Mercury Cougar Wheel Center Caps
You may drive a Mercury Cougar that you’ve had for years, or you may have a vintage model that you’re restoring. Whatever the case, this classic sports car is worth keeping in top shape. Even the smallest parts, like wheel center caps, are important, and OEM replacements are available for the Cougar.
Why are the center caps important?The small disks in the center of the rims are especially important on a classic sports car as they contribute to the cars style. If you’re going to restore the car its important to have the right center caps. The caps also perform an important practical function; they cover the hub nut and help keep foreign objects and grime out of the wheels components. This reduces corrosion and may extend the life of the nut and the bearings.
How do you find the right center caps for Cougars?With only a couple of lapses, the Mercury Cougar was produced from 1967 through 2002. Mercury used a variety of center caps on the vehicles over the years, so knowing which one is a fit for your car is important. The easiest way to find the correct center caps for your car is to use the part number found on the back of the caps. Pop one cap off the car, get the part number and keep it on hand while you’re looking for a replacement.
What options are available for Mercury Cougar center caps?The year your Cougar was manufactured, its trim options, and the style of factory rims it came with will determine which center caps are compatible with your vehicle. A few of the more common styles of center cap include:
- 1985 - 1993: Mercury used a very simple style during these model years. It is round, slightly domed, with the engraved Cougar emblem in the center. These caps are just under 7 inches in diameter and are typically silver.
- 1995 - 1997: The cap for these model years is one of the most elaborate and distinctive. It has a large, raised hexagon in the center attached to a wide base. The base is silver with a raised sunburst pattern. The Cougar emblem is etched in the center of the hexagon, which is either chrome or gold with a black rim.
- 1999 - 2002: Cougars during this period have different options for caps. Many are either 2.5 inches or 6.5 inches in diameter. Both options are round. The smaller has a black top with a chrome emblem in the center. The larger is silver with a small red or silver center that shows the emblem.
- 2001-2002: An additional option is available for cars made during these years. It is a round, 6.25-inch cap with 12 small holes around the rim. It has an engraved Cougar emblem in the center on a red, blue, black, or silver background.
Replacing Cougar center caps is a simple task. First, pry the old caps off from the front of the rims. Then, simply push the new caps in until they snap into place.