After seeing years of declining sales, Ford reinvented the Mustang in 1974. The original car had gotten big and bulky, so the Mustang II was a subcompact using a 4-cylinder engine for the first time in the pony car’s history. The new Mustang arrived just in time for the 1973 OPEC oil embargo that sent buyers on the hunt for more fuel-efficient transportation. The seller bought this ’74 II from its original owner, a little old lady who was no longer able to drive. It shows its age but drives well with some recent work.
Ford sold 135,000 Mustangs in 1973, almost a low mark at the time for the automobile that set the industry on its ear the decade before. Contrast that showing to the 1974 model year when 386,000 Mustangs left the assembly line. Sometimes timing is everything and the Mustang II was in the right place at the right time. The seller’s ‘Stang looks like a basic model with a 2.3-liter gas-sipping line-4 with a 4-speed manual transmission (both of which could also be found in the Ford Pinto).
As the story goes, the original owner sold this Ford to the seller before going into a nursing home. It had been idle for as long as 15 years even though the odometer has turned over, reflecting 119,000 miles of use. Everything appears to be original, though the paint is faded and may or may not respond to a good buffing. The interior is generally good though the shag carpet probably should be retired and replaced. The Ford has been treated to new brakes, struts, and shock absorbers.
One mystery is the title. The seller says it’s a salvage title and he/she has no idea why. There is no indication the car was ever wrecked. Perhaps it was stolen and returned to the original owner later? You’ll want to sort that out with your DMV, especially if you’re in California. This vehicle is in Newport Beach and is available here on craigslist for $5,700. Our thanks to Tony Primo for this pony tip!
The seller says the car is currently registered, that would indicate there is nothing to sort out with the DMV. You can’t get registration on a salvage car unless it first passes a specific inspection from an authorized shop. As long as it remains in California the title will always show salvaged.
Steve R
A very basic, seemingly quite original (excluding the odd red running horse grille emblem), very blue Mustang II. Most of them were long ago used up, but this one survived. Clean it up, make sure it runs good, see if the paint can be revived a bit, and putter around town with it.
“Putter” being the operative word here.
I knew it had to be blue!
How cool would this be cleaned up, buffed out and left as-is warts and all but a Coyote dropped in and susp and brakes covertly beefed up to accommodate? I don’t know why but I like these glwta
2.3L Ecoboost 6spd stick, w that same shifter would be 🙌 😎
That’s the ticket right there. ☝️
I had the same power train, trans in my 75 Pinto. Kind of a dog but good on gas
I mind one of these being parked on the route of our walk home from school (our parents gave us bus fares, so we saved the money…); as an American Ford, it was unusual.
BF friends,I had the biggest surprise yesterday. A car carrier pulled up and delivered a 66’Mustang to me.A gift from my 2 boys.289 hi-po/auto.Yeah I was shocked.
That’s great for you, it truly shows you are one great parent. I’d bet an all around good person.
Wife surprised me in 2022 with a brand new Mustang GT that I built on the Ford website, just a wish / dream build. The car is awesome, but the fact that she took the time and attention to make it happe? That was the true gift. It was a thanks for being a good dad and spouse and all around good guy. Her quote.
Enjoy and Cherish
I made it one year colon cancer free so they got me the car,what they don’t know is next week I go for bladder cancer testing,oh well.
Keep your head up and keep up the fight. Drive that stang to treatments and maybe have one of your boys drive it home.
And, when you ring that bell…Burn them tires right off the wheels on your way out.
Good Luck and Be Blessed.
Michael ,,that is wonderful that you have 2 boys that think so well of you. My wife had colon cancer ,yes she made it took 4 years of fighting but she did. I have prayed for you .
have fond memories of a military bud’s car that was identical to this one, that we drove to our first duty station in 1977! I wouldn’t mind having this one, but I really prefer the fastback! GLWTS!! :-)
Michael, as a 30 year survivor of chronic ulcerative colitis and eventual colectomy surgery in ’94, I can honestly say that determination and attitude go a long way in surviving insurmountable odd. You sound just like the guy that can do it. Hang in there buddy, better days are ahead.
Starting in 1964 My mother in law always wanted a yellow Mustang with a white interior Unfortunately it was a Mustang II with a V-6 that she ended up buying. It was the worst car she ever owned. It was constantly in the shop for one thing or other. She is only 5’2′ and she found it to be cramped inside especially with the massive transmission hump. She traded it in for a Camaro.