I had a 73 Cougar XR7 (similar to pictured) which I liked very much. In 74 the went much larger with it and lost the appeal IMO.
I had a dark metallic green/tan interior '72 Cougar with the 351 Cleveland and a shift kit; man did it fly! I agree with your comment about it losing its styling appeal after '73. I prefer the trim of the '73 to the '72. My buddy had a '75 with the 460 and it was a good highway cruiser but a dog off the line, not sporty feeling at all and a major gas hog.