'75 was a transition year for implementing the cat, from what I recall working on them. We had '75 164 models, and the 4spd+ OD car had a cat, while the (godawful) automatic did not.

The same split applied to the 240 using the B20 engine for that year only, and I forgot about these. Maybe some states permitted un-catalyzed cars through '77. Our Connecticut cars, and 2 Florida cars (both '76 model 242DL's) were equipped with them, one a standard and one a 4spd+ OD. We had a '76 262GL (!) and a 77 265 which also had them.

But I don't doubt that it was true- it was a funny time for the automakers playing hopscotch with new NHTSA and EPA rules.

Every US-delivery 1980 or newer model was cat-equipped for certain. And the OP's 1988 should have one, whether it still does need it at age 25 is debatable. In Connecticut, we now have a rolling cut-off of 25 years. I'm happy my '89 will be exempt shortly. (They stupidly use calendar years here.)

--Rob


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89 244GL Turbo // 92 244 M47 \\ 90 745T // 76 242 Convertible