If ever there were a “six of one, half dozen of the other” car, this 1978 Mustang II has to be it. You can see it for yourself here on Craigslist, then make a play to buy it by contacting the seller, who apparently has it somewhere in the wilds north of Chicago. Not a bad place to go in the summer, actually, while you thank Rocco B for helping complete your Mustang collection. Load it up and take it home, or try to make the drive. There’s nothing to stop you from attempting the journey. But let’s go over some of the ins and outs of this deal.
One the one hand, the car is only $11 grand, and that’s the asking price. You would naturally try to work that number down upon personal inspection with ten grand in your pocket, maybe less. But then again, when do you get the chance to own a collectible car for just barely into the five figures? One comparable available in the market right now is a 1981 Vette on Barn Finds’ job board for just past $15K. Most of the rest of what we drool over these days touches down in the mid-$20K realm. However, you have to ask yourself how collectible this once-scorned and left-out member of the Mustang lineage is. Nobody wanted these Pinto-based 1974-78 models back in the day. Now, you need to decide how cool this is. Time does make it more attractive and more clearly linked to the first-generation cars that it succeeded. The styling is way more true to the original (19641/2-1968, say) generation of cars, before the Mustang became large (1969-70) and then practically unrecognizable AS a Mustang (1971-73).
On the one hand, the miles are low, at 39,000. But then again, there’s no documentation proffered as proof that that low number is authentic. A good look around the car might help that, though; so have a peek at the places that wear, like the driver’s seat bottom, pedals, and gear shift knob. Maybe do a check in the glove box. It’s surprising how often something thrown in there, like an old registration receipt, can reveal a truth. How about an oil change sticker? For those who don’t remember, before that was up in the corner of the windshield, it was on the door jamb.
In the end, this is not a bad price for a car that, as the ad says, is “a fun car to drive,” and which we might add is not all that bad to look at either. That, plus all the positive claims about starting and running, being rust-free, and having an easy-driving 302-CID engine and automatic transmission, makes this worth a look. Maybe it’s your first Mustang. Maybe it’s the one that completes your collection. Surely you’ll get a good deal of your money back after you drive it around for the rest of the summer. Or, what the heck?! Keep it forever!
Thanks for a good write-up Brian. I liked your discussion about what $10k buys in the collector car market: not much. It’s similar in the “normal” used car market. And that these II’s have become a bit more respected, for what they were in the time they were.
The car is not perfect, but overall looks to be in good shape.
If you are a regular reader, you already expected me to again state that… it is not “Pinto based,” at least in the way we normally use the phrase. This is based on conversations with Mustang II experts, books discussing its development, etc.
Thanks Bob for trying to clear the air here – before it gets muddied. And it will.
370zpp, just wait till the coments come in about the explosions taking place from rear end collisions with these………..
Oops!!! Oh wait a minute….
Wrong car!!!! 🤣 🤣 🤣
( PLEASE know I’m joking here.)
Bob, you were the first gentleman I thought of when I read that.
Great write up Brian, and you hit the nail on the head about not much being out there in this price range. And some people are indeed looking at the Mustang II models in a different, and better light. This one looks like a nice driver quality car.
‘Nobody wanted these Pinto-based 1974-78 models back in the day.’
Oh, that is so not right, Ford sold the crap out of these, at least up until mid ’77 or so. Now as far as the collector market goes, you are mostly correct.
“Nobody wanted these Pinto-based 1974-78 models back in the day.”
Ford sold ‘only’ over 1.1 Million of them. Of that total they sold 153,173 in 1977 and 192,781 in 1978. Not based on the Pinto.
Chevy sold 984,330 Camaros during the same time frame. Based on the Nova economy car.
Fact Checking: Still relevant in the age of trump.
The haters have been around since Nixon, Ford and Carter.
Had to bring Trump into this.TDS ?
Great write up – I remember my parents having one of these back in the day and my father NOT being a fan of it. If you follow the “collector car market” you see that $10k can get you something at many of the auctions if you travel and are willing to wait till the last day and search the corrals. I’m just not a fan of this type Mustang but I’m sure “there is a seat for this driver!”
The best thing Ford did was to offer a 302 V8 in these Mustangs .The 4 banger that you found in most just didn’t cut it far I was concerned. My sister made that mistake and she actually went back to the Dealership and made a deal to trade her newly purchased Mustang for another with the 302 V8 … she was so much happier!
Production of these Mustang II’s was huge, as 1974 the launch year was the biggest year for Mustang sales from 1968 – 2025. No kidding.
I ordered a 1978 Mustang Mach 1 new and enjoyed driving the car because you could get some upgrades :
Ordered the Rallye Package that included Cooling pkg, Hvy Duty springs, rear sway bar, adj. Shocks. Still have the order spec sheet – in hand.
Maligned in later years by those that likely never drove one, but just the right size and economical for the mid-70’s needs as the expansive sales show.
This car for sale looks nice, and has aftermarket 4 barrel and dual exhaust.
Worth a look for a fun car priced well.
And new “fancy” aluminum radiator. I never cared for the “notch back IIs. And this is not far enough north of the wilds of Chicago to want to drive around without A/C. I know this car looks good. But since it resides in the rust belt. (I used to live about 35 miles from where this car is) It sould get an “on lift ” inspection before plunking down all that cash. Not that I would buy this car. (A,fast back car maybe in the same condition.) BUT, this car oozes potential. Depending on how you’d it, the engine can easily get you 300 horsepower (horsepower so easily equated with a Mustang) C4 transmissions when built properly can handle 400 horsepower. Springs, sway bars and upgraded brakes are all easily installed on this car. The only thing that is a major concern would be the rear differential. And the fenderwells can accommodate some decent wheel and tire combinations. Talk about a sleeper!
Polished rims! The term rims referring to a wheel is my pet peeve. A tire is mounted on a wheel and the bead of the tire seats around the rim of the wheel.
The Mustang II was not Pinto based,UGH!!! it shared less with the Pinto than the original Mustang shared with the Falcon.
Platform Architecture: The Mustang II used the basic unibody floor pan layout and 94.2-inch wheelbase of the Pinto.Transmissions: The base 2.3-liter engine used the Pinto’s four-speed manual and three-speed automatic transmissions.Steering Design: Both cars utilized a rack-and-pinion steering design, though the mounting hardware differed
That’s all..so little.
Rear seat floor pan was shared not the full floor pan. Mustang II wheelbase was 2” longer than Pinto’s. The Mustang II was largely unique and what could be adapted to also use on the ‘74 Pinto, was. That’s why there are many changes between the ‘73 and ‘74 Pintos.
You can “quote” numbers, but that doesn’t make them accurate. Pinto had a 94” wheelbase. Mustang II had a 96.2” wheelbase. As for using the same steering rack, ever heard of a rodder using a Pinto Rack&Pinion?
The Mustang II was built using the same basic format, but it was upgraded in basically every way. Suspension, sound proofing, interior quality, etc. Don’t like Mustang IIs, don’t buy one. I owned both. The Mustang II was a definite upgrade.
I too have owned both a Pinto (’71) and a MustangII. And yes, the latter was a significant upgrade.
Both were reliable, but then, I never got hit from behind in that Pinto…maybe it was the lucky St. Christopher medal I’ve always kept on the visor?
“Regarde St. Christophe, puis va t’en rassuré”
In the mid 80’s I bought a King Cobra and a Cobra II for $500 each. Both complete with 4 speeds. They weren’t rockets but had enough oomph to have fun. Two more cars I should have kept. Which brings the total to about 30.
I never much cared for these back in the day but have warmed up to them in more recent years. The Mustangs just previous to these had gotten way too portly so downsizing was definitely needed. However I sometimes wonder if making the Mustang II a bit bigger, like the size of the Maverick, would have made for a better package.
Are these real Mustangs? Yes. Are they the most appealing? No. I might own a Cobra version because they’re kinda cool. Even though I never understood the whole horse snake thing, but I digress. One thing about them with a V8 is, it’s a Ford. And should be reliable at least.
I prefer the hatchback with the 302. But, those are hitting $15,000 in this kind of condition. I wonder where these things were hidden, 20 years ago, when our money was not almost worthless?
If you are going to get a 1978, at least get a King Cobra!
Whenever you guys do a write up on these you always perpetuate the same old tired falsehoods. There only had 10% Pinto parts shared so they weren’t “based” on them, yet you never refer to first gen Mustangs as Falons or third gen ones as Fairmonts when those shared far more parts. And a million buyers can’t be described as “nobody”. You guys also routinely regurgitate sellers’ Wild claims and exaggerations without any simple fact checking or just taking a few seconds to study the photos. Every car before the early 90’s only had 5 digit odometers, and just looking at the photo of the removed air cleaner will tell you this isn’t a low mileage car. The vinyl top was replaced as well. The carpet is original and could possibly have the original paint, at least on the rear bumper. What intrigues me about this example is it was built in the last month of production, possibly one of the last Mustang IIs ever made.
FWIW, I had a white and blue 1978 King Cobra with T-tops. It wasn’t the quickest thing (until I tweaked it at least) but it sure looked “cool”. The engine made like 139 HP I think, but that cobra sticker added a good 60 to that figure! :)
Before I sold it, I had swapped the open differential with a locker, changed the gearing from 2.79 to 3.25, swapped the heads for ported/polished 351W, upgraded the intake to an Edelbrock 289 Performer, put on a Holley 600 CFM carb, installed Hooker Headers (two piece on one side as I recall…their “Super Competition” headers), swapped out the cam for a Competition Cams 268 with Rhoades lifters, and added just about every other tweak to the engine you can think of and went with wider wheels/tires…but it was still slow. LOL Just not as slow I guess.
Just a quick note to say thanks to all for the interesting discussion. One clarification: When I said that back in the day nobody wanted these, I was referring loosely to the collectible market/community in the years after these came to market as used cars, not to the original era. I am fully aware of the sales success of this generation in the 1974-78 time frame.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
BrianK
I can’t believe anyone wants this today. It resembles a Mustang about as much as does Ford’s electric doorstop that they shamefully affixed the name to.
Terrible writeup of not knowing the production numbers. how popular the car was, and it was not Pinto based.
Yes, just terrible. I could barely read it I was so enraged . .
Nice looking car. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember cars like the Mustang II, the Ford Pinto, the Chevy Vega. I’ve known people who have owned and driven all cars, and they said that they’d buy another one if it ran and drove.
Looks too much like a Pinto.
I think you need an eyewear change.
If anything, it looks too much like the original Mustang, and is part of the reason why they sold so well. Ford did a great job of designing a smaller car that achieved their economy goal, while still making it attractive to buyers.
Neat ride with the 302 in it. Is it me or is the left front fender wonky? Certainly not a “deal breaker” as I had changed quite a few of them back in the day and not a complicated process. We fixed a bunch of them in the 70’s turning them from “totals” to drivers for myself and my 3 siblings as kids. I do recall the front suspension was Pinto based though. This must be a fun driver for sure!
neat ride. at least it’s got a v8. it is crying for good looking tire/wheel update though.
Some what related:
Ford has confirmed that a 4 door Mustang is on its way.
I am not surprised, and soon enough, most if not all auto companies will be offering a sedan again.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/four-door-ford-mustang-rumors-price-launch-date/
Maybe Chevy will come out with a 4 door Camaro.
Thanks for that Haggerty-link.
Things are looking-up in Dearborn, eh?!!
I wonder if the Timex mounted on the dashboard has taken a lickin’ and is still tickin’.
Sadly i dont have the 11k to buy this one but boy do i wish i did. The black and white with the beige interior is a fantastic color combo. And the engine looks like its been given a little Love. Ill bet there are a few more ponies under that hood to match wheel and tire combo. These cars make great restomods where engine and suspension work can bring them up to their potential.