1979 Mercury Bobcat V-6 Found in Colorado Junkyard
A 1979 Mercury Bobcat 3-Door Runabout with the optional Cologne V-6 engine has been documented in a Greeley, Colorado, salvage yard, with details on its
A 1979 Mercury Bobcat 3-Door Runabout now sits in a salvage yard in Greeley, Colorado. This example is equipped with the optional 2.8-liter Cologne V-6 engine, which added $273 to its base price of $3,988 when new.
The Mercury Bobcat was Lincoln-Mercury's entry into the subcompact market during the fuel-conscious 1970s. It was introduced in the United States for the 1975 model year, following the 1973 OPEC oil embargo. The car was mechanically identical to the Ford Pinto but featured a distinct domed hood, a taller grille, and larger taillights. The Bobcat was sold in Canada as a 1974 model before its U.S. Debut.
Sales began to decline in the late 1970s, a trend accelerated by the controversy surrounding the Pinto's safety. The Bobcat was discontinued after the 1980 model year, replaced by the front-wheel-drive Mercury Lynx.
Powertrain and Performance
The base engine for the 1979 Bobcat was a 2.3-liter four-cylinder rated at 88 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque. The car found in Colorado has the optional 2.8-liter Cologne V-6. This engine was rated at 102 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. In a car weighing approximately 2,500 pounds, this provided what Hagerty terms "decent performance by Middle Malaise Era standards."
Selecting the V-6 engine mandated a three-speed automatic transmission, a $307 option. The standard transmission was a four-speed manual. The report speculates this mandate was because it would have cost too much to make the rest of the drivetrain survive the punishment of manual shifting.
Original Pricing and Options
The source provides a detailed breakdown of this specific Bobcat's original pricing, adjusted for inflation to 2026 dollars.
| Item | 1979 Price | 2026 Equivalent (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Base List Price | $3,988 | $19,497 |
| 2.8L Cologne V-6 Engine | +$273 | +$1,335 |
| Mandatory 3-Speed Automatic | +$307 | +$1,501 |
| Sports Accent Group | +$341 | +$1,667 |
| Deluxe Interior Package | +$182 | +$890 |
| Air Conditioning (not equipped) | $484 | $2,366 |
This car was equipped with the Sports Accent Group, which included sports instrumentation. It also had the Deluxe Interior package, featuring low-back bucket seats in chamois vinyl. The report notes the car was not ordered with air conditioning.
Final Specifications and Details
The Bobcat was built at the Metuchen Assembly plant in New Jersey and sold through the Denver sales office. Bobcats were also built in California and Ontario. It is painted Bright Yellow, with stripes that the report's author believes are dealer-applied or aftermarket.
Like most 1979 model-year vehicles sold in the U.S., it came equipped with front disc brakes. Power front discs became standard equipment on the Pinto and Bobcat for that model year.
The car's journey ended in a Colorado boneyard, where it was spotted during a parts-hunting trip for a 1941 Plymouth decklid.
