Widely considered the leisure suit of cars, or at least of Mustangs, this 1974 Ford Mustang II is one nice and interesting blast from the past. It can be found here on eBay in Cream Ridge, New Jersey with a $6,500 buy it now price. You know you want this thing!
I have never seen this paint scheme on a Mustang of any generation, even a second-generation Mustang II where you’d sort of expect to see something wacky like this. I’m guessing that it has been repainted or at least the accent color was added. I hope that it wasn’t to hide rust repairs and the seller does say “The paint looks original with absolutely no rust anywhere on the car.” Any thoughts on whether it’s original paint or not?
Ga! Yeah, no, that can’t be original paint, can it be? The first-generation Mustang went from the debut of the 1964-1/2 model that we all know and love to the neck-snapping and gorgeous ’69/’70 models and then finally the Mary Tyler Moore long-and-low style. The Mustang II ended up being based on the Pinto rather than the Maverick due to factors such as the gas crisis and buyers looking for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars.
It has been argued, I think successfully, that the Mustang II may be the most important Mustang of all since it’s most likely the car that saved the brand from extinction. Like them or not, they were very important cars and Mustang lovers and scholars really should be more kind to these cars, in my opinion. There may not be a Mustang today without the II.
This really looks like a nice example if a person can get past the unusual paint. The interior looks downright luxurious. Unfortunately, this car has an automatic transmission so putting that “lower-power” engine to work won’t be quite as engaging as if it had a manual, but it also has “Power Brakes, Tape / AM / FM, and Air Conditioning.”
There wasn’t a V8 available in the Mustang II until 1975 so buyers had either an 88-hp 140 cubic-inch four-cylinder or a 105-hp 171 cubic-inch inline–six V6 which this car has. The seller says that a “Full service was performed on this beauty. Fluids along with filters have been replaced. A Tune Up has been performed. New Fuel pump, Fuel filter, and Tires, have been installed.” Hagerty is at $5,000 for a #2 excellent condition car. Any thoughts on the Mustang II, in general? Silly Mustang or Savior Mustang? I say the latter.
There is just SO much to dislike about this so why do I like it so much? ;^)
Savior. The side profile looks like a smaller and updated version of the 64 1/2. The interiors look nice for the day and power had been zapped on every car all across the board so it’s hard to knock it for that. These filled a need in the day.
Exactly. Looked more like the original than the bloated thing that preceded it as well.
Yes Dweez. I’ve always felt that the early seventies Mustangs were kissing the original point of the car. The Mustang II was more in line with the concept. It’s too bad they couldn’t have coaxed up a little more power for the King Cobra. Nice looking car that made sense for the times..
Not an inline six – that’s the Cologne 2.8 60-degree V6…
This was the motor to have – my Dad had one with the Cologne motor w/4spd. It was a rocket compared to the 4 cylinder. It ate timing chains and was one of the loudest cars I have ever driven. Heat searing vinyl everywhere made it a task to drive in the summers.
You’re right, carmicheals!
Like them or not they kept the name rolling, just like every other car name regardless of brand. The front suspension design from this car is under 1,000’s of street rods still today.
I wonder how one of there would go with a new turbo 4 in it. Now that would be a sleeper for sure.
Scotty, Scotty, Scotty. That’s not an in-line six. It’s a 2.8L V-6!
And I worshipped you. :(
Savior, sort of.
The Mustang name would have come back eventually, like Camaro and Charger did, but continuity is nice.
I’m glad this little oddball was produced.
“Back in the day” I went from my first car, a 67 Camaro convertible 327 4-speed to a 74 Mustang II fastback 4 cyl 4-speed (can’t remember why I wanted better fuel economy) To enhance its performance, I added Mach I decals down the sides and on the back panel. What a difference!
That’s definitely not a factory paint scheme. I suppose some dealer might have done it, but more likely it’s an ’80s repaint.
The paint is not original and just looks silly. Ford never offered any paint combination like that even as special promo editions.
Mustang II options list:
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford_%20Mustang/1974_Ford_Mustang/1974%20Ford%20Mustang%20II%20Sales%20Guide/image14.html
Lots of undercarriage shots in the ad. The car looks immaculate, though and it may be that undercoating went on the same time that funky paint job was sprayed.
My mother in law had a 66 Mustang she loved so much bought a new Mustang just like this one right down to the color. What an absolute piece of junk that was from the day one. After a year she bought a new VW.
It was the right way for the car to go at the time, and was far closer to the original @ heart than the 71-73. They could have done better with the V8 cars, but like said everyone was choked at the time via emissions. Ford adapted the mustang to the needs of the times better than mopar or gm did with their pony cars. Mopar didn’t even TRY with e-body twins. GM did OK, but lost their way in the 90’s. How they failed as hard as they did on the 4th gen despite an amazing driveline was criminal. I feel like they are repeating history with the new camaro as it’s another ugly car mated to an amazing drivetrain.
As for this car it’s in nice shape, but I don’t care for any of the notchback style mustangs aside from the fox era ones. If it was a fastback I would love it.
I think the wheel wells and the tires need to be slightly bigger to make the proportions a little better.
For the price per pound, the best car I ever had.
Paid $60 for a primer gray/black vinyl 4-cyl 4-sp at an auto auction in Conshohocken, PA in 1987, afer my ’65 Fury threw a rod & I needed wheels desperately. After replacing one broken coil spring for $15, drove it for over a year without doing a damned thing to it. Never failed.
If you can, find a 6cylinder late model II in the Ghia version, which is an upscale interior and other additions and you’ll enjoy the car. Yes, these got a bad name if for no other reason than they were styled for the times. If I could find a clean one I’d buy it and user it as a driver. And no, it’s not V-8 powered and all the rest. Who cares? The cars now are cheap to own, good way into the hobby and all the rest.
For the time, the Mustang II was comparable to the other under powered junk on the road. Ford lost their way in 71 with the mustang and by 73 they were hideous, over sized and base engine was way underpowered. Smaller and cheaper was the trend in the mid 70s and i think ford did pretty well with the M-II given the platform they had. I would proudly drive this 74 today over a modern “econo-box” stripped of style or attitude. This example of an MII is pristine and cost about 20k less than most of cheaper cars available today. I travel a lot and drive a bunch of rentals. Most are soulless cans lacking any punch or spirit. But there are lots of buttons for all the gadgets…so many buttons.
Lots of hot rod guys mined these for the steering and brakes. It’s nice to see a complete one when you can.
I had a 171 c.i. V6 in my ’75 Pinto wagon. Loved it. To this day, I can’t understand why I ever sold it!! It was a great little car! Sure miss it. But, right now, that price is a little high for me
instal a 347 and t-5….cheap fun
The Camaro and Firebird survived without this level of hideous down-sizing, why couldn’t the Mustang? Just trimming down the behemoth 73 to a respectable size and shape that Mustang lovers could recognize would have likely preserved the brand and the true nature of the pony car.
I would counter that the MII was spot on to the pony car nature. Also, even with a trimmed down 73, what motor is Ford putting in there that has any power or fuel economy? The MII did just what they wanted it to…and people bought it. Plus, it then led to the fox bodied Mustangs which are iconic.
+1 for the MTM reference. Oddly enough one of the best drivers I’ve ever known had one of these, 2.8 V6 and four-speed. It was not impressive in any way, but he was, and the car was OK for the times. If your parents showed up with one of these instead of a Chevette, you’d throw a party. I also knew a girl in Pittsburgh who street-raced a 351-swapped Mustang II Cobra that no one joked about more than once. Thanks for the memories!