I don't own a Mustang but always wanted one and I came across this one and just wanted some info on it, is it worth buying?
It's a -76 Mustang II with the small V6 (2,9l), supposed to be in pretty good shape....asking price, in Sweden, is roughly $3k.
Is it a good first one?
There are many better Mustangs to own besides that one. Here they are a dime a dozen. I have no idea what the market is like over your way though so I won't tell you to pass it over. For all I know that could be one of a very small handful of 'Stangs to be had across the ocean. As long as the body is straight and the motor is good and anything wrong with it is nothing you don't mind dealing, I would say at least give it a good once over before making any decision. However, if you pass this one up and keep looking, my personal favorites are the 65-73 models and 1980 to present.
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Sometimes I think that government fits that old-fashioned definition of a baby: An alimentary canal with an appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
- Ronald Reagan
Thanx Blue, think I'm gonna pass....they aren't that powerful either, right? Thing is, I don't wanna spend that much money....student again...after a couple of years working but would like to get my hands on a baby to work on during the summer!
I'd save some money as you see fit and hold out for something from the mid to late 80's with a 5.0L motor.
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Sometimes I think that government fits that old-fashioned definition of a baby: An alimentary canal with an appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
- Ronald Reagan
Kyle F I know you are just joking so don’t take this the wrong way but I can’t figure out all the hostility over the Mustang II.
IMO they look better then a Fox hatchback, and as far as being underpowered so were the Fox’s all thorough to the mid 80’s.
My first car was a 80 notch 4-banger, I almost got a Mustang II. But I have never even considered owning a hatch back. Just my preference……
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So , let me get this straight…..your Honda has 1.6 liters, whereas my bottle of Mountain Dew has 2?
Change…..it’s what is left after taxes.
- Shaken....Not Stirred 2003 Mach I Auto Torch Red - Sold
-1988 Ford Mustang GT Convertible, 331 Trick Flow Stroker with a Tremec 3550....oh yea and a 1.6 liter V-TECH motor to work the convertible top.
- 1966 Inline 6……..the pile of parts car!
One of these days I’m going to get a Mustang II drop in a stroked 351 and own all the foxes around here……..its lighter and has a better stock suspension!
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So , let me get this straight…..your Honda has 1.6 liters, whereas my bottle of Mountain Dew has 2?
Change…..it’s what is left after taxes.
- Shaken....Not Stirred 2003 Mach I Auto Torch Red - Sold
-1988 Ford Mustang GT Convertible, 331 Trick Flow Stroker with a Tremec 3550....oh yea and a 1.6 liter V-TECH motor to work the convertible top.
- 1966 Inline 6……..the pile of parts car!
I just don't like anything about them. They're ugly and I generally think they're an abomination of the nameplate.
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Sometimes I think that government fits that old-fashioned definition of a baby: An alimentary canal with an appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
- Ronald Reagan
but mustangs are supposed to be small “pony” cars……….the most non-mustang mustang are the 71-73 mustangs, hell they are so big you can drop a 427 in them and still only run a 16 quarter mile!
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So , let me get this straight…..your Honda has 1.6 liters, whereas my bottle of Mountain Dew has 2?
Change…..it’s what is left after taxes.
- Shaken....Not Stirred 2003 Mach I Auto Torch Red - Sold
-1988 Ford Mustang GT Convertible, 331 Trick Flow Stroker with a Tremec 3550....oh yea and a 1.6 liter V-TECH motor to work the convertible top.
- 1966 Inline 6……..the pile of parts car!
One of these days I’m going to get a Mustang II drop in a stroked 351 and own all the foxes around here……..its lighter and has a better stock suspension!
County, your plan sounds like fun, but I would rather have this Pinto...
As for Daniel75's original question, a '76 would be far from my first choice, but, as Bluestreak says, we probably have a larger selection from which to choose than you have in Sweden. If you think you can find something you'll like better, I'd encourage you to do that. If, however, chances to own a Mustang are few and far between, then in your place I would be really tempted to go ahead and get it.
Body style would also make a big difference to me. From that time period, a coupe would be much more desirable to me than a hatchback. I actually think the Cobra IIs, like this one, weren't bad at all:
I dont liek the interiors at all, they look like crap. The 70's were a sad time in American Automotives that I wish never happened. I am just glad I didn't have to live through it and only see the remains now.
Though, I understand, just liek the pacer... it has its own following. I certainly don't go in their forum on here and bash. I was just making a jab is all.
I know a lot of people feel that they stoped making mustangs after 73 and just now brought them back. I personally liek Foxes, but my wife hates them. She also doesnt like the interiors in the 94-04.
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2006 Mustang GT in Torch Red
C&L Intake, Evolution Performance Tune, Borla Axle Backs, Hurst Shifter, 4.10's, JBA Long Tubes, Prothane Engine Mounts, Steeda UDPs, FRPP Charge Motion Delete Plates
'76 wasn't a bad year for the Mustang, 4-spds with V8s came back, the Cobra II was introduced, The girls from Charlie's Angels were driving them, and 139hp from 302 cubic inches wasn't bad at all compared to a lot of Detroit Iron of the time (such as the 202hp 460s in the pickups, Lincolns, T-birds, and Torinos!) If you want to bump a '76 into "legendary 5.0 performance" territory, a simple cam, intake, and carburetor change will put you there. And if you want that "5.0 sound" throw some headers on it and Flowmasters under it, and you're there. You'll have a pretty reliable, 200hp or so cruiser that's VERY lightweight and handles extremely well.
My '74s gonna be a 450hp 4.6 killa when it's finished.... with 4.7 litres of its own (289 with forged internals, AFR heads, Roller cam, Weiand Intake, Edelbrock carb, headers, etc.) all part of the plan since I'm a firm beleiver that the last of the true Mustangs was built in 1978. The Mustang just looks better with round headlights, whether it was built on the Falcon, Torino, or Pinto chassis.
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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".)
The Mustang 2 just does nto fit in the lineage of the Mustang... its way off path in terms of styling, performance, size, shape, looks... just everythign. It relates to a Mustang the way a Bronco 2 relates to a Bronco.... smaller and cheaper than the real thing.
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2006 Mustang GT in Torch Red
C&L Intake, Evolution Performance Tune, Borla Axle Backs, Hurst Shifter, 4.10's, JBA Long Tubes, Prothane Engine Mounts, Steeda UDPs, FRPP Charge Motion Delete Plates
The Mustang 2 just does nto fit in the lineage of the Mustang... its way off path in terms of styling, performance, size, shape, looks... just everythign. It relates to a Mustang the way a Bronco 2 relates to a Bronco.... smaller and cheaper than the real thing.
I've said this a few times, but I think the IIs look more like traditional Mustangs than Foxes do. IIs have the "C" molding on the side of the car, they have a Mustang shaped grill, and the taillights have three segments. No Fox has anything like that. If I were isolated from society since '73, and set free today, I'd be hard pressed to identify a Fox as a Mustang, at least without badging and nomenclature. The '94-'04s have more traditional Mustang styling cues, than do Foxes.
Of course, there's no mistaking an '05-'06...
The '71-'73s and '74-'78s are somewhat devient from the overall Mustang theme, but in opposite ways.
I wouldn't kick a King Cobra out of my driveway...
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1992 Deep Emerald Green Mustang GT Hatch, 5 speed, 2.73s, Mac fenderwell cold air intake, '93 Cobra MAF, Mac 70mm throttle body & spacer, Explorer intakes, Mac unequal headers & offroad pipe, Magnaflow catback, Walbro 110lph fuel pump, Jet adjustable FPR, MSD Blaster coil, Accel 8mm wires, FRPP aluminum quadrant, UPR firewall adjuster, stock cable, Granatelli upper control arms.
Waiting to go on: Granatelli lower control arms, and GT40 Iron heads!
I've said this a few times, but I think the IIs look more like traditional Mustangs than Foxes do. IIs have the "C" molding on the side of the car, they have a Mustang shaped grill, and the taillights have three segments. No Fox has anything like that. If I were isolated from society since '73, and set free today, I'd be hard pressed to identify a Fox as a Mustang, at least without badging and nomenclature. The '94-'04s have more traditional Mustang styling cues, than do Foxes.
Of course, there's no mistaking an '05-'06...
The '71-'73s and '74-'78s are somewhat devient from the overall Mustang theme, but in opposite ways.
I wouldn't kick a King Cobra out of my driveway...
100% correct on that post.
385,993 74 mustangs sold in 1974 also say something espicaly when the 71 mach 1 only sold 27,675 total units!
The car is more a mustang then the 71-73 and the mustang II was perfect for the arab oil embargo.
The car was rated Motor Trend’s “Car of the Year” in 74.
If I come across a mustang II cope in good condition I will snatch it up in a heartbeat. The mustang II looks great as the Mach 1 (I think they only made them as hatchbacks but then again I hate all hatchbacks)
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So , let me get this straight…..your Honda has 1.6 liters, whereas my bottle of Mountain Dew has 2?
Change…..it’s what is left after taxes.
- Shaken....Not Stirred 2003 Mach I Auto Torch Red - Sold
-1988 Ford Mustang GT Convertible, 331 Trick Flow Stroker with a Tremec 3550....oh yea and a 1.6 liter V-TECH motor to work the convertible top.
- 1966 Inline 6……..the pile of parts car!
Want your opinion on a -76 
