I'm Thinking About A Mustang II

Posted August 24 2010 05:00 AM by SMART67
Filed under: Miscellaneous

What if you found a 1974 Mustang II Mach 1 hatchback in restorable condition? Would you buy it?

For 35 years, I've been a classic Mustang enthusiast. For at least 30 of those 35 years, I've been a historian. So what has gotten into me lately? A Mustang shop I do a lot of business with in Southern California's San Fernando Valley has a 1974 Mustang II Mach 1 that has been sitting behind the shop for years. It has a 2.8L V-6 with automatic transmission. It is rust and damage free.

I am thinking about buying it.

Why?

Because it is something no one else has. How many 1974 Mustang II Mach 1s have you seen lately? It is also an opportunity to revisit my youth, reflecting back to when these cars were new. What's more, I saw a number of nicely restored and factory original 1974-78 Mustang IIs at the Mustangs Northwest Roundup and MCA Grand National back in July.

I've got to have this one.

Have I flipped my lid or what?

Nope, I know a good thing when I see it. This is an opportunity to save an obscure chapter in Mustang history. Nice thing about this Mustang II is its rust free completeness. Everything's there. It is the most restorable Mustang II I've ever seen. And if you're a Mustang II fan who's just got to have it, contact me and you are welcome to have it. I just don't want to see it go to the crusher.

Lets hear it, Mustang II fans. My email address is Jim.Smart@sorc.com.

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Reader Comments:

1. Grab it quick, people can say what they want, a Mustang II is still a Mustang, and they do appeal to some of us. I own a 69 fastback, and a 01 coupe, have had several years in between, but one car I will always regret selling is my 77 cobra II

rdaniel911 - Posted August 24 2010 06:31 PM

2. Thanks for your support. Because there are so few restorable Mustang IIs out there, the historian in me is what makes me want to grab it before it is parted out or crushed.

I remember these cars when they were new. They were fun to drive and outhandled their predecessors. Fit, finish, and engineering were vastly improved regardless of what anyone says. Makes sense to save what few restorable II's there are out there.

Not sure when I will be able to get to it because it has a lot of projects in front of it. If someone out there wants it to restore, I can put you in touch with the owner. Just wanted to save it before it was gone. There's just something intriguing about this car to me.

SMART67 - Posted August 27 2010 05:24 PM

3. Cool Idea, the “deuces” are the most neglected family members of the Mustang family. 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 5 2010 12:47 PM

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