We don’t know the story on this 1974 Ford Mustang II Ghis; the seller doesn’t really give any history of how it came to be in this storage unit or how long it’s been there. All we know is that it looks like it would clean up and would easily pay for itself for almost any YouTube detail guru. They have it posted here on craigslist in Fort Riley, Kansas, and they’re asking $2,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Tony P. for the tip!
We don’t get to see the passenger side, but it’s parked against the wall on that side, and you can see that this Mustang II is up on jack stands. That’s a good sign for how it was stored, at least as far as that part goes. A car cover may have been nice, especially if there is no possibility of mice getting into that storage unit.
I had a model of this car as a kid, I think it was a 1975 Mustang II, though, not that there’s much difference. It was a Ghia, but it didn’t have these wheels. The Ghia came with faux wire wheel covers, and I’d source a set of those, stat. It’s hard to tell the condition of the Bright Red paint, but if that’s mud on the lower portions and not rust, this one looks like it could clean and buff up to look almost like new again. The special Ghia vinyl top appears in perfect condition in the photos. Here’s a 1974 Ford Mustang II brochure to check out.
The special Ghia interior looks almost like new; those seats are fantastic! This era of the early 1970s had a few things going on at the same time to create this car and others like it. Personal luxury cars were big, and once Ford pounced on Ghia (as in, buying the majority of their shares), it was game on. Fashions and the gas crisis were two other seemingly unrelated factors that went into the all-night design brainstorming sessions in Ford’s studios. Other car companies were also trying to stand out with special editions, but fuel-efficient ones. As expected, the back seat looks great, but it’s a bit of a storage area. We don’t get to see inside the trunk or any underside photos, unfortunately.
I wasn’t quite sure what that was sitting on the console, but it’s the horn hub. It must have an issue, and this car will need to be gone over by the next owner pretty thoroughly, as we don’t know how long it’s been sitting. It also looks like there’s a dash crack or two, which is unfortunate.
The engine looks like it would clean up nicely, and this Ghia is loaded up with air-conditioning, which is a nice option. The seller lists the engine as a “6,” which would have been a Ford-Cologne 2.8-liter V6 with around 105 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque. It rolls through an automatic with a floor-mounted selector and sends power to the rear wheels. The seller says the drivetrain needs work, but it runs and drives. It doesn’t look like it was driven in years, but we don’t know. Any thoughts on this mystery Mustang II Ghia?
This was a sharp and well-equipped Mustang II in its day. Ghias like this were particularly well-trimmed. Who knows what it might need mechanically. But from what we can see, the body and interior don’t look that bad. Not too many left in restorable condition; maybe this one can be brought back.
Typical craigslist ad, sure would be nice to have more verbiage describing the car.
Thanks SG.
Based on research, those wheels look factory issued. They have a black painted stripe close to the outside, and the missing center caps are installed with four screws on the outside. One can see four tiny holes on the rim and the black paint in the last picture on Craigslist ad.
I was going to say the same thing. After looking through the brochure (thanks Scotty), I noticed those slotted wheels on the options page. Nice looking option.
As far as “Barnfinds ” Mustang II cars go, ones left in storage for decades, this one looks pretty good. Scotty touched on something I’m into. When he mentioned an online, YouTube detail specialist, theres a guy I enjoy watching called The Detail Geek. Its amazing what he can do, and its therapeutic at least to me to just watch him bring vehicles back in the looks department. There’s a lot to work with here, and I wonder how it would respond to his treatment. The after market steering wheel would get replaced with a 3 spoke Mustang II Cobra steering wheel, while not stock I like them. I think those rims are factory rims, but I don’t know if they were available on the Ghia from the factory or not. (Bob, we are looking in your direction). But I like them and I’d keep them too. ( Sorry Scotty, disagreeing with you there). But they are classic mid 1970’s and just fit this. I’m wondering about the dirt or mud on the front fenders. If it’s rust, maybe its not bad and can be patched. I think this one deserves a resurrection. Especially for that reasonable price. I enjoyed your write up Scotty and your find Tony P. Thank you both. I always appreciate the time and effort that goes into the great tips from you guys on Fast-finds and the writeups too. And the link to the brochure, I thoroughly enjoy going back in time and looking at them. V6 automatic and air, this was a nice cruiser when new.
I do think those are the factory Forged Aluminum wheels, without their center caps; but not sure. Reviewing the brochure, it does look like they were available on the Ghia.
Trivia: there were 16 colors available, three of which were extra-cost “Glow” colors.
These are likely cast, not forged. OE manufacturers typically used cast of mass manufactured cars, forged would have been too expensive.
Steve R
Definitely Ford factory 4 lug mags. I remember them on pintos and mustangs like it was yesterday. They would be my preference over the fake wire hub caps, sorry SG.
I think you guys are right about the wheels. I was thinking of the ones you normally see on Ghias, the full wheel covers with the little “spokes” in the center. They have to be available on eBay or a junkyard somewhere. I’d want my Ghia to look more Ghia-like, as in a car where the driver should be wearing a leisure suit.
I forgot to mention the steering wheel, dang. Thanks, Dave! Someone wanted this Ghia to look sportier than it should.
What about the sun roof only seen in the interior photo.
mb, the sunroof would have been an option, good catch on that. I saw it didn’t mention it.
$2000 that condition NO but it would be fun to work on getting it going again
$2000 that condition NO but it would be fun to work on getting it going again scrolling through the pictures I first thought it was a drug pipe sitting on the console had to blow up the picture and see it was a tire gauge price is negotiable so if your local it might be a fun flip
I worked in a parts store that adjoined a methadone clinic. On dosage days we would sell out of miniature padlocks (to lock up one’s valuables during treatment) and tire gauges.
Guess what the tire guages could be converted to?
Lovely looking car. I’ve always loved the Mustang II, probably more than 1970-73 Mustangs. I don’t get why they’re not popular today among classic Mustang car enthusiasts. So it’s based on the Pinto, so what? That shouldn’t make a car any worse than other cars.
I love this car. I don’t think it would take much to get it rolling again. My problem is the title and almost to the t what the guy from Tennessee said when I picked up a little blue almost rust free pinto wagon.
Here it is. I’m leaving for the marines and I will send you the title, my father will give you a bill of sell and ill send you the title in 2 weeks. 4 years later its still sitting out by the barn with no title. Here in ohio a bill of sale doesn’t mean squat and they make it almost impossible to get one.
Why doesn’t the guy sign the title in front of a notary and hide it in the car somewhere. If he would I’d pick it up yesterday.
EXACTLY !!!! Everybody keeps talking about the wheels , but have any of them read the CRAIGSLIST LISTING ? It’s currently sitting in an impound lot on Fort Riley, but the storage fee is paid all the way up until the end of May.
I’m currently working for the Army Reserve out of St Louis Missouri so I won’t be in the area but I can mail the title and someone there has the keys.
I can be negotiable on the price based on the trouble it would take to get this vehicle. THIS SEEMS TO BE A TYPICAL SCAM !!!! The seller is in another state , SOMEBODY there will have the keys.???? Pictures look like its in a STORAGE UNIT , not a IMPOUND LOT !!!! Also , as dirty as it is , its been sitting a good while and an impound lot would have a really high storage bill on it . i dont think the seller could sell it for 2000/B.O. and be able to pay an impound lot fee and still make money
My mother in law always wanted a yellow Mustang and when she did it was a pristine used yellow Ghia with a V6, and a white vinyl top and interior. A very pretty car as she would readily admit but she quickly came to hate it because it was gutless. Other things she disliked about it was the awkward driving position. The dash board is high and so is the positioning of the steering wheel. The bucket seats sit flat on the floor in order to provide enough headroom in the downsized cabin. You sit with your ass on the floor with your legs straight out and your arms and shoulders raised to see over the dash. Visibility to the rear was terrible with large blind spots. It seems doubtful that the engineers referenced a normal sized human being when they designed the interior. The transmission tunnel is enormous and crowds into the foot-wells. My mother in law kept hers for about 3 years and when she finally had had enough she gladly traded it in for a new 1982 Camaro.