There is no way Ford planners could have foreseen
conditions that would prevail at introduction time
when the Mustang II program was initiated, but it's
doubtful if they could have formulated a more timely
car if they somehow could have gazed into a magic crystal
ball. The realities of 1974 promise to bring down the
curtain on the traditional domestic car as we have
known it - certainly for the masses.
Such cars were
feasible with unlimited supply of cheap fuel, lots
of wide open spaces and smaller populations, but those
conditions no longer existed. The Mustang II arrived
-- re-emerging as a "small car." Reduced
in size and weight, it was a serious attempt to recapture
the verve and spirit of a previous era.
Ford management
had recognized the problems of the oversized Mustang
and with several years lead time, again sponsored a
design competition to create a 1974 Mustang that would
have to be one thing. It would have to be a "little
jewel."
This was a time when the oil crisis was being felt
at the gas pump. In addition, insurance rates for high-powered
cars were soaring out of sight. Market research showed
people were interested in sporty-looking subcompacts
that didn't necessarily leave a strip of rubber on
the street. Research also showed small foreign cars
were continuing to sell well.
The answer was something
sporty and nimble, with superior handling, quality,
fine engineering and fresh design characteristics.
The downsized result was a total departure from the
Mustangs of recent years. Available in only two body
styles -- two-door hardtop and three-door hatchback
-- it did retain Mustang's characteristic long hood/short
deck configuration, along with a return to side sculpting
and as always, the distinctive Mustang grille.
Two engines were offered -- a basic 140ci, 2.3 litre,
overhead cam, four-cylinder rated at 88hp or an optional
171ci, V-6 producing 105 horsepower. The 1974 was available
in three models -- the basic two-door or three-door;
the luxury-oriented two-door "Ghia" hardtop,
or the Mach 1 hatchback. The Ghia, named after the
Italian coachworks design studio that Ford had acquired
several years earlier, replaced the Grande as the luxury
entry. The Mach 1 came with a 2.8 litre V-6. Its unique
bodyside treatment with Mach 1 lettering set it apart
and a Rallye package helped it live up to its performance
potential.
With a silhouette and dimensions closer to the '65
Mustang, Mustang II was the right car for the times.
Strong first year sales confirm that a smaller platform,
gas-efficient powertrain and the addition of rack-and-pinion
steering were welcome changes. Sales for 1974 rebounded.
Production more than doubled to 385,993, or just 10
percent less than the 12-month total for the first
Mustang. The 1974 Mustang II was awarded Motor Trend's
Car of the Year award, a first for the Ford Mustang
car line.
The 1975 Mustang II was hardly changed. The grille got a larger eggcrate-type mesh, which was now practically flush with the grille opening Mustang's lineup for 1975 reprised the hardtop, hatchback,
Ghia and Mach I. A 302ci, V-8, rated at 140hp, was squeezed under the hood to give Mustang II needed impetus and was an option on all models. The 2.3 litre four-cylinder was the standard block and 2.8 litre V-6 with four-speed transmission was the other option.
The luxury
Ghia sported opera windows in the roof
pillars and full or half vinyl roof. Other
Ghia options
included silver metallic paint; stand-up hood ornament,
and full length bodyside tape stripes. Two sunroofs
were available, either the standard or silver glass
version, both manually operated. New wheels became
available. These were a cast aluminium spoke-type wheel.
The styled steel and forged aluminium wheels were also
available.
A Rallye Package for the 2.8 litre V-6 or
302 V-8 meant better handling. It included Traction-Lok
differential; competition suspension; extra cooling
package; bright metal
exhaust tips, and leather-wrapped
steering wheel, among others. California-bound 302s
got catalytic converters and all engines benefited
from electronic ignition. Steel-belted
tyres were standard
equipment.
Late in the model year, an MPG version of the Mustang
II was made available. Using the 2.3L four-cyliner
engine and a lower numerical rear axle ratio, 3.18:1
vs 3.40:1, the MPG Mustang was designed to deliver
better mileage. The Competition Suspension, available
by itself, included heavy-duty springs, Gabriel adjustable
shocks, a rear stabilizer bar and 195/70x13 B/WL tires.
There was also the regular Luxury Interior Group (standard
on the Ghia) which included a choice of vinyl or cloth
and vinyl seat trim, deluxe door and rear seat quarter
trim, door courtesy lights, color-keyed deluxe belts
on hardtops, shag carpeting, rear ashtray, parking
brake boot and, as Ford called it, a super sound package.
In terms of sales, however, 1975 was a tough one for
the entire industry. In defense of all auto makers,
unemployment, inflation, regulations for fuel economy,
the 55 mph national speed limit, and emissions and
safety considerations were severe sales deterrents.
Mustang production for 1975 was reduced by more than
half compared with 1974 -- 188,575 units. As the Mustang
II entered its third year, change over the last two
model years was minimal. Even with slightly modified
trim options, the basic car could hardly be distinguished
from its 1974 and 1975 counterparts. In true Mustang
tradition, options and add-ons became the rule for
1977.
There were two options departures, however. Ford had acquired the rights to the Cobra name made famous by
Carroll
Shelby. In an effort to regenerate the sports car image of the 60s, Mustang introduced the Cobra II trim option in 1976, priced at $325. Available only on the hatchback, it consisted of a sports
steering wheel; brushed aluminium appliqués on door panels and dash; front air dam; simulated hood scoop; flip-out rear quarter windows with louvered covers; ducktail rear spoiler; styled steel wheels with trim rings, and radial tires.
The coiled cobra and/or appropriate Cobra II signage was applied to rocker panels, grille, front fenders and rear. For
1976, exterior colour schemes were blue-on-white or gold-on-black, reminiscent of the LeMans paint and stripe theme from the Shelby GT-350. Additional colour schemes were added for 1977, green on white, white on blue and red on white. The success of the Cobra IIs inspired Ford to move production from an outside vendor to within the Dearborn plant in 1977.
In keeping with its equine image, Mustang also offered the "Stallion" trim package for the youth market, again on the hatchback edition. (it included silver body sides and rear deck, but black everywhere else -- hood, roof, mouldings, grille (absent the pony), rockers panels, lowers fenders, lower doors, lower front and rear bumpers and lower quarter panels. The package also added styled steel wheels, bright mouldings on the lower bodyside and Stallion fender decals.
The basic engines remained the four-cylinder, 2.3
litre and six-cylinder, 2.8 litre engines and the 302ci
V-8 helped fulfill the promises inherent in the Cobra
II package. The latter became available with a four-speed
manual transmission, an improvement over 1975's automatic
only, and the V-6 offered an automatic at extra cost.
New for `76 were catalytic converters on all models;
windshield wiper controls were now mounted on a steering
column, and intermittent wiper option was added. For
convertible fans wanting fresh air in their hair, Targa-type
or T-roofs were introduced in mid 1977 for fastbacks
only.
1976 production dropped only 1,000 cars from the previous
year, and prices were slightly below
1975 levels. Production
for
1977 tailed off by 34,400 units, reaching 153,173
for the year. Change was in the air -- 1978 would mark
the final year for the Mustang II, the Mach 1 model
and the Cobra II option packages. Halfway through Mustang
II's existence, Ford management decided a totally new
Mustang was needed, a third generation of the youth-oriented,
stylish sports car "for the masses".
Tops on Mustang's 1978 menu were the King Cobra fastback
option. Priced at $1,277, it included black rear window
louvers; black-finish on the grille, headlight bezels,
window moulding and wiper arms; a large snake decal
on the hood and tape stripes on roof, rear deck and
wrapped around the lower portions of the body from
front valance, across fender bottoms, wheel wells and
rocker panels to the rear wheel wells. King Cobra lettering
graced the doors, arm dam and decklid spoiler.
Total
units produced with the King Cobra option was a mere
4318. Customers could also acquire the 302ci V-8; Rallye
Package; power steering; power brakes; heavy duty springs;
adjustable shocks; rear stabilizer bar, spoke wheels
and Goodrich 70-Series T/A radial tires. Also new options
for `78 were variable ratio, electronic voltage regulator;
two rear-seat cushions replacing the full-length seat,
and styled steel wheels with white trim rings or forged
aluminium wheels in white or natural aluminium.
The Cobra II got a new tape stripe treatment, and black rear window louvers, similar to the Sport Slats of 1969-70 Mustangs, were made part of the package. The production total for the Cobra II took a plunge in
1978 to only 8,009 units. The Fashion Accessory option consisted of Fresno cloth seat inserts; driver's side lighted vanity mirror; four-way manually-adjustable driver's seat; coin tray; door pockets; illuminated entry system and exterior stripe treatment.
Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules were introduced in 1978 by the federal government. For the auto industry it meant that every car sold must meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ratings for fuel economy or face stiff fines for non-compliance. The requirements were arbitrarily set at 18 mpg for 1978; 19 mpg for `79, and on upward until 27 1/2 mpg was reached in 1985. With these challenges about to have an impact on a vehicle's size, weight, and efficient performance, Ford was ready for a third generation Mustang.
Year end results for Mustang were favorable, however. 1978 production hit 192,410 units; second only to
1974 when the Mustang II was introduced. During their five-year run, 1,107,718 Mustang IIs rolled off Dearborn and San Jose assembly lines and they served to bridge the gap between the last of the traditional Mustangs and an exciting new generation designed for more demanding times.
Also see:
Mustang Engines,
Mustang Highlights,
Mustang Prototype,
Racebred Mustangs,
Mustang Identification