Original, one-owner, California car, new tires, four-speed, and the list goes on and on. Ok, all that is regarding a 1976 Ford Mustang II Cobra II, not exactly everyone’s favorite car, or line of cars, but still, this one looks like a winner. The seller has this time capsule listed here on eBay in San Jose, California and the current bid price is $14,100, but the reserve isn’t met.
Jeff just showed us a dusty Mustang II Cobra and this one is the exact opposite, it almost looks like new. This Cobra II has just over 86,000 miles, and it was a one-owner car until the seller latched onto it. They say that it has “mostly all original paint”, but we don’t know what the story is on that. It’s still wearing its original decals, so who knows. Hagerty is at $15,900 for a #3 good condition car, an almost 7% rise in value.
They say that this car has a rust-free body and it looks great in the smallish photos that they have provided. It has new BF Goodrich tires on the original mag wheels and just looks really nice, overall. The Mustang II came out in 1973 for the 1974 model year, until the end of 1978. As with the Pinto and Chevy Vega, it’s almost more popular to not like them than to like them.
As more of an exterior appearance and graphics package than a real Cobra, the interior doesn’t look much different or unusual compared to any other 1976 Ford Mustang II with a four-speed manual transmission. It looks nice inside, though, very nice. The seats look basically like new and the seller has even provided a few underside photos to show how solid of a car it is.
This car has a V-engine, but it’s not what most folks were hoping for, it’s a 2.8-liter V6, which would have had 103 horsepower and 149 lb-ft of torque. This engine was about two seconds slower to 60 mph than the 302 V8 was, but they also offered a 2.3-liter four-cylinder, so it could be worse. The seller says that it runs and drives great and it sure looks nice. Any thoughts on this one?
Scotty’s first two sentences nail this car. It has obviously been loved by its original owner for decades. Not sure about the underhood detailing, but otherwise looks show-car-worthy as it sits. Is that the original emissions data sticker on the window? A 302 would be better, but this powertrain would be fine. Solid bidding already; there is increasing interest in clean, well-equipped Mustang II’s.
Hi Bob, I had a brand new 1977 Cobra ll black and gold with a V8, a HS graduation gift from my parents in 1977. What’s odd with this one for sale is that it has the V8 badging but only the V6. Is this really all original then? Also the steering wheel that came with mine was sportier, with three spokes and a soft grip steering wheel material. The one in this car looks like a stock steering wheel from a regular Mustang ll not from a Cobra ll.
They had V6 badging.. How soon we forget..
Not unusual for a person to change the badging. Doesn’t matter because both were dogs. 15,000 for this is robbery.
I remember back in the late 70’s where we use to hang out in Yonkers NY on Central Ave. Was a Black and Gold Mustang II Cobra 302 but with a real blower sticking out of the hood with two 4 bbls..and a roll bar big tires in the back. It was wild and fast. People did some crazy things back then. And it was fun. I miss those days.. 🐻🇺🇸
Yonkers in the house. I’m an original Yonkers boy. Tanglewood, Nathan’s. Had a 77 camaro and then a 70 El camino. Central Ave had some great street races back then. But so did Hunts point. Lol
I took my driver’s license test in one of these – they were fun little cars that actually handled pretty good. Looks like a great car!
I had a white with blue stripes Cobra II in 1981 with the 4 cyl. Definitely looked a lot faster than it was, but still fun to drive with the 4 speed. Before that I had a 76 with the V-6 and automatic, I remember it was kinda thirsty, seemed slower than the Cobra II I replaced it with and at idle the entire dashboard of the V-6 shook. This sale brings back some fond memories.
This is going to make some teenage girl really happy!
Yeah, maybe in 1976, lol…most teenage girls wouldn’t wanna be seen in any old car nowadays.
You’re probably right! 🤣
Drop an 8 in this machine and be done with it ffs. Cute and beautiful car but G D
My five year older brother’s girlfriend had a ’76 Mach1 version of the Mustang II. 302/auto with aftermarket 4bbl wasn’t slow. At 14 years old and not quite fully grown I found that once you fell into it, the rear seat was really comfortable. It was great for making out too. This is a nice little car. The V-6 relegates to the “cute” category.
“Cobra” with a 100hp V6? Whaa whaa whaaa.
Fender emblem shows “V8″… Wife had a Farrah Fawcett version… Never seen this model without 302… Something’s not right here
“Cobra II” was just an appearance package… no performance improvements. It was available with all three engines… 4, 6 or 8 cylinder.
This was the gas crisis era. I had the 2.8 V6 in a Capri II and it was a willing, capable engine with decent acceleration and good gas mileage.
Andy, the VIN decodes to it being a six-cylinder and the door data plate calls it a V6, so someone did a badge upgrade if that’s a V8 emblem. The photos are so small that I couldn’t tell if it was an 8 or a 6.
Believe there was also V-6 badges Ford put on a lot of car’s
I heard that this car made Carroll Shelby very mad. Took years for him and Ford got back together.
$14k for a V-6 Mustang II? Nope. And, yes, sadly, you could get a V-6 in a Cobra II.
I had a 76 like this one only mine was white with blue stripes. Same engine and trans. It was my first new car. This one is nice but is missing the quarter window louvered covers.
Lol. My hhr ss has more than twice the h.p and twice as ugly. At least it can quickly get out of its own way.
That car is lacking big v8 horsepower
You lost me at V6
I realize everyone had differing opinions on the Mustang II and Ford missed the mark making it appeal to everyone but it it deserves a day in the sun. It ensured the Mustang lived on, unlike its arguably more capable competition. I owned 2 in my life. A 2.3 automatic notchback Giha that taught me how to repair cars and a 2.8L 4 speed notch that taught me to love cars. The Giha was my first car and I rebuilt everything on it, in a quest to learn. It was the first automotive engine I rebuilt, first I ported and blueprinted. It was slow before I rebuilt it and almost as slow after. Became a Jag kit car eventually
My 2.8 was my eye opener . I always wanted a Cobra II but found it instead. I rebuilt everything on that car too, but nothing was stock. Koni shocks, bigger sway bars, better bushings and a Trac lock diff from a V8 car. Heavy duty pads and shoes rounded out the chassis. The engine was over bored by .030 with Racer Walsh forged pistons and custom Childs and Albert rods. I made a steel flywheel and lightened it and the block was balanced and blueprinted. I put in an Isky cam set with an alloy timing gear, crane double valve springs with Manley valves. Ported the heads and topped it with an Offy intake and a Holley 390cfm carb. It got Hooker headers and glass pack mufflers. Yes it was expensive, but living at home with a good job made it possible. It would keep up with Trans Am’s and Z28′ s in a drag race. Sometimes winning if I could hook up my small tires with a good reaction time. But on the highway is where it shone. That little V6 would pull to 6500 like nothing. I never reved it higher but the machine shop said it would probably Rev to 7500 with a more aggressive cam. I surprised a lot of people with that car. The engine sounds raspy and unique. That’s only a V6?! I loved that car. Learned how to do performance alignments, how to recurve a distributor, tune a carb. For that I will always be grateful. There is something about punching above your weight that appeals to me. I sold that car to a guy that wanted to put a V8 into it and go drag racing. He was impressed with the car as it was but wanted more so I took $500 of the ask and kept the motor. Then I put that engine in a 73 Capri….. I guess my point is that just because it is not beloved doesn’t mean it is unloved. I would love to buy this car and build the V6. I can’t but would in a heartbeat. Thanks for letting me remember and rant. My favorite barn find stories are from people who truly loved the cars featured, even if it isn’t my cup of tea. Cheers!
Nice post!
people at Ford should have gone to prison for what they did to the Mustang.
Until very recently, the Mustang II held 5 of the top 10 spots in sales of Mustangs. So even though it’s not everybody’s cup of tea today, Ford hit a home run with this car.
Something fishy….I had 75 Mach 1 with 302…it had the same V8 fender badge that this car has. I think all Cobras this year came with 302 v8
Hi Dan. I had a 1977 Cobra ll bought brand new in 1977 and the V8 badging came only with the V8 engine. I smelled something fishy just like you did!
The 2.8 V-6 was the “Cologne” engine. Originally for the German made Ford, which, I think was called the Tanus. Had one in a 79 Capri, which I had bought for my daughter for her birthday, (19th) Overdrive 4 speed transmission. Guy I bought it from though the front end was getting ready to fall out from under it, was just the rag joint on the steering gear. This motor used Bosch electronics, Distributor, and several other items related to electrical that I can’t remember now. The one thing I did check was the floor pan on driver side closest to the door, hot dogs doing hard launches will crack the floor pan there, so get out the MIG welder and do inside and outside. (top and bottom) Otherwise a nice little car.
“Tanus”…what a befitting name!
Taunus had a V4.
The V6’s were in the Capri.
Buyer needs to change the timing gears, fiber one will disintegrate. Actually, not a typical four speed, SROD was a toploader that had an overdrive with a WIDE gap between second and third. V-6 wasn’t a bad engine in the lighter Capri. I knew the early Fox bodies had a problem with the floor pans cracking (got a recall on my ’82 GT), didn’t know the IIs did, too.
Auction update: this one ended at $15,500 and no sale.
Beautiful looking car. While the Mustang II may not have been everyone’s favourite car, I’ve always loved it, probably more than what came after it, the Faux body Mustang.
I have a 78 mustang ll with a 2.8 with a 4 speed transmission, factory t tops, in the process of restoring it had the engine rebuilt, the trannie shop found a used one with 48000 on it, still has the original bell housing, just had it repainted raven black and changed the vinyl strip from black to red, has the cobra interior package, having the interior redone this year then I a couple fixes in the engine compartment new windshield washer bottle and the air conditioning needs to be fixed. I got it in 94 with 26000 miles and it has 90000 miles now and I have $11000 in it so far and I figure about another $3000 to go
Hi Ed. That is awesome! Post pictures if you can. Are you keeping it stock or will you upgrade it at all? I have some performance parts if you are interested. Cheers
Pinto with lipstick, and an insult to to the Mustang name
Hate to say it but there were quite a few other Mustangs that were an insult to the name.
Had the V8 302 76 Cobra II Mustang dropped a full race competition cam & lifter kit in slapped on headers & a 4V factory manifold w/780 carb
Snapped main springs on 1st pull – limped down to merril wheel & axle had 2 new main springs installed w/extra sheaf to handle the Torque increase
Had to put 200lbs of sand in back to soften the ride.
Last but not least a GIANT METALIC GOLD POT LEAF on drivers door & a hole cut in the hood w/full race chrome blower drag hood sticking up shaker style
It ran on full race gas blew flames out the exhaust & occasionally back fired flames thru drag hood
A loud amped up stereo w/ACDC on Blast.
Wheeli in 3 gears hard scratch in 4th
Same exact color scheme
It was 1979 when I got that car senior yr and I was a complete idiot 😉
They are basically just cute little cars. Slightly better with a 302 V-8, kind of sporty- ish but only in a fun way. Not too many comments on the “Actual” performance of they Mustang ll’s. I’m curious, how much difference is there between a Ford Pinto and a Mustang ll?
There is no comparison. This is what people get so wrong. The design ethos of each car was polar opposite. The Pinto was designed to be fun and economical, cheap to buy and repair. It’s mantra was 2000lbs and $2000. The Mustang has almost no interchangeable parts. The suspension and basic size were based in the Pinto, much like the original Mustang. Remember the time period before you criticize the Mustang II. Ford spent a lot of time and money predicting what future buyers wanted. Say what you want, they were right. Small cars were considered an anomaly, so the car was designed to drive and feel like a big car. That meant heavy. There are many reasons it didn’t perform as well as people wanted but buyers focus had shifted to style and luxury more than speed. Economy was up over the previous car so it was a win for Ford. There is so much more I can say but I have to fo to work… cheers
My 1st wife went out and bought a used 78 cobra 11 on my credit when we were split up. It had a 302 with a slush box. That car was so embarrassing, it would’nt pull a sick prostitute off a slanted bed! So in true Hillbilly fashion i built an 11 to 1 1968 4v 302 with a kitted c4 behind it and made it not so embarrassing. Although my chevys could hand it, its butt. The other fords around could’nt touch it.all in all, it was’nt too bad.
Sweet! Are you keeping it stock or would you modify it? I do have some parts….