Why does the 1974-78 Mustang II get such a bad rap when it was such a terrific car?  We invite your feedback.

The 1974-78 Mustang II has always gotten a bad rap - but why?  When it was introduced in the fall of 1973, it was the most advanced Mustang Ford ever did.  It had nice body structure refinements that got it high marks and even Motor Trend's Car of the Year for 1974.  Mustang II had the Mustang's first bolt-on fascia courtesy GM's Semon E. "Bunkie" Knudson, hired away from GM by Henry Ford II to run Ford Motor Company.  Bunkie brought the bolt-on fascia to Ford.  He also brought hidden windshield wipers to Ford - which ironically the Mustang II did not have.  The Mustang II's greatest engineering feat is what Ford called the "toilet seat" due to its shape.  The toilet seat was the engine/transmission front subframe, which isolated engine vibration and road boom, making the Mustang II the quietest and smoothest Mustang ever.  And would you believe the Mustang II was more advanced than even the 1979-04 Mustang to follow because it had engineering refinements that went away in 1979?

Mustang II had a suspension system on a par with GM's Camaro, Firebird, and Nova - which also had a front subframe for good vibration isolation and handling.  These are refinements Knudson brought with him from General Motors.  Sadly and unfortunately, Knudson didn't survive Ford's political mill and was let go long about 1970.  That's when Lee Iacocca became President of Ford Motor Company.

Mustang II was a great car for its time.  Criticisms include mostly the absence of power and overdrive in the 1970s.  Emission control systems caused stumbling and poor driveability in those days, making the Mustang II something of a dog performance wise.  Being someone who drove new Mustang IIs in the 1970s, these cars were great fun to drive because they felt good.  They handled very well and had a nice tight feel.  Inside, they had the most elegant Mustang interior ever - even better than the 1965-66 Interior Decor Group (Pony Interior), which is a matter of opinion.  The 1974 Mustang II's steering wheel felt better than the 1975-78 wheel to follow. 

When the history books say the Mustang II was the right car at the right time, this is true.  Mustang II was perfect for its time - and still great fun to drive today in an age of overhead cam engines, fuel injection, and McPherson strut/four-link suspensions.  Had the Mustang II been fitted with more power and fuel injection, it would have gone down as one of the nicest Mustangs ever.