possible to diagnose or detect all imperfections present in the cars. 

• Paint chips 

• Scuffs on wheels and exterior trim 

• Missing trim on passenger door 

• Clock is inoperable 

Included 

• Spare tire 

• Jack 

• Keys

Ownership History 

This 1978 Mercury Cougar XR-7 is offered from The Generous Collection of no reserve automobiles. 

Additional Notes

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty.

Contact: Ramsey Potts Phone: 912.508.4096 email: rpotts@hagerty.com

Alabama Sales Tax Notice to Bidders: Because this car is located in Alabama, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama state sales taxes of up to 2% of the purchase amount, even if the buyer plans to register the car outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer is located in AZ, CA, FL, IN, MA, MI, or SC (capped at $500 in SC), and (b) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives the car or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer). Additionally, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama county or city taxes from buyers located outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer), and (b) the buyer fails to provide an executed Drive-Out Certificate for Nonresidents. For additional information, please consult this publication and your own tax advisor regarding sales taxes applicable to cars located in Alabama that are sold to residents of another state.  

Please note that all lots in The Generous Collection are offered after many years of storage, without operation or service, in warehouse facilities. The seller endeavored to provide limited mechanical servicing to bring some cars back to running potential, however, not all cars will be running at time of sale. Because of the extended static display, it must be assumed that all cars will require additional mechanical attention before being driven safely and, in most cases, cleaning to both the interiors and exteriors. All the cars will have imperfections associated with long-term static storage and require extensive sorting to perform best and safely. The burden of determining a car’s status, both mechanical and cosmetic, rests fully on the bidder, prior to bidding and the close of the auction. All lots are sold as is, where is. 

Additionally, due to the location of the collection and limited access to the facility following the close of the auction, all lots must be retrieved while a Hagerty Marketplace representative is onsite beginning Monday, November 3 through Wednesday, November 19. No cars can be retrieved prior to November 3 and any lots remaining after November 19 will be re-located outside in the parking lot for retrieval by their buyers.