By Phil Parcells

The body buck tag is a small rectangular aluminum tag--approximately two inches by three inches--mounted by a single screw to the radiator core support above the passenger-side headlight assembly on many classic Cougars. Its purpose was to define the modifications that needed to be performed to the body (or "buck") it was attached to. Buck tags supplemented the buildsheet regarding these modifications.

This 1971 buck tag is in excellent condition. It told assembly line workers what body modifications were needed to accommodate the car's options.

Photo Courtesy of Phil Parcells

Typically buck tags referred only to holes that needed to be cut or enlarged to install options. Example: The code "AC" instructed assembly line workers to cut out holes in the radiator core support and firewall for the AC hoses. Buck tags also define the vehicle's color, trim, and the color of the vinyl roof to be installed.

The buck tag was not used at the exact start of Cougar production in Dearborn. The earliest Cougar reported to the database with a buck tag is date coded March 23, 1967--nearly two-thirds the way through the 1967 model production run. Prior to that date, the buck tag info was hand-written on the radiator core support with a grease pencil.

Other Ford-Lincoln-Mercury plants and models had their own policies regarding the use of buck tags. San Jose didn't use bucktags in either 1968 or 1969, the only two years they produced Cougars. Other similar vehicles: Mustangs and Comets, for example, utilized buck tags; however, they are found in different locations and use different codes. So, this article applies only to Cougar bucktags used by the Dearborn production plant.

Not all the characters stamped on a buck tag are option codes. Any stampings that are crooked or stamped backwards are inspector codes. The inspector codes are easily identified in the 1971buck tag photo above.

1967-1970 BUCK TAGS

For 1967- 1970 Cougars, the buck tag is always laid out with the first line containing the VIN, the body code, the paint code, and the rotation number. The first code on the next line is the trim code and should not be confused with an option code. After that, all codes are option codes.

1971 BUCK TAGS

Beginning in 1971, the first line of a tag contains the VIN, body code, date code, and the rotation number. The next line begins with the paint code and trim code. After that, all codes are option codes.

1972-1973 BUCK TAGS

For 1972 and 1973, the first line on a tag contains the VIN, body code, date code, and the rotation number. The second line begins with the paint code followed by blanks--unless the car has air conditioning (AC) and/or power brakes (PB)--followed by the trim code. After that, all codes are option codes.

DECODING BUCK TAGS

The chart below can be used to decode buck tags. Keep in mind, however, that the data in the chart is not based on any Ford - Lincoln/Mercury documentation. The information in the chart was created empirically from buck tags reported to the National Cougar Database. Therefore, it may contain some errors, as the data is only as good as the person reporting it. If you see a code that you believe is wrong, or you know of other codes not included here, please contact Phil Parcells at specialservices@cougarclub.org so I can correct and update our buck tag data.