It never ceases to amaze me how my one Mercury in a sea of other makes even at a local car show becomes a conversation-piece magnet. At the local cruise last night, an older gentleman approached me to discuss my car. He was very enthusiastic, and really into Cougars & Comets. Turns out he was a designer for LM division in the early 70's up through mid-80's. He introduced himself as Fred Aichman, and told me he came on board just as the '71 Comet models were in development. As a young guy in the industry, he loved the design of the new Comets and Cougars and was excited to get a chance to work on them. Also among his first jobs were refinements to the '73 Cougar, he then later had a hand in the popular '77-'79 models. Althought they sold well, he was bummed that they took a heavier luxury bend. And don't even get him started about the big bumper Mavs & Comets!!! He invited me over to look at development drawings from back in the day when he was working for L-M, and he dug up these Mercury concepts that didn't make it past the prototype stage, although I am told by Fred at least one of them exists today in the greater Detroit area. These concepts were intended to carry on the Eliminator, GTE names into the 70's but on a different platform. Since the '71 Cougars had become so bloated and ugly, the L-M brass looked to the new Comet body style for sportier lines. They reasoned that Dyno Don brought the Eliminator name to prominence with the Comet body style, so why not go back to it?? The GTE was mostly done to study hide-away headlights for the Comet/Maverick. The other sketch was for NASCAR homologation of a smaller body style, hence the Spoiler III designation. Thanks to Mr. Aichman for allowing me to post!
NIIICE me like hide away headlights, wonder why no one ever mentiond this as a possible mod? the quad lights are interesting too.
One and the same! Here's a pic of the prototype '82 Cougar GTEek 0.7 Wagon here: http://www.mercurycougar.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9428&d=1175436602 and a closeup of the special badging here: http://www.mercurycougar.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9434&d=1175476725
