I've noticed some serious bashing of the Mustang II on the net, even from other Mustang owners. I was wondering exactly where this animosity stems from?
It's not just the net either for example in the newest issue of MM & FF on page 18 topic "Likes The Mustang II" a Mustang II owner defends his car of choice and asks that they retract a derogatory statement made in the previous issue regarding the Mustang II and he also asked for more coverage for the Mustang II. The response from MM & FF was "OK, we retract the statement. But we're still not doing any Mustang II tech."
Seems to me the Mustang II is something most people want to forget about the Mustang's heritage, and I'm just wondering why. I don't claim to know everything about Mustangs, so I went and looked up the Mustang II. I looked about a dozen or so photos of Mustang IIs. Personally I don't see anything wrong with them at all, the look of them is similar to most cars of the 70's. Still there's nothing about the Mustang II that jumps out at me and says "Man that is really a horrid car let's just forget it was ever a Mustang."
Anyone care to explain to me where this animosity and general dislike comes from regarding the Mustang II? Is there some rampant engineering flaws with all of them that I'm unaware of?
__________________
Cobra2k1
03 Nissan 350z (stock)
03 Mitsubishi Outlander LS AWD
Former 01 Cobra Owner & All Around Mustang Enthusiast
"You Can Put A Rocket On A Dump Truck & It Will Be Really Really Fast, But It Will Still Be A Dump Truck."
I agree with you. I have never owned a MustangII but I don't think that they were bad cars. For the time that they were made The gas shortage of the 70's it was the smartest thing to do to keep the Mustang alive. It is also what made the popular Fox Body cars what they are today. Most drag racers use the mustang II's front end because of it being cheap and much better than what front ends were back in the day before aftermarket parts.
__________________
97 Mustang GTS Laser Red 5spd, MSD coil packs, Cross Drilled and Slotted Rotors,Ford Racing 9 mm wires, Ported and polished upper intake Plentium, 70 mm Accufab TB, Steeda intake spacer,
March underdrive pulleys,3.55 FMS Gears,C&L 80mm MAF,C&L Power pipe, Sub-frame connectors, Mach 1 tokcio shocks and struts, Mach 1 chrome rims with 255/45 17 tires, 125 HP NOS dry nitrous kit,B&M Ripper shifter,Maximum Motorsports lower control arms, 2 chamber flowmaster 2.5 in,BBK offroad X-pipe, 218.3 RWHP 49
personally, I think that the missed the styling mark (Iwould rather own a 1978 Fairmont Futura) and the wimppy, smoged 302 that put out only 134 horsepower is another reason not to like them...however every time I see a real clean one arround, I like them more and more (still cant like the coupe for some reason though)
The Mustang II was basically a Pinto clone for one thing and a small car. They got stuck with fours and maybe a six for the first year or two, I think. They did get a weak 302 two barrel to. The Cobra and King Cobra were wild looking with crazy looking stripes and emblems that made the trans am screaming chicken look less tacky. The Camaro and Firebird didnt turn into a econobox or lose all their power. The F bodies didn't lose the horsepower wars until the mid eighties.
__________________
1990 Mustang LX 5.0, T5, 20,000 original miles, underdrive pulleys, short belt, O/R H pipe, otherwise all stock and original parts, strawberry mist metallic paint, grey cloth interior, never in rain or snow.
You know what I see in these pics? I see cars from the 70's I see the 70's thru and thru, and while I wouldn't say that the 70's were the greatest decade in history we can't just dismiss them. They are a testament to what was in style then, and what the times were like. Just because they may look gaudy to some people in 2002, doesn't mean they weren't cool in the 70's.
I mean seriously I doubt any of you dress up like John Trovolta from Saturday Night Fever on a regular basis and go out in public, but it was cool back then. It's just another chapter in the history of the Mustang, it's the 70's style not much else to say. It shouldn't be pushed into the closet to be hidden, it's part of the car's heritage.
__________________
Cobra2k1
03 Nissan 350z (stock)
03 Mitsubishi Outlander LS AWD
Former 01 Cobra Owner & All Around Mustang Enthusiast
"You Can Put A Rocket On A Dump Truck & It Will Be Really Really Fast, But It Will Still Be A Dump Truck."
I think the Mustang II's got a bad rap by alot of people because of the low HP overreacted to the but when you really take a good look at the car, it really has some nice lines and styling queues. Regarding the engine and hp... give me a break! Just about all mustangers take whats under their hood and start modofying it. The same with the Mustang II's. Drop a nice 5.0, 302 boss or whatever's your flavor and away you go!
__________________
Scott Halliday
Site Administrator
1992 Red 347 Automatic Limited Edition Convertible
1991 Red 5.0L 5-Speed Hatchback
1989 Black 5.0L 5-Speed Coupe
Scott, I think that the Mustang II got a bad rap for being a Pinto under it all, and people forget that the 65-66 is based on a Falcon, the 67-70 is based on the Fairlane, 71-73, Torino, 79-02, Fairmont....and next it will be based on the LS, The Mustang has NEVER been its own platform design
I think the fact that the Stang went from a muscle car (although a gigantic one in 71-73) to a econo car in 74-78 is why ppl look down on them. '74 was the only year with no V8. '74s also sold REALLY well. They were just in time for the gas crunch.
However, a 130HP car with a painted on fire chicken doesn't impress too many folks any more (thank gawd).
They were small and cheaply constructed, but then a lot of cars were put together poorly in the '70s. They also actually weighed more than the first Foxbodies in '79.
If you want to take one, put in a nice modern engine and tastefully restore it then fine. I'll look, but I'd rather look at an older Stang.. or a newer.
The MustangII and the pinto are GREAT for autocrossing. They're not so good for drag racin'. I've always liked them, and they sold well, but I think a lot of people think Ford sold-OUT!
Who cares! If you think of it as a precursor to the Focus, it might make it easier for all of you! The main competition for Ford then were imports. Compared to the Celica (which looked like a baby Boss) and the Opel (baby Corvette), and the RX7 (baby porsche) the Mustang was a great original car with classic and original cues. The Mustang fought them better than the Camaro and Firebird did.
Again, The Mustang has always been modern. It's why it's the last horse standing!!!
__________________
Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
The Mustang II and their owners are the most misunderstood group of Stangers in the world.
We like the II because:
1. They're cheap. (I got a 74 Ghia in fair condition for $200 with a 2.3 and a 4-spd.)
2. They handle really well. (even without Power Steering and power brakes they can turn and stop practically on a dime, because they are even lighter than fox-bodies)
3. They respond to the same mods as any other stang. ( a cam, 4-bbl. intake/carb, free-flowing exhaust, performance clutch/converter, ported/modified/aftermarket heads, modifed ignition, high flow catalytic converter, rear-gears) 300+hp Mustang IIs are not all that uncommon.
4. They are getting rare and are appreciating (slowly)
1976 Ford Mustang II Ghia: 302 with a 600cfm Edelbrock carb, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake, Dynomax Blackjack headers, 2.5" exhaust with Flowmaster Super 44s. RJS 11-gallon fuel cell, C4 tranny, chrome 16" pony wheels, fuzzy dice, brown vinyl half-top, and painted in the tackiest color ever (harvest gold, that's why I call it "The Goldenrod").
Also have a 2003 Dodge Ram (lightly modded daily driver/tow rig/office/dining room/home away from home/workshop... I call it "The Big Blue Dawg".)
Originally posted by Twister Scott, I think that the Mustang II got a bad rap for being a Pinto under it all
It's no pinto.. completely different.
You guys and your "I think that" bullcrap. Come back when you KNOW what you're talking about. Mustang II's are light, handle very well, even with a warmed up 302 they'll kick most fox bodies right in the ass. Modify it even more and have something that puts out 350hp and you'll own the streets.
It's no pinto.. completely different.
You guys and your "I think that" bullcrap. Come back when you KNOW what you're talking about.
I do know what I am talking about, the Mustang II and the Pinto use the same rack and pinoin, and front suspension. Please look up the part numbers. The Mustang II was built on the same platform as a Pinto, just like the 65 Mustang was based on the Falcon, and the FOX Mustang was based on the Fairmont.
What's The Deal With The Mustang II? 
