Reply to "I believe Number of USA GTS cars produced is 150"

Bill Van Ess also disagreed with the 98 US-GTS figure, he pegged the number at 138. His explanation was there were 40 US-GTS destined for California all re-documented as 1973 models and 98 shipped to the other 49 states that retained their 1974 documentation. So you guys aren't too far apart.

I do not believe US Ford attempted to acquire 1974 California emissions certification for the 351 Cobra Jet (Q code motor), either that or they attempted but failed. I believe in 1974 California was the only state that had its own emissions certification program, federal certification was good enough for the other 49 states (this may still be true). It is my personal suspicion that the motors installed in 1974 Panteras were in fact left-over 1973 models. All 1974 US Ford passenger cars were equipped with solid state ignitions. So I reason (with what mental capacity I have) that if the Pantera motors had been 1974 models they would have been equipped with solid state ignitions too, not dual point distributors. There may not have been a 1974 Q code motor to deliver to California for certification testing. But California was the Panteras biggest market. Since there is no physical difference between a 1973 Pantera & a 1974 Pantera, it was very easy for Ford to re-document the 1974 Panteras destined for California as 1973 models.

The 351 Cobra Jet was US Ford's last performance motor, and in February 1973 US Ford made a clear policy to terminate all financial involvement with performance products, parts or events. Profits were spiraling downward, they were tightening up their budget to spend what money was available on passenger safety and tailpipe emissions. US Ford also wanted an image of a company that was interested only in fuel economy, passenger safety and clean air. This is why I suspect there may not have been any Q code motors manufactured in 1974 even though the various manuals I have in my collection list a Q code motor that year.

The Cobra Jet's lack of certification in California would have also impacted the 1974 Cougar, Torino, Montego and Ranchero models destined for California. There should be 1974 sales literature for those models somewhere verifying the Q code motor was not available in California, if anywhere.

Keep up the good work Chuck, your efforts are appreciated, I'm behind you 100%

-G