Should We Save Them? Mustangs Forgotten...

Posted September 1 2010 06:00 AM by SMART67
Filed under: Car Initiative

All The The Lost And Lonely Mustangs - Should We Save And Restore Them?

Our close attention recently to a lone '74 Mustang II Mach 1 at Mustangs Etc. in Van Nuys, California got us to thinking about how to save other obscure Mustangs out there sitting in fields, barns, used car lots, salvage yards, auto repair shops, home garages, and more.

In tough economic times when you're wondering where your next meal or mortgage payment is coming from, it's challenging at best to think about how to save abandoned and forgotten Mustangs. There are a lot of them out there.

Define a forgotten or abandoned Mustang. We're talking the obscure stuff long since forgotten through the years. For example - 1983 Mustang GT convertible, in fact any 1983 convertible because it's the first year Ford started doing Mustang convertibles again. What about a 1984-86 Mustang SVO? Not many people remember the SVO because there were so few and a quarter century has passed. How about a 1978 Mustang II King Cobra? Too little too late. Consider those Mustangs no one wants, a 1980-81 Mustang Cobra with the 255ci V-8 or a 1979-81 Mustang Turbo Four? These cars wore out their welcome quickly. What about a plain Jane 1969-73 hardtop with a 250ci six? Lost and forgotten cars, yet segments important to Mustang history.

Cars worth saving? We're not talking parts cars that have been picked clean or are rusting into the ground. We're talking complete examples where most everything is there - solid, restorable cars it would be easy to find parts for.

Key is having the resources - time, money, and access to talent. To tackle some of these obscure rides takes due diligence, that raw persistence required to search for parts no one has. Plus - learning everything you can about the odd-duck Mustang you're thinking about buying and restoring.

The decision to get into a '74 Mach 1 comes from the sweet memories of these cars when they were new and we were so very young. It also comes from the desire to save a segment of Mustang history - ironically Motor Trend's Car Of The Year for 1974. Also one of the Mustang's best sales years ever.

Obscure cars like the '74 Mach 1, 1984-86 SVO, mid-1980s convertibles, and the like can be gotten into reasonably. We'd like to hear your thoughts on this subject here at Mustang Monthly. Should we save these cars? What do you think? Feel free to email us at Jim.Smart@sorc.com or chat with us at our website www.mustangmonthly.com.

Reader Comments:

1. Cool Idea, the “deuces” are the most neglected family members of the Mustang linage. The 71 to 73’s are also neglected but not as maligned as the Mustang II’s. The 71-73 models were the Clydesdales of the classic Mustang world which many feel ended in 1973. They were big and heavy but could be still had with a V-8 and 4-barrel carburetor.

The little Mustang II’s were the Shetland ponies and were smaller, lighter, more economical , and cheaper but lacked a V-8 initially which the diehards left over from the Muscle Car Era knew was a requirement in your Muscle Mustang as I was one of those too. However it was a car for the times. While high horsepower and emissions did not go together in the early 70’s, there was also the sky rocketing insurance rates and safety standards. These were the first two strikes against Mustangs with Muscle. The oil embargo in 1973 was the third strike to cars of that earlier era.

The 1974 Mustang II was a winner for all the reasons above as it met safety standards, had lower emissions, and was the most economical Mustang made to date. It was the perfect car for the times. It was like 1964 all over again for Ford. They had something new that people wanted and it was a big seller.

Shortly after the Fox bodied Mustang was introduced, Muscle Cars made a comeback with the Mustang GT which made people forget about the little Mustang II’s which in reality saved the Mustang line and kept the linage going.

It was a great little car and perfect for it’s time. It’s always the smallest class at Mustang shows I attend and I try and make it a point to talk to the owners and tell them things above. As a Mustang owner and driver for 40 years myself, it’s one series I’ve never owned but have driven a few owned by family and friends over the years. I think they are worthy of being saved and restored plus after 35 years they have earned the right to be called a classic too. I support what you’re doing just good luck finding parts.

Bill.Hamilton - Posted September 6 2010 05:45 PM

2. Hi Bill - always good to hear from you. Each Mustang generation had a purpose - each the right car at the right time. Mustang II fit the era. It was a cute car for its time. Heck, the hit Charlie's Angels TV show had two of them along with a lackluster Pinto. So restoring a restorable Mustang II Mach 1 makes sense. I've had to do some soul searching - asking myself how much time, money, and resources I have to restore a '74 Mach 1 when there's already so much on my plate. Finding parts would be a huge hurdle. Important questions to be answered in due course. The intent is to save the Mach 1. We will see where intent goes in time. Thanks for your kind, supportive words, Bill.

SMART67 - Posted September 6 2010 10:48 PM

3. I guess Im biased, but until the last restorable early model is back on the road, I wouldnt even consider it. I have a 1966 coupe and a 1965 Fastback, so I am probably biased.

cds2 - Posted September 15 2010 08:24 PM

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