I've been hitting the junkyards quite frequently of late, searching for interesting Cash For Clunkers victims, and some heartbreaking non-clunkers are showing up as well. For example, this Cougar.

Now, your serious Cougar zealot is most likely going to favor the sleeker '67-70 models, but I've always thought the '71-73 cars were pretty cool-looking. Only in America could you get a grille like that. This example seems pretty much solid and rust-free, and the interior is reasonably intact.
Sure, it's just the 351 Windsor two-barrel, not the big 429, but it's still a shame to see this car get crushed. As always, we hope its pieces live on in other Mercuries.

Send an email to Murilee Martin, the author of this post, at murilee@jalopnik.com.