It wasn't too many years ago that finding a scale model of a '67 to '73 Mercury Cougar was nearly impossible, with a fan's only option being pricey collectibles from a time when the real cars were new.

That changed as the Internet revealed a market of Cougar enthusiasts that could support scale reproductions of Cougar's early model years—and manufacturers responded. Now, there's no shortage of classic Cats in miniature, with everything from 1:64 toys to slot cars to detailed, 1:18-scale diecasts with working doors and hoods.

Now, in time for the holidays, comes a nicely detailed, limited-edition, 1:43-scale resin model of the 1968 Cougar in original Mercury colors: Saxony Yellow, Nordic Blue, and Cardinal Red. This hand-built model, from Motorhead Miniatures, gets far more right than wrong and makes a worthy display piece for any classic Cougar lover.

The resin casting is well-proportioned and the contours of the body panels are spot on. The detail for the size is impressive—from the script badges to the grille center to the trunk lock cover insert. The model comes in a handsome display box, with the car floating just above the base on small underbody pillars.

Being a longtime Cougar enthusiast, I can't finish this review without some nitpicking. A few details miss the mark, including the side-view mirror, steering wheel, tail pipe spacing, and wheels. But these are minor faults that don't detract from the overall product. Note that the photos below make the color appear more yellow than it actually is; in person, the Saxony color is close to the model year color chip.

This Ford-licensed resin Cougar is available online from Motorhead Miniatures for $94.99. — Carl Graziano