Historical clue formulations

• Violently eliminates, in gamer-speak — 2026-09-27
• Paid soldiers, informally — 2020-02-12
• Old Ford vehicles, for short — 2018-06-17
• Some old Ford cars, briefly — 2017-10-28
• Cougars or Bobcats, slangily — 2004-01-11
• Some autos, for short — 1998-05-29