Car: Mercury Cougar Eliminator Coupe

Year: 1969

What makes it special: Taking a cue from rival manufacturer models like the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 or Mustang Boss 302 and Mustang Mach-1 from their sister company Ford, Mercury boosted their muscle car profile when they released their Eliminator model on the streets for the 1969 model year. It hosted a range of V8 engines from the Trans-Am inspired solid-lifter 302 Small Block to their lethal 428 cu in Cobra-Jet Big Block.

What made it famous: The Mercury Cougar Eliminator featured such asphalt destroying features as the 428 cu in V8 with or without Ram-Air, or the famed “Drag-Pak” option with an oil-cooler and a 4.30:1 gear ratio Detroit Locker rear axle. Not fitted with the equally famous “Shaker Hood,” the Eliminator’s hood scoop was only functional when the Ram-Air option box was checked off. Other features for Mercury’s street killer was a blacked-out grille, side stripes, front chin and rear foil spoilers and an “Eliminator only” array of special high-impact blue, orange and yellow exterior colors.

Why I would want one: These aren’t easy to find. They pretty much are the higher tier of Mercury muscle cars for the late 1960’s.

Fun fact: For those who weren’t satisfied with the Eliminator’s killer power, more dealer options could be ordered in the form of headers, dual-quad carburetor set-ups, deep-sump oil pans, and quadruple Weber Carburetor set-ups as well, making them even more potent.
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Car: Chevrolet Nomad Fuel Injection

Year: 1957

What makes it special: The Chevrolet Nomad was not only a style icon, but influenced the “Hatchback” styling of car models in later years. The station wagon was made periodically from model years 1955 to 1972 in various forms, and also in Van form in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. During the tri-five years of 1955 to 1957 it was considered a “Halo model” because of the effect it produced on selling other cars within General Motors.

What made it famous: The Chevrolet Nomad was unique because it was a station wagon whose styling was more like a hardtop sedan. It influenced sister GM company Pontiac to produce their “Safari” model in 1956. The 1957 Chevrolet is already an icon, world-recognized for it’s rear tailfins. For ’57, the V8 grew to 283 cu in from the previous 265 V8, and the Super Turbo Fire V8 produced 283 hp with the factory-option addition of continuous fuel injection (Like the car shown in the photo.)  Known as “Fuelies,” these are pretty rare to find, since most buyers opted for the regular carburation V8’s. The Nomad was considered a milestone design, but was discontinued due to a whole new body design and chassis for the 1958 model year.

Why I would want one: Three reasons: It’s a milestone design year, it’s a fuelie, and it’s rare. Enuff said.

Fun fact: The top brass at GM felt it would be better suited if the Nomad name was more associated with their top-of-the-line Bel Air model, so it’s not weird to hear someone refer to one as a “Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad.”
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