I love my Mustang II

Welcome to my Mustang II Page
Here you will find all of the information you could possible want to know about the Mustang II. We are dedicated to keeping the Mustang II alive and well and educating the masses about this overlooked classic. Built from 1974 thru 1978, the Mustang II kept the Mustang line alive and well during the gas crisis. This car won the Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1974 and was deemed by Ford to be the "Right Car at the Right Time".

Just in case someone tells you that the Mustang II was not popular, here is a bit of validated trivia. The 1974 Mustang II is the 6th highest selling Mustang to date. It sold more units than any Mustang since 1979 and has only been outsold by 5 different year Mustangs. Check out the Top 10 List and the Sales Totals Chart.

Also, the 1974 Mustang II was the first Mustang ever to win Motor Trend's Car of the Year award. Not bad for an "unpopular car". The 1994 Mustang was the only other Mustang to receive that honor. For answer to common questions and other interesting facts check out the Common Questions and Answers section of the Tech Center.

On this site you will find numerous photos of Mustang IIs, unique technical information, online decoders and plenty of information regarding these "lost ponies". Browse around and see what you can discover.

We hope you enjoy your visit!

Common Questions and Answers
When you mention the Mustang II to many people, certain questions or speculations come up concerning these "forgotten" cars. Here we try to answer some of the more common questions that may arise in these conversations. If you have a question you would like to ask send it to stangii@mustangii.net. We will research it and do our best to answer it.

• Isn't the Mustang II just a redesigned Pinto?
  
• Most people believe that the 5.0 liter Mustang did not come about until the Fox Body platform in 1979. Is this a true statement?
  
• What year was the T-Top available on the Mustang II?
  
• Did Ford Motor Company produce a Mustang II Convertible?
  
• Doesn't the Mustang II have the lowest horsepower of all the Mustangs?
  
• Why can't I find parts for my Mustang II?
  
• If I am not concerned with originality, will parts from other Mustangs fit a Mustang II?
  
• What is the difference between the Rallye Performance Package and the Rallye Appearance Package?
  
• Was the 4 cylinder engine available in the Cobra II?
  
• What were the color combinations available for the Cobra II?
  
• How can I tell if my Mustang is a Cobra II?
  
• What is a "Motortown" Cobra II?
  
• Is the Cobra II a Shelby Cobra?
  

Isn't the Mustang II just a redesigned Pinto?
Only a few of the chassis items such as front wheel spindles, brake discs and brake master cylinder, universal joints and such parts, are common to both Mustang and Pinto. These parts represent approximately just 10% of the total parts which make up Mustang. As a matter of reference, Thunderbird used approximately the same percentage of Torino parts, yet the Thunderbird was not considered a "redesigned" Torino.

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Most people believe that the 5.0 liter Mustang did not come about until the Fox Body platform in 1979. Is this a true statement?
Starting in 1975, the 302 V-8 engine that was available in the Mustang II was a true 5.0 liter engine. It was the same engine that was used in the early Fox Body Mustangs and carried about the same horsepower until 1982. The King Cobra was the only model of the Mustang II to have the 5.0 designation on the outside of the car, it was located on the hood scoop.

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What year was the T-Top available on the Mustang II?
The T-Top roof was available on late 1977 Mustang IIs. The T-Top roof was only available on the hatchback models including the Cobra II, Mach 1, 2 2 and the King Cobra. It was not an option for the Coupe and Ghia models.

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Did Ford Motor Company produce a Mustang II Convertible?
Only one prototype of a Ford produced Mustang II convertible is known to exist. A few aftermarket convertibles may exist which were modified after the car was shipped to the dealership. Convertible Mustangs were discontinued after 1973 until the early '80s.

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Doesn't the Mustang II have the lowest horsepower of all the Mustangs?
Due to the fact that the 1974 model did not have a V-8 engine available, the 1974 top horsepower was the lowest to date. When the V-8 was added in 1975, the V-8 horsepower stayed virtually the same from 1975 on into the first 3 years of the Fox Body platform (1979 - 1981). When discussing horsepower, it is important to remember that the Mustang II platform is also the lightest Mustang to date with the base models, including V-8, weighing under 3000 pounds.

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Why can't I find parts for my Mustang II?
Very few companies make aftermarket parts for the Mustang II. While you can still buy the common parts such as ignition switches, headlights and other replaceable parts, the larger exterior and interior parts are not as readily available. Some companies make reproduction quarter panels, lower door skins and hoods but for the most part, they are not high quality parts. Seat covers are available and are close to original quality and style as is carpeting. As the Mustang II becomes a classic, you may find companies deciding to manufacture replacement parts. The best places to check for parts would be websites such as Mustang II Parts Distributors or even your local scrap yard.

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If I am not concerned with originality, will parts from other Mustangs fit a Mustang II?
Certainly, many Mustang II owners have found that the seats in the Mustang II were not as comfortable as they are used to. Late model Mustang Seats have been put into Mustang IIs with little or no modifications. Late model transmissions are also being used underneath the Mustang II. Check the Tech Center for a section of FAQs that have been written concerning these modifications.

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What is the difference between the Rallye Performance Package and the Rallye Appearance Package?
The Rallye Performace package consisted of items designed to increase performance such as the Traction-Loc rear axle, competition suspension and heavy duty sway bars. This Performance package was available on all models of Mustang II. The Rallye Appearance package was a cosmetic package featuring gold internal and external pinstriping, special gold inserts in the seats and other blackout treatments. The Appearance package was available starting in late 1977 and was only available on the 2 2 model. Exterior and interior colors were limited to black or white exclusively.

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Was the 4 cylinder engine available in the Cobra II?
Yes, you could purchase a Cobra II with the 2.3 liter I-4 engine. The only models that had engine restrictions were the 1974 models in which the V-8 was not available and the 1978 King Cobra which could only be purchased with the 5.0 liter V-8.

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What were the color combinations available for the Cobra II?
In 1976, the Cobra II was available in White with Blue stripes. Four other combinations were added later which were Black with Gold Stripes, White with Red Stripes, White with Green stripes and Blue with White stripes. The King Cobra on the other hand was available in just about any color combination you could think of.

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How can I tell if my Mustang is a Cobra II?
Short of having the original paint and stripes, the only way to determine if your car was a Cobra II is from the build or "buck" tag attached to the radiator support. If it was sold as a Cobra II, the tag will have the code "CB" on it. The same holds true with the King Cobra which has a "KC" code on the tag. The Cobra II and King Cobra options are not listed on the doortag or indicated on the VIN number. If the build tag is missing, the original invoice would also indicate the option.

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What is a "Motortown" Cobra II?
In 1976 and early 1977, Ford sent out a 2 2 model Mustang II to a company called Motortown Corporation to have the Cobra II specific additions put on the car. The 2 2 was invoiced as a Cobra II and a special window sticker listing the Motortown additions was attached to the car before it went to the dealerships. Starting in late 1977, the Cobra II additions were done in the Ford Assembly plants. Minor differences can be seen between a Motortown Cobra II and the Ford installed Cobra II such as the inside door panels.

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Is the Cobra II a Shelby Cobra?
The Cobra II from 1976 - 1978 had no known connections with Carroll Shelby. Ford Motor Company owned the rights to the "Cobra" name and designed the cars to look like their older counterparts. The Cobra II does not bear the Shelby name.

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