Profile Of The 1974 Ford Mustang II

Profile Of The 1974 Ford Mustang II

The year 1974 marked the dawn of a new era for the Ford Mustang. The OPEC oil embargo, coupled with an uncertain economy, changed the way consumers viewed driving. As such, Ford was forced to return to the drawing board. Its goal: create a new Mustang that would be both fuel efficient and capable of passing newly introduced emissions standards. Lee Iacocca, President of Ford Motor Company, latched on to the project, coined the 鈥淢ustang II鈥? From a design perspective, the 1974 Mustang II was based on the Ford Pinto platform. In fact, it was often referred to as the 鈥淧intostang鈥?during its development. In all, the car featured characteristics of European auto design. It was compact, refined, and cutting edge for the time. For example, in comparison to the 1973 model, the Mustang II was 19 inches shorter and 490 pounds lighter. As for cutting-edge technology, it featured larger taillights for safety, steel-belted radial tires, and rack-and-pinion steering. The biggest change in 1974 is what Ford put under the hood.

Only two Mustang engines were offered. They consisted of a 2.3L 4-cylinder engine (88hp) and a 2.8L V-6 engine (105 hp). The V-8 engine was a thing of the past. As such, the 1974 Mustang II was significantly underpowered when compared to previous model years. In fact, its maximum speed was only 99 mph with an estimated 0-60 mph time of 13.8 seconds. Of note, the Mustang II鈥檚 front pony emblem was modified to symbolize more of a trot than a gallop. This makes sense, given the lack of power under the hood. That鈥檚 not to say the lineup wasn鈥檛 cutting edge. In fact, the 2.3L 4-cylinder engine was the first metric American engine ever to be offered. It was also the first 4-cylinder engine to be featured in a Mustang. The 1974 model year also featured the first ever V-6 engine in a Mustang, putting to rest the inline 6 of previous years.

In all, the Mustang II came with two transmission offerings; four-speed manual or three-speed automatic. The car was available as either a coupe or a hatchback. Of those styles, four models were available, consisting of the standard coupe, Ghia coupe, standard hatchback, and Mach I hatchback. The Ghia coupe, named after the Italian design studio, was a luxury version of the Mustang II. The Mach 1 was the performance model. It featured a standard 2.8L V-6 engine as well as Mach I side markings, dual tailpipes, and a Tu-Tone paint job with black paint on the lower body and rear taillight panel. Other features of the Mustang II included a one-piece front featuring a front fascia and bumper that were molded together. It also featured side scallops similar to those seen on the Mustangs of the 1960s. New pull-up door handles were also standard on the Mustang II. Another characteristic of the car was turn signals mounted on the grille.

To the untrained eye, they appeared to be fog lamps. For those buyers seeking flair, a vinyl-covered roof was available as an added option. The 1974 Mustang II wasn鈥檛 a power horse, but it was nimble and got good gas mileage. As such, consumers of the day loved the car. 3,000, they could purchase a base model coupe. 4,000. In spite of its lack of power beneath the hood, the Mustang II was a huge success. In fact, Ford sold 385,993 of the cars in 1974. Those were good numbers, considering the company had only sold 134,867 Mustangs in 1973. The car was loved. So much, in fact, that it was voted Motor Trend Magazine鈥檚 鈥淐ar of the Year鈥?in 1974. Talk about a prestigious honor. According to the magazine, the car was awarded the title because of its superior fuel economy and overall value. As you can imagine, Lee Iacocca was once again happy to have his name associated with a winning vehicle. Looking back, many people today reflect on the 1974 Mustang as an under performer. Its important to remember, the Mustang II was created with a specific purpose. As the sales figures proved, the car was a success in its day. In the grand scheme of things, it goes to show how versatile the Ford Mustang has been over the years. Unlike many cars on the market, the Mustang has been able to weather the storm by adapting to the needs of the day.