Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums  

I've always liked the Birds/Cougars with the vent windows, but they definitely are in the minority.  Anybody know why there were so few?  Was it an expensive option?  Were they just unpopular?  Does it give them any more collectible value since there were so few?  The car I'm considering buying (fingers crossed) is an '86 Cougar (not sure of trim level) with 3.8, C5, and vent windows.  Has the typical options (PW, PDL, driver's PS, P/mirrors, rear defrost, 14" wheels with wire spoke covers).  Anything about those options that makes it rare?  I was just curious.  It's tan with a darker cocoa-colored cloth upholstery.  And, it's got black mirrors instead of chrome.  I thought black mirrors were a T-bird thing.  Thanks for any feedback.

My personal opinion as to why the vent window option is not commonly seen on these cars is due to a couple of different factors.

At the time that these cars were introduced to the market, “aero” was the big word of the day. It was a time of major change in the styling of the FLM products and was pretty futuristic to many at the time. I think to most people, the vent windows could be looked at as an old fashioned feature or one that interrupted the aero styling of the new cars.
Secondly, the vent window option was a stand-alone option and while it could be added to all trim levels, it wasn’t part of any option package. Most dealerships tend to order their stocking inventory with option packages to keep it simple and to be at a more competitive level for customers that are lot shopping. A typical lot shopper is likely to consider a car that is a few hundred dollars cheaper than a nearly identical car that may have a few more individual options tacked on to it.

For 1986, the sticker price for the Pivoting Vent Windows option was $82.00

I agree, the vent windows are a unique and interesting option. I’m probably biased because my car has them, but if I were to do it all over again, I would have made sure to get an ’83-‘86 car with them. [COLOR="#FF0000"]With that said, I do think that they would look out of place on the sleeker ’87-’88 cars so I think Ford’s decision to eliminate them was the right one. [/COLOR]

As to the Cougar you are considering, depending on the previous owner(s) tastes, many things could have been changed or altered in 32 years. But two easy tell-tale signs that you have a GS or an LS is the style of the door trim panels and the carpeted rear deck lid panel. A GS door panel will have the door lock buttons below the door handle towards the map pocket. The LS trim panel has it positioned on an upswept panel. The underside of deck lid on LS’s had a carpeted liner installed and GS's did not get the carpeted panel.

Good luck on the purchase.

According to the sales brochures from '83 thru '86 (which I've collected because I'm a nerd), the vent window option said it required the dual power windows and tinted windows options.