For 1974, Ford product wizard Lee Iacocca punched the reset button and introduced an entirely new kind of pony car: the Mustang II.
As we’ve stated before here at Mac’s Motor City Garage, we’re fans of Ford’s controversial Mustang II of 1974-78. (Read our feature on the Mustang II here.) We know that’s far from a consensus view, especially among Mustang enthusiasts, but on this point we’re aligned with Ford product boss Lee Iacocca, the father of the original 1965 Mustang. In his view, the Mustang II was the perfect Mustang for the ’70s, especially as a follow-up to the oversized ’71-’73 models.
For Iacocca, the Mustang II simply returned the Mustang to its true roots—as a sporty, fun, affordable car. And as usual for Iacocca, his thinking was validated in the showrooms. To this day, the Mustang II is the second best-selling Mustang of all time, trailing only the original ’65-’66 first-gen pony cars. If not for the Mustang II, the Mustang brand would probably not have survived.
It’s impossible to miss the top-line message in the ’74 Mustang II commercial below: price. When the new Mustang was introduced on August 23, 1973, consumers were battling a severe recession that would stretch out for another two years, while the OPEC oil embargo was just a few months ahead. We note that the 2.3-liter, four-cylinder base engine is given the hard sell here, even though it developed only 85 hp. (A 2.8-liter V6 was also available, and in the following year a V8 was offered.) And while the focus is on economy, the Mustang’s luxury and appearance features are emphasized as well. Video below.
One of my sons owned a V-6 equipped Mustang coupe with an AT in a beautifully bold orange paint scheme. Like almost all machines , and all mortals , it has disappeared into the mists of time. It was a cute little car. Thanks , MCG . for this post of a bit of automobile history. Jonathan Richards in Chesterfield, Missouri.
Sorry, they were a car that was so bland,, and then a asthmatic 4 cyl engine made them mechanised transport. The V6 was at least slightly better.
I agree about the 71-73, too fat and the smog motors killed them. Though they drive very well.
The next ‘real’ Mustang was the Fox body, neat looking, smallish though with many not so good features as well.
My wife had a 76 MII when we got married, a 4cyl automatic slug that wouldn’t get out of it’s own way. Her Uncle had a 74 with the same engine, but the 4 speed transmission, it was a slow, but spirited little car that tried hard. Got to drive a 78 with the 302 V8 and 4 speed, even for a smog motor it was pretty fast, but working on it was terrible. They weren’t bad little cars, the hatch fastback cars actually looked pretty good. If the tech had of been available back then that we have now , a 300 hp 4 cyl would have made them decent cars, instead of the glorified Pinto’s they are remembered as. I’d still take a 77 Cobra II with the 302 4 speed, in black with gold stripes or dark blue with white stripes, both nice combinations.
My first brand new car, a gold colored 74 MII, V-6, 4 in the floor. Traded in my old
’61 behemoth that lost its power steering. I loved this Mustang, but got married and traded it in on a conversion van, with 8-track (woo woo), captain chairs – way before they became very popular. Biggest mistake. The only issue I had was a rubber gas hosing sprang a leak; luckily I was in the vicinity of an auto parts store.