I’ll straight-up admit it: seeing the Maverick playing in the gravel with a bunch of brick-like Volvos and Subarus at the Northwest RallySprint got my gears turning. I cut my teeth on Washington State gravel fire roads in a 1973 Mercury Comet, winding the 302 out to the ends of the earth while hanging the back end out. Sounds like a riot, doesn’t it? The truth is, you don’t need a WRX or Evo to go play in rally. RallyAmerica has a two wheel drive class in both national and regional competition where they consider the fact that you “only” have two driving wheels enough of a handicap. Engines, suspensions, tires…go for it. Which got me thinking: what would I actually rally if I had the cash to put up?

Honestly, as much as I loved flinging the Comet around, I would jump for a Mustang II. The 302 can shoehorn into the engine bay, the front suspension (especially the steering rack) is a dream, the overall size of the car is perfect and only the most diehard Deuce enthusiast would be upset if the fenders kissed a tree. So, off to Craigslist to hunt one down. The engine doesn’t matter, but I wanted a manual transmission car and the notchback instead of the hatchback…the last thing I want to hear is the huge hatch rattling away as I’m drifting around a corner.

Thanks to my search engine, I quickly located this 1978 example. Someone sure had fun with about fifty cans of Krylon flat black, but that isn’t an issue. The 2.3L four-cylinder has been treated to ” a cam, header and larger 2bbl carb”, which might spare the thought of a V8 swap…if only for a little bit. I don’t remember five-speed manuals coming stock in Mustang IIs, but if there are five gears in this car, I wouldn’t be upset. The current owner is “bored” with it now and is looking to move on. $2500 would be steep for a car that looks like this, but if everything is straight and the car is a driver, we’d jam a ‘cage in it and get some good tires lined up.

Craigslist Link: 1978 Ford Mustang II Notchback