Progress so far.
My father should have known about the foglamps as he had a Mondeo Ghia

but he's getting forgetful. Well I now have a manual.
I have fitted the tailgate strut (thanks Scunny), freed and greased the bonnet catch (after trying to pull the release cable behind the footwell trim as directed by the seller) well it did open originally.
I have procured (ebay) the handbook/wallet/service book which differs from that which can be downloaded in pdf (from manuals.com) which I guess is either Australian or US version; the Chiltons book and the UK Ford Cougar 1999 brochure.
Also 1:18 diecast model

of Cougar (blue) to add to my model Ford collection!
My cousin has sitting on her drive her previous car, collision damaged, which is a P-reg Mondeo Ghia X auto - with cruise. I don't know what her intentions are for it, but does anyone know if that were scrapped would it yield partlist to fit cruise to the Cougar ?
Tyres fitted to the Cougar wheels are (four different branded) 225/60s, I see that there is one make of 215/60s listed/available in the UK and the online places direct us to 205/60s. What is the members' recommendation - I'm not looking to change the wheels?
I thought I'd ask about duplicate/remote keys at Timpsons (kiosk by our local Tesco superstore) which is listed as being immobiliser and remote programmers, and was quoted the following: ("The chap who does those isn't in today but I think...") key around ukp40 and remote around ukp100. That gives me reason to look into online sources.
...Oh. Oh dear lord! I think I've just had an incident. [/Clarkson]
I've been looking for a '97 V8 for a while now, but it sounds like I'm on a hiding to nothing. The only T-Birds I've found for sale in this country have been late 50s, or the 2002- blobs. Thehind the footwekk trim only 10th-gen one - which is what I want - that I've ever actually seen over here will not be for sale...
Might I suggest a Lincoln MKviii ? Very similar to the Thunderbird, but was available beyond 1997 and with the 32-valve version of the 4.6L V8. They occasionally crop up for sale in the UK too.
...Chris I'm sure I had a Matchbox model of a 90s T-bird, changed colour under hot water if I remember rightly!
The Matchbox one was the upto 1987 Thunderbird which was available 5.0L V8 and 2.3L (Pinto I4) turbo and I think it
was the TurboCoupe.