1970 Mercury Cougar Boss 302 Eliminator
Ford Motor Company marketed certain high-performance variants under the Drag Pack and Super Drag Pack designations, which included specialized equipment such as an engine oil cooler and steeper rear axle ratios. When properly equipped, the 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator could qualify for these packages, resulting in some exceptionally rare and competition-oriented muscle cars.
The Eliminator package transformed the Cougar into a focused performance machine with front and rear spoilers, racing-style mirrors, a blacked-out grille with hidden headlights, a hood scoop, and full-length side stripes. Mercury’s marketing summed it up clearly: “spoilers hold it down…nothing holds it back.”
Engine choices ranged from the 351 cubic-inch V-8 to the 428 Cobra Jet with Ram Air, though the Boss 302 stood out as a particularly desirable option. Competition suspension was standard on Eliminator models, featuring heavy-duty shocks and springs along with a rear stabilizer bar.
The interior supported the performance theme with bucket seats, an 8,000-rpm tachometer with integrated E.T. indicator, oil pressure gauge, and a rally clock with sweep second hand. These features reinforced the Eliminator’s dual role as both a street machine and a strip-capable package.
Production figures highlight the model’s scarcity. Of approximately 72,343 Cougars built for 1970, only 2,267 were equipped with the Eliminator package, and just 469 of those left the factory with the Boss 302 engine.
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