Ford reinvented its Mustang pony car in 1974. It had gotten big and bloated, so it morphed into a subcompact from 1974 to 1978. The timing was perfect for Mustang II sales given the OPEC oil embargo that had arrived and caused gasoline prices to spike. During 1976-78, the Cobra II was the performance package, but it was more about looks, with a 302 cubic inch V8 being the top motor. This 1977 edition has had some mods, including the addition of a 351 engine. Located in Sherwood, Arkansas, this micro-Mustang is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $17,500. Thanks for the tip, Barn Finder Terry!
For a brief time, Mustang II sales almost matched the success of the original model in the mid-1960s. But by 1977, things had cooled off again, and production was just north of 153,000 units,s of which about 12,000 were the Cobra II. Buyers had three engine choices: an inline-4, a V6, and a small-block V8. So given the times, the Cobra II was more about looking sporty than driving as such.
The first thing that stands out on this ’77 Cobra II is the enormous front bumper/splitter combination. In most photos of the Cobra II, you see the splitter tucked in below/behind the bumper, but in this case, it sticks out. Way out. So, when driving this car, you’ll need to watch the curbs when pulling into parking spaces. This Ford has 99,000 miles, but we don’t know how many are associated with the replacement 351 V8, which would not be period correct.
This Mustang II was adapted for speed, with a 650 Holley carburetor sitting atop an Edelbrock intake manifold (4-barrel?). The little car has dual exhaust with Turbo Flow mufflers and a 9-inch rear end with an automatic transmission (a replacement, too?). The driving and running Cobra has American Racing Wheels to add to its looks. The paint and decals seem okay, and the interior is mostly good and may have been updated. Would you consider this Mustang II a muscle car?
The builder did what the factory didn’t. Too bad it’s not a stick. That could be a fun runner. GLWTS.