Jay Leno has driven just about anything with an engine and four wheels, so when he says that he’s never had a chance to drive the car he recently featured on his show, it’s the sort of statement that raises a few eyebrows in the car community. That is especially true because Leno has spent decades chasing oddball trims, forgotten performance packages, and low-production American metal that most people only know from old brochures. When something slips past its seat time, it is usually because the car is genuinely scarce or because it spent most of its life being overlooked while flashier rivals stole the attention.
The car in question is a Mercury built at the tail end of the muscle car golden era in the late ’60s, and while it has period-correct looks, power, and attitude, it’s a rare and forgotten piece of history that never got the spotlight it truly deserved. The Eliminator name was Mercury’s way of leaning into the era’s horsepower obsession without abandoning the Cougar’s more grown-up vibe, which is part of what makes it such an interesting time capsule today. It sits in that sweet spot where a car can feel authentically old-school yet still be enjoyable to drive when it is cared for and thoughtfully updated.
This 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator Is the Type of Restomod Jay Leno Appreciates
In a popular episode of Jay Leno’s Garage aired a few months ago, Jay Leno finally got a chance to check out a gorgeous 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator owned by lifelong Ford enthusiast Emmett Abner. The first thing that Jay notes about the car is just how rare it is, and Emmett agrees, noting that he gets a lot of attention every time he takes it for a spin. With 2,250 Cougar Eliminators built in 1969 and about 4,500 across 1969 and 1970, it’s no surprise how hard running into one in the wild is today. However, this particular Eliminator is even more of a unicorn since it’s one of just 302 Eliminators equipped with the largest and most powerful engine available in 1969—since it is one of 302 1969 Eliminators equipped with the 428 cubic inch Cobra Jet, factory rated at 335 hp. While the motor is mostly stock, Emmett added dual radiator fans and a bigger cam, and Abner says it was dynoed at just under 500 hp after the cam change. Other engine options in 1969 included an entry-level 290-hp 351-cubic-inch V8, a 390 with 320 hp on tap, and the legendary high-revving Boss 302 engine, which made 290 hp.
Before taking it for a drive, Jay and Emmett geek out about the car and highlight some of the cool design and performance features it currently has. At first glance, Emmett’s Eliminator still looks period-correct, but it is not factory-original in appearance: it was born bright blue metallic with a blue interior and now wears competition blue paint, a black interior, and Magnum 500 wheels. Under the hood, he also installed modern fans to improve cooling, a bigger cam, a new engine dress-up kit, and a bunch of stickers for more of that period-correct look. The interior now has black upholstery in place of the car’s original blue vinyl interior.
This Eliminator is essentially a ‘light’ restomod, but it’s hard to know just by looking at it, and Jay appears to appreciate this kind of build more than some of the crazy restomods he’s featured on the show over the years. He highlights how he prefers the period-style wheels as opposed to the big 22s that guys like to install in restomods, noting that they ruin the whole dynamic of the car.
Jay Leno Finally Gets To Drive the Mercury Cougar Eliminator
The moment that Jay (and the viewers) have been waiting for finally arrives, and Jay hops into the Cougar Eliminator driving seat and fires the Cobra Jet up, which is a first-time experience for him. The driving experience comes across as big, torquey, dramatic, and old-school. Jay describes it as one of those muscle-era cars that was not just about raw speed but about being able to cruise comfortably and go cross-country. Compared to a Mustang, the Cougar feels a bit more substantial and mature, still powerful, but more like a “banker’s hot rod” than a stripped-out pony car.
The 428 Cobra Jet gives the car a strong, smooth shove. The owner says it was dynoed at just under 500 hp, and Jay reacts to the way it pulls with obvious excitement. It sounds like the car delivers its performance through torque and rumble rather than a high-strung, razor-sharp feel. The ‘C6’ 3-speed automatic shapes the experience too. Jay points out that modern cars may have 10-speed automatics, but this old transmission feels simple, durable, and period-correct.
At the same time, the Cougar Eliminator has the familiar limitations of a late-1960s pony car. Jay notes that cars of that era were good for horsepower, but not for braking or cornering by modern standards. Jay’s larger point is that this kind of car feels alive and mechanical in a way modern cars often do not. It is less polished and less capable in absolute terms but more involving. He sums that up near the end by saying these cars are fun because they are so different from the modern experience.
Why the Mercury Cougar Eliminator Is an Overlooked Collector Car
The Mercury Cougar was a larger, more luxurious version of the Mustang, but while the Stang basks in endless acclaim, the Cougar barely makes it into enthusiast folklore. Part of the reason why the Cougar is often forgotten is that Ford allowed it to fade into obscurity, as the bulk of the advertising budget went to the more popular Mustang. The Mercury brand also made its name by prioritizing comfort and luxury, not drag strip dominance, which hurt the Eliminator’s overall performance image.
Still, the Eliminator is a golden-era pony car with a superb design, insane power under the hood, and genuine scarcity, which means muscle car purists are always on the lookout when one pops up for sale. Emmett said it took him a long time to find an Eliminator with the engine configuration he wanted, which explains why top Boss 302 and Cobra Jet cars can reach or exceed six figures, even though the broader Eliminator market averages lower.
Even after being featured on Jay Leno’s Garage, the Cougar Eliminator will never get the spotlight it deserved, but it represents a key moment in history when Mercury stepped out of Ford’s shadow and took a swing at the muscle car establishment.