One Owner For 37 Years: 1978 Mustang King Cobra

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Mustang II’s always seem to bring out two very different opinions: one side feels the cars are a product of their time and recognizes that they have some good points, others feel that they are an embarrassing reminder of Mustang glory gone bad. I can see both side’s points; but I remember really liking these at the time, and took my first driver’s license test in a 1978 Mustang II, so I guess I come down on the side of liking them for what they are. This original-owner car has been sparingly used, with the seller detailing the only modifications as an aluminum radiator (visible in photos) and dual exhaust over the 81,500 miles. I’m not sure whether the giant cobra graphic visible in this photo was a factory option or whether it’s been removed from this car. If you are interested, the car is located in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia and is advertised here on eBay. The asking price seems a little high to me, but maybe you disagree?

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Comments

  1. Mark E

    Some of them did not come with the goofy snake hood decals. I’m just wondering if this one still has the rear side window louvers?

    Like 0
    • Mark E

      Ooops, now I see, the King Cobra had different decals including a unique snake hood decal. It’s still missing the louvers though… -_-

      Like 1
    • The Walrus

      That’s a Cobra II, not a King Cobra, although some Cobra II’s had snakes also, but not the same one as above.

      Like 0
  2. MikeW

    I had a 78 Cobra II, nice little car, but the 302 was detuned at the factory. They just need a few modes to bring back the horsepower. I had a chance to buy a nice King for 3k a few years ago and wish I had.

    Like 1
  3. MikeW

    It’s a King Cobra II. The front spoiler is the main difference and makes it easy to spot, also the spats.

    Like 1
  4. Chris in Nashville

    Just me or does that opening bid seem very optimistic?

    Like 0
    • GUNIT

      wayyy overpriced, good luck!!

      Like 0
  5. don

    waste of 10k if the seller gets it, to much out there for that kind of money, there are better investments to be had than this mustang.

    Like 0
  6. MikeW

    They are rare and worth that kind of money, but seller is hurting his chance of selling it by starting that high. He should use a reserve and start with a lower opening bid.

    Like 1
  7. blindmarc

    I agree with Chris, this IMO is a nice example, but the opening is way to high. 10k would be the tippy top to me.

    Like 0
  8. Tom

    The Michigan State Troopers, give me a ticket for 96 mph in a 55 zone. It was a 4 cylinder with a 5 speed and fun to drive. My guess is that if you advanced the timing and added a four barrel, that thing would fly/

    Like 0
  9. JW

    My wife bought a 78 Mustang Cobra new and that car was a blast to drive in the winter, first time I ever drove a car with rack & pinion steering. Talk about doing parking lot donuts that thing was the master. I was at the dealer getting my truck serviced when they rolled in a Black King Cobra 4 speed and I rushed home to tell her to buy it but she was sleeping and said later, well she ended up with the plain Cobra automatic but it was still a blast to drive.

    Like 1
  10. stillrunners

    a black 4 sp was in an estate sale a few months back….they knew it was rare and asking $8500….I think….nice but a little under hood messing around was noticeable….not sure if it sold….

    Like 0
  11. OhU8one2

    It’s still a Pinto with a Mustang body. This definitely was a dark time in automotive history. An era I would just as soon forget. I think an L82 Corvette was 205hp.

    Like 0
  12. TBall

    Have a guy in the county with one with a “proper” tune on the 5.0, what a screamer. This would be a nice vehicle with the right heads, exhaust, carb/injection. But as nice as it appears, opening a bit steep for me. I’ll stick with my ’68 fastback…

    Like 0
  13. Tirefriar

    These cars are obviously not there yet in terms of the price. Question is, will they ever get to the teens, realistically?

    Like 0
  14. Jack T

    Asking price seems fair to my experience. Last October, by way of estate sale, I sold a relative’s minty ’78 Mustang II fastback to a Mustang collector for $8,500. It was a white fastback, T-tops, factory-painted lower side panels in red, factory alloys, red interior, Immaculate inside and out, 28K documented original one-owner miles. Pinto-based, it shared the 4-cylinder engine with 3-speed manual, 100% rust-free, and sold via internet. Not bad for an orphan car with a small following, though new owner reports it consistently draws a crowd at car shows.

    Like 1
  15. PRA4SNW

    Someone in our neighborhood had a nice King Cobra that I enjoyed seeing. It’s gone now.

    Without the crazy cobra sticker on the hood, this one looks too plain. And what’s up with the off-center graphic on the fake plastic scoop?

    Like 0

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