The Mustang II came in two distinct flavors: three-door hatchback and two-door coupe. The hatchback is the base for the Cobra II, King Cobra and Mach 1 variants as well as the lower trim levels. The coupe’s claim to fame? The Ghia…Lee Iacocca’s attempt at turning the Deuce into a scaled-down Lincoln Mark IV, complete with the padded-diaper roof treatment. Every now and then it’s possible to see a hatchback Mustang II that might be worth the effort or be cool enough to rock. The coupes, on the other hand, take a concentrated effort to even be worthy of a second look, but we found one that might be on the verge of a neat driver.
First thing’s first: there’s a 302 and C4 automatic inside, so you can breathe easy. Is it stock? Who cares…it’s a 302. If it was bone stock (and we doubt it is), it’s not like it’s difficult to make good power with one. The automatic isn’t all that horrible, and most people would want it anyways. The black paint looks great, the interior looks great in Cathouse Red, and the stance looks spot on…a little bit of a rake, four-lug slot mags, and just enough tire without looking wrong one way or another.
Don’t look at this Deuce as a tire-frying Saturday night special. Think of it more as an interesting daily driver, leaving some gray late-model Tupperware car to be the rain and snow special. Are you really going to hate this car if it’s making good torque and pulling like a small-block Ford should? Really, I think not. Iacocca’s “little gems” might not have done the Mustang legend any favors, but the way they sold said that they were the right car for the time and nowadays, a clean 1970s Mustang is more of a conversation piece than an embarrassment. Just look at where this car is coming out of: Beverly Hills, California. Someone showed this little coupe some love, now it’s time to find a new home.
The Mustang II, love em or hate em were a car for the time. With the Arab oil embargo starting in 1973, The demand for the types of cars at the time changed.
The Mustang II was a reflection of that change and they sold pretty well, enough to out sell the Camaro in ’74 to ’76. Yes they were not the Mustangs that we had, but they did serve their purpose at the time given the circumstances. This example would make someone a nice little hotrod.
Even Farrah Faucet couldn’t make these appealing to me.
Neither a lover or hater of these cars, but this one is just…awkward?
In the aftermarket area mustand II parts are used everywhere. Plus the fact that these cars are light weight and used quite often at the drag strip