Just curious as to the difference in the vehicles between the two assembly plant. Was the sheet-metal dance at different facility or are they similar.
Not exactly sure what you want to know about the sheet metal “dance” between the two assembly plants. My 1969 Cougar XR-7 was made on November 13, 1968 - near the end of the run for Cougars at San Jose. But all the sheet metal is still stamped from the Dearborn stamping ( code D2 ) facility. Hope this ( partially ? ) answers your question.
There were no Cougars built at San Jose in 1967. I believe 1968 and 1969 were the only model years for Cougars built at San Jose. I could write a book about the differences in hardware and paint processes and inspector markings, build tags, build sheets. No way I would have time in a week to type all of it.
I would like a copy of that book Royce.
Same here! Love reading about the historical perspective of these cars.
My 69 was built in San Jose on November 19, 1968.
I had found a couple of differences from ‘other’ non San Jose Cougars but they were so minor I cannot recall many of them now. I think the most obvious is that San Jose did not attach buck tags.
I think that most people would not notice the differences between 2 alike optioned cars from each plant. . But if your a real car person you most likely would notice details.
People like Royce, Scott and myself would notice.
I appreciate your insights. “Dance” was a product of apples spell check, some of the things it corrects words to really leave you scratching your head. Thank you for the help.
Differences would depend on the year that your comparing. There are some differences that were likely cause just due to the plants and lines being arranged differently. In some cases the order of how the panels were attached or arranged differed - might just be the results of what worked better or what the guys discovered at one plant compared to the other.
Some differences were likely due to different sub contractors and suppliers - things like the style/type of threads on the shocks used between the two plants and so on. Depending on how detailed you get the list could be long. Spent 40 plus years mostly focusing on San Jose plant - its about an hour away - met and interviewed my share of workers and managers of that plant and other plants over the years. Was also able to locate and retrieve some of the only pictures of the San Jose assembly line about 10 years ago.
BTW San Jose did use and install buck tags during 69 and 70 production 
In 69 not al of the cars received them. Depended on when the cars were built.
Hmmm…I can see it now…a new book: “Do You Know the Way ‘of’ San Jose?”
Co authored by Royce Peterson and Jeff Speegle!