Sources of Documentation
Build Sheets:
The Build Sheet is a computer printout 'traveler" which was used at all
stations along the assembly line to specify the configuration of a particular
vehicle. It contains, color, trim, engine, springs, type of glass, etc. You may
be lucky enough to find your build sheet in your own Cougar. They have been
found under the rear seats, under the carpeting, under the trunk mat, and even
stuck to the paint on the driveshaft! (OK, that was just one instance). But it's
important to keep in mind that it was *not* the practice to place the build
sheet with the car, they were to be discarded at the end of the assembly line.
Therefore if you do find the build sheet, consider yourself very lucky.
Window Sticker:
The Window Sticker, like the Build Sheet is a computer printout
specifying all options and costs for a given vehicle order. It is affixed to a
side window of the car, hence the name. It is also known to some as a "Mahoney
Sticker" after Senator Mahoney of Wisconsin who in 1959 got the bill passed
through Congress requiring prices for each vehicle be posted on each vehicle.
The dealership, ship-to address, transportation charges also are included. But
it's important to keep in mind that it was *not* the practice at the Dealership
to preserve the window sticker, and few original owners thought to save it.
Therefore, like the build sheet, if you do actually have the window sticker,
consider yourself very lucky. Reproduction window stickers are available for
$15.00 from Phil Parcells. Click here for more info.
Invoice:
The invoice was used to document the transfer of the vehicle from the
factory to the dealership. It specifies all important features of a car, and
resembles a window sticker, because it lists the VIN, dealership, and all
options that a particular car had. This makes them highly sought-after by
restorers trying to document the past history of their cars. Invoices are
generally never seen by the customer, and are not normally a part of the
documentation on a car. But luckily for Cougar owners (as well as others) a
former Ford Employee, Lois Eminger, preserved boxloads of these invoices from
going to the incinerator, She and another individual, Roger Hayman, sell these
invoices to verified owners of these cars. Unfortunately, there are no invoices
available for pre-1969 Cougars.
1969 - 1970 Mustang & Cougar
(Dearborn assembly, only) contact:
Lois Eminger
PO BOX 220
Dearborn,
MI 48121-0200
1971-1973 Mustang & Cougar (Dearborn assembly, only)
contact:
Roger Hayman
25 Brookline Lane
Dearborn, MI 48120-1037
You will need to provide them with proof of ownership (Dataplate
rubbing, title copy, etc) and their fee ($35.00). In a few weeks, either you get
your stuff back or you'll receive the original invoice page, shipped flat in a
(clear) protective sleeve.
CAC Report:
This acronym stands for the Ford Customer Assistance
Center Reports. Here are the details of these reports courtesy of Allen
Cross (Mr. FoMoCo):
Ford has "recovered" several years' worth of archived
order-entry records that were never really "lost". A knowledgeable source in
Dearborn explained that while the paper trail had been destroyed, this did not
affect incoming order data recorded on reel-tapes. As discussed earlier, Ford
mainframes used this data in generating the varied reports needed for a
billion-dollar company. After languishing for decades, it seems someone finally
allocated whatever man-hours were required to make the tapes usable again. Of
course, you might ask yourself, "Why?" Sometime in 1995, with absolutely no
fanfare, Ford's Customer Services Division began providing what was thought
unimaginable only a few months earlier - a report on your Ford car, including
its estimated assembly date and a list of its original equipment! Perhaps what's
more amazing is that there's no fee charged for this new service.
To
request your report, just phone 800.392.3673 - their Customer Assistance Center
hotline. If the toll-free number is down, call 313.322.3000. If you would prefer
- or are forced - to correspond by mail, here's the current address:
Ford Motor Company
Customer Assistance Center
300 Renaissance
Center
P.O. Box # 43360
Detroit, MI 48243.
In either case,
you'll need to provide the following information: the car's make and model the
car's VIN (warranty number) your name & mailing address If handled by mail,
just include the necessary info in your letter and request your car's "VIN
research report". If you call them, the touch-tone menu will offer an option to
"ask a question about a Ford or Mercury vehicle". Subsequent options narrow this
down - make all the selections appropriate to your car. When you finally reach a
human, say something like: "I heard you can give me a printout of my car's
original equipment by submitting my VIN number to the Technical Research Unit."
After trying several variations, I can assure you this will get the job done. I
should also point out that some Ford employees might not be unaware of this
service, so be polite.... but persistent. Your technical printout should be
mailed out within one-three weeks. There's a catch: we're told they only have
data back through model-year 1967. Data from the San Jose facility may not go
back even that far.
Kevin Marti Auto Works Report
Marti Auto Works
12007 W. Peoria Ave.
El Mirage, AZ
85335
(623)935-2558
(623)935-2579 FAX
kmartkmart@aol.com
Marti Auto Works
Restoring a car?
Considering buying, but don't know how "original" the car really is? Just want
to know everything that can be known about your car? Marti Auto Works has the
complete production database for all Ford-Lincoln-Mercury cars and trucks built
for model years 1967 to 1973. We have available to you reports on any serial
number. Different levels of information are available, depending on what you
need (see the reverse side of this flyer for further details). We offer these
features:
* A computer processes the information. There are no inaccuracies
due to human error. This has been common with the reports coming from the
Customer Assistance Center because the data is translated manually by looking up
values in charts. Many people have found discrepancies; in fact we have on file
a case of someone who ordered their report from CAC twice and got different
options listed each time, and neither report was completely correct. Another had
the wrong paint description!
* We give additional information. We have three
different reports available, each with increasing amounts of data. The Basic
report includes both the scheduled and actual production dates for your car, the
original dealer number for the car, which includes the DSO, and user-friendly
terms. Where the CAC report cites cryptic terms like "Special Equipment Package"
or XPL transmission, we tell you what that actual item is in terms you'll know.
Also, our turnaround time is much shorter, days instead of weeks. We can even
fax a report to you within 1/2 hour under some conditions if you have a vehicle
you are considering purchasing. *
* The Deluxe report includes everything in
the Basic report and features additional items like when the order was received
for the car, when it was shipped to the dealer, the original Vehicle Order Image
code, detailed option information, and statistical information about your car.
* The Elite report includes everything in the Deluxe report along with
personalized statistical information on your car compared with similar cars.
Additionally, it contains a reproduction of the door data plate and the window
sticker. The report, statistics, data plate, and window sticker are framed for
display.
We are licensed by Ford Motor Company to sell this information
under Contract Number 5012. And we take our contracts with Ford very seriously.
We will give you prompt, courteous, accurate service.
*This feature is only
available for the Basic report. It requires that our computer is available for
processing and the operator has time. The cost is an additional $10, but you'll
have peace of mind.
ALSO AVAILABLE:
We can do research for you on a
particular subject such as "How many cars built with 428CJ engines and
four-speed transmissions came with air conditioning?" or "How many Grabber
Cougars were built in 1969 at each assembly plant?" This service is available on
a quoted price basis. You would need to contact us in writing with your specific
request and we would quote you the cost for supplying the desired information.
FEATURES OF EACH REPORT
ITEM FORD CAC BASIC DELUXE ELITE 7
OPTION LIST LIMITED 1 Y Y Y
PRODUCED DATE Y Y Y Y
SCHEDULED DATE 2 N Y Y Y
DSO 3 N Y Y Y
AXLE CODE AND RATIO 2 N Y Y Y
USER FRIENDLY TERMS N Y Y Y
DEALER # N Y Y Y
ORDER RECEIVED DATE 4 N N Y Y
SERIALIZED DATE 4 N N Y Y
BUCK DATE 4 N N Y Y
RELEASE DATE 4 N N Y Y
SALE DATE 4 N N Y Y
TYPE OF ORDER 4 N N Y Y
DISTRICT ITEM # N N Y Y
DEALER NAME (if available) N N Y Y
DETAILED OPTION INFO N N Y Y
PRODUCTION STATISTICS 5 N N Y Y
PERSONALIZED PROD. STATS 6 N N N Y
DOOR DATA PLATE 7 N N N Y
REPRODUCED WINDOW STICKER 7 N N N Y
TOTAL VEHICLE COST N N N Y
COMPLETE VEHICLE ORDER IMAGE N N Y Y
TIME 3-8 WEEKS 2 DAYS 2 DAYS 4 WEEKS
COST $0 $17* $44* $210*
* including shipping in the US
1 Not all options get listed on a CAC report due to limitations in their
process.
2 This appears on the door data plate. It is important to have if
yours is missing.
3 This appears on the door data plate. It is important to
have if yours is missing. Also useful for knowing where the car probably spent
its early life (like in the rust belt?).
4 For those wanting to know the
history of their car.
5 Five general statistics about your paint, trim,
engine, transmission, and DSO will be supplied.
6 Three interesting
statistics that apply directly to how your car was optioned will be supplied in
addition to the general statistics.
7 With the Elite report, all items are
framed, ready for display.