Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... February 15, 2009, 11:25:30 AM OK, I remember that there was a thread on here explaining some of the differences between the Catbirds meant for Mexico and the ones for the US. I also know there are variations for Canadian models as well. I cannot for the life of me find the thread I'm looking for so if someone knows which one I'm speaking of and can provide the link it would be much appreciated.In the meantime I would like to expand on it.....I'd like to know the differences for US/Canada/Mexico cars as well as if there were any possible differences for cars accross the pond.Any of you Uber-Historians got any info like that? Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #1 – February 15, 2009, 01:04:04 PM MEXICOIn Mexico there was no Mercury division, so the Cougars were badged (yes, badged on the trunklid) as Fords. There was a special emblem/key thing on the rear quarter panels (alarm system?). It appears that most, if not all, of the Cougars had the factory 1/2 roof and were based on the LS model. I believe they may all have had the 1983's stand-up hood ornament and taillights also.This is a 1986 Ford Cougar (note the odd geometric wheels):Spec sheets, if you read Spanish:http://www.coolcats.net/fox/images/86mexbrochure1.jpghttp://www.coolcats.net/fox/images/86mexbrochure3.jpgAnd the cheesiest, yet coolest, 1986 Ford Cougar commercial that you'll ever see:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWS7lDCZr7wExcelencia AutomotrizFrom what I understand, in order for an imported American car to be sold in Mexico, a certain amount of the car's content had to be either assembled in Mexico, or replaced by Mexican parts. I know that the MN12's were like that, and they even had new Mexican VIN numbers. Not sure that the Fox cars were like that but will assume that they probably were.Also, it seems that model years ran 1 later than in the U.S., so the Mexican 1989 Cougar was equivalent to our U.S. 1988 version. From what I was told, the Mexican MN12's started in 1990 and the supercharged V6 lasted in the Cougar until at least 1991.Mechanically the Mexican Cougar engines were at least a year behind as well; a lot of parts stores list carburetors well past 1983. But everything else should be similar to the American cars.As for the Thunderbirds, I would think the story line was the same, but anything is possible.Here is a brochure (proported to be from Spain but is probably Mexican) with the T-Bird and Cougar:http://cgi.ebay.com/1989-Ford-Spain-Thunderbird-Cougar-Brochure_W0QQitemZ330222466774QQihZ014QQcategoryZ1319QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262MexCougar (Angel) probably has more information about them. The Cougar especially is considered a sort of "pimp" or status car in Mexico City (population 11 million). I receive a considerable amount of e-mail in Spanish from people in Mexico City that own Cougars. It's quite a cool thing, and if I weren't so afraid of being kidnapped and held for ransom, I'd consider a trip to Mexico City just for that fact. CANADA a.k.a. CanuckistanCarm should be able to confirm this, but from what I remember there were carbs a year later on everything as well. Not sure about the 1983 5.0; in the U.S. that debuted with CFI, but may have been carbureted in Canada. I know that the 3.8 was carbed in 1983 up there.Physically the cars got the metric speedometer but still had U.S.-spec VIN numbers. Unless there's something else I don't know about, that should be the only differences with the Canadian models. There was still a Mercury division in Canada at the time so no rebadging was necessary.EUROPEDepending upon the country, the usual modifications would have been the Canadian speedometer (or English/metric) and the installation of turn signal repeater markers on the fenders. I'm not aware of any other modifications, but again that depends on the country. If someone imports a Cougar or T-Bird into Europe now, those might still be the only mods necessary. It's easier to import a U.S. car into Europe than vice-versa. Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #2 – February 15, 2009, 02:12:32 PM Canadian cars kept the carb'd 3.8 through 1986, though CFI was an option (few people took it). This was a plain, non-computer-controlled carb with Duraspark ignition. The 1983 5.0 was carb'd here as well, and CFI may have been an option. A/C was optional on all years, and it's actually easier to find a V6 model without it than with it. Although it's not really a difference because you could buy base models in the USA, you're much more likely to find "stripper" models in Canada. Cars (and fuel) are much more expensive in Canada than they are in USA so people tended to cut corners (not to mention A/C wasn't a huge priority here). Block heaters were standard equipment in certain Canadian regions (not here in NS though). Canada has stricter bumper standards than the USA, so there may be minor mechanical differences in bumper structure - either that or Ford built 'em all to Canadian spec. Like Eric mentioned, the buttstuffogue speedometers were metric (180km/hr for 83-84, 200km/hr for 85-88). On CFI and EFI cars there would likely be calibration differences as well. Canadian emissions standards were less strict than USA (hence the availability of carbs up to 1986) so in the interest of cutting warranty costs Ford calibrated 'em differently.I would imagine there were paint/trim differences as well. Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #3 – February 15, 2009, 02:32:42 PM Thanks guys A friend had stumbled accross an '87 Cougar in a salvage yard and thought it odd that it was carbed (and appeared to be VERY neat and tidy under the hood) He was curious as to whether or not this car started life in Mexico. Perhaps the parts needed were obtained and the car was unable to be registered in the US....Quotenote the odd geometric wheelsAnyone here ever seen those in person? Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #4 – February 15, 2009, 02:42:25 PM That was the best youtube video ever. Thanks Eric! Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #5 – February 15, 2009, 10:45:11 PM Quote from: V8Demon;256947Thanks guys A friend had stumbled accross an '87 Cougar in a salvage yard and thought it odd that it was carbed (and appeared to be VERY neat and tidy under the hood) He was curious as to whether or not this car started life in Mexico. Perhaps the parts needed were obtained and the car was unable to be registered in the US....Anyone here ever seen those in person?Geometric wheels were a rare option on 86-87 Continentals and Mark VIIs. I've never seen any in person, but I did see a Continental on ebay with them once. :hick: Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #6 – February 15, 2009, 11:01:49 PM Carm, what was the bumper standard in Canada when our cars were made, do you know? In the U.S. it was 5mph but I *think* our cars were made to meet 7.5mph standards. Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #7 – February 15, 2009, 11:11:16 PM Quote from: 5.0 bird;257029Geometric wheels were a rare option on 86-87 Continentals and Mark VIIs. I've never seen any in person, but I did see a Continental on ebay with them once. :hick:does that mean they redrilled the same wheels with four lug pattern for mexican cougars? Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #8 – February 15, 2009, 11:13:12 PM That was my big question also. The rims on the Mexican Cougars were listed as 14"x5.5" so I would think they're 4-lug, and made to resemble the larger 15" American rims. That would also explain the blank center cap. Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #9 – February 19, 2009, 11:19:52 AM Quote from: grutinator;257037does that mean they redrilled the same wheels with four lug pattern for mexican cougars?I guess so unless Mexican Cougars are 5 lug. :hick: Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #10 – February 19, 2009, 11:29:10 AM They're not. Mexcougar has a set of Focus/Contour wheels on his.Eric: I'm unsure what the exact standards were, I just know that many US-market vehicles were not legaly able to be imported into Canada because of the bumper spec. Canadian seat belt specifications are different as well, which is why it was illegal to import any 89-93 T-Bird or Cougar into Canada. The mouse belts didn't pass our standards (strangely enough, Escorts and Saturns with the mouse belts did). Cars that didn't meet bumper standards could legally be modified to meet them, but cars that did not meet seat belt standards could not, as it is illegal to modify seatbelts in Canada.Canada has a 15 year "rolling exemption" though, meaning that just about any car older than 15 years can be imported (including right hand drive JDM cars). Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #11 – March 06, 2009, 09:57:46 AM Hi, guys :) can anyone tell me what car i have (us/canada), mb list of equipment? Vin:1FABP61F8JH118302I got metric buttstuffogue speedo, front mouldings whitout corner light, at selector on tunnel. Seems like Canadian?It will be grate if somebody helps me to find out more information about my car.Thanks. Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #12 – March 06, 2009, 10:21:55 AM Quote from: Tapkin;259855Hi, guys :) can anyone tell me what car i have (us/canada), mb list of equipment? Vin:1FABP61F8JH118302I got metric buttstuffogue speedo, front mouldings whitout corner light, at selector on tunnel. Seems like Canadian?It will be grate if somebody helps me to find out more information about my car.Thanks.http://www.coolcats.net/VINhttp://www.coolcats.net/tech/reference/vincode.htmlA lot of cars dont have corner lights Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #13 – March 06, 2009, 10:25:15 AM Post the DSO on the door tag, and we can tell you what sales district ordered it new. Quote Selected
Difference between US/CANADA/MEXICO spec Catbirds..... Reply #14 – March 06, 2009, 11:16:59 AM It still has a U.S.-spec VIN number (1FA=Ford of America) but obviously has the metric speedo for export.61 = Sport; floor shifter is correct for that model.Sounds like a legitimate export car. It probably was similar to a Canadian-spec model in that respect.As suggested, the DSO on the door tag will help determine more information.Moscow, huh?I love this board. :) Quote Selected
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