Pinto Based Mustang
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Milltown, NJ USA
Pinto Based Mustang
Anyone know an owner of one of the late '70 Mustangs built based on the old Pinto line? As I recall they were kind of a joke to most Mustang lovers. Were they a better car than they looked? Was the COBRA model worth it's name? There is definately next to none on the road.
The Pacifier
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,245
Likes: 7
From: Cloverdale, BC
From everyone I know that had one, they liked it. Nobody was envious though.
My cousin had an orange one, sold it to her sister's boyfriend's brother. He eventually sold it to someone else, but it was still driveable.
I had a co-worker who owned a "King Cobra" that looked like a weird cross between the Mustang II and the Pinto, with a rear spoiler. 302, 4 barrel I think. I kept bugging him to race me in my 5.0, but he'd never go for it.
My cousin had an orange one, sold it to her sister's boyfriend's brother. He eventually sold it to someone else, but it was still driveable.
I had a co-worker who owned a "King Cobra" that looked like a weird cross between the Mustang II and the Pinto, with a rear spoiler. 302, 4 barrel I think. I kept bugging him to race me in my 5.0, but he'd never go for it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 0
From 1974, Mustang and Pinto shared many parts, including 2.3l engine. Mustang's V6 engine (1974-1978) was build by European Ford. Cobra II (standard 2.8l V6, optional 5.0l V8) and King Cobra (standard 5.0l) had 5.0l under the hood, but it only produced 139 hp. Cobra II had huge racing stripes, while King Cobra had really cool body kit and Cobra's logo on the hood.
http://bradbarnett.net/mustangs/timeline/74-78/
http://bradbarnett.net/mustangs/timeline/74-78/
Last edited by Red Star; Nov 7, 2005 at 08:04 PM.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Originally Posted by bigrigfixer
From everyone I know that had one, they liked it. Nobody was envious though.
My cousin had an orange one, sold it to her sister's boyfriend's brother. He eventually sold it to someone else, but it was still driveable.
I had a co-worker who owned a "King Cobra" that looked like a weird cross between the Mustang II and the Pinto, with a rear spoiler. 302, 4 barrel I think. I kept bugging him to race me in my 5.0, but he'd never go for it.
My cousin had an orange one, sold it to her sister's boyfriend's brother. He eventually sold it to someone else, but it was still driveable.
I had a co-worker who owned a "King Cobra" that looked like a weird cross between the Mustang II and the Pinto, with a rear spoiler. 302, 4 barrel I think. I kept bugging him to race me in my 5.0, but he'd never go for it.
No 4 barrel.........the "II", as big a POS that it was, kept the Mustang name alive for bigger and better things.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,043
Likes: 4
If it was a POS, it was proabably due more to the pathetic early attempts at emmissions controls and increased fuel economy than anything else. The 1974 model was in the top 3 in all time Mustang sales (before the 05 came out). It had many innovations for its time. More sound deadening, better fit and finish than before, several safety innovations. It also had an innovative front suspension that street rodders are still after for their rides. Once again it was the right car at the right time. A smaller, more fuel efficient car right at the begining of the first gas crunch.
It was also the car that Lee Iacocca created on his return to Ford. You might remember Lee. He was after all, the father of the original Mustang. The II was his idea to return the Mustang to its roots after the 'GM' Mustangs of 71-73 wich were overseen by Buckie Knudsen from GM.
The only thing that doomed it to a reputation of mediocrity was the accident of the time period in which it was built. However, if you took a Mustang II and put a stroker windsor in it (say a 427) it would be one heck of a sleeper.
It was also the car that Lee Iacocca created on his return to Ford. You might remember Lee. He was after all, the father of the original Mustang. The II was his idea to return the Mustang to its roots after the 'GM' Mustangs of 71-73 wich were overseen by Buckie Knudsen from GM.
The only thing that doomed it to a reputation of mediocrity was the accident of the time period in which it was built. However, if you took a Mustang II and put a stroker windsor in it (say a 427) it would be one heck of a sleeper.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 76supercab2
The 1974 model was in the top 3 in all time Mustang sales (before the 05 came out).
Trending Topics
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Originally Posted by 76supercab2
If it was a POS, it was proabably due more to the pathetic early attempts at emmissions controls and increased fuel economy than anything else. The 1974 model was in the top 3 in all time Mustang sales (before the 05 came out). It had many innovations for its time. More sound deadening, better fit and finish than before, several safety innovations. It also had an innovative front suspension that street rodders are still after for their rides. Once again it was the right car at the right time. A smaller, more fuel efficient car right at the begining of the first gas crunch.
It was also the car that Lee Iacocca created on his return to Ford. You might remember Lee. He was after all, the father of the original Mustang. The II was his idea to return the Mustang to its roots after the 'GM' Mustangs of 71-73 wich were overseen by Buckie Knudsen from GM.
The only thing that doomed it to a reputation of mediocrity was the accident of the time period in which it was built. However, if you took a Mustang II and put a stroker windsor in it (say a 427) it would be one heck of a sleeper.
It was also the car that Lee Iacocca created on his return to Ford. You might remember Lee. He was after all, the father of the original Mustang. The II was his idea to return the Mustang to its roots after the 'GM' Mustangs of 71-73 wich were overseen by Buckie Knudsen from GM.
The only thing that doomed it to a reputation of mediocrity was the accident of the time period in which it was built. However, if you took a Mustang II and put a stroker windsor in it (say a 427) it would be one heck of a sleeper.
Right on!!! It was all us Ford boys had at the time........I do remeber a CAR & DRIVER shootout and the consensus was the "II" was a "sheep in wolf's clothing"!!!.............EVERYTHING was faster in the test!!!
The suspension may have been inovative for Ford........but a double control arm/coilover that cleared up a lot of under hood space was welcome (I'm going to retrofit that setup into my '70 psuedo BOSS)
I reluctantly liked it at the time.........but it was sure hard to defend when a Dodge truck could smoke your choice of muscle car....
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,379
Likes: 9
From: midwest
i sold my dads 75 4cylinder 4speed ghia with 60k mi this summer after driving the crap out of it for about 5 years. this was my dads first new car and only put about 40k mi on it and then sat in the garage for about 20 years until i started driving. it was a pos but for some reason i kind of like it...i have seen some butt ugly ones, but this one looked pretty good in white with red rockers and red vinyl top. i would have kept it if it wasnt the slowest thing on earth and got good gas milage-14mpg. maybe the constant flooring didnt help, but it was impossible to baby it. the guy who bought it loves the II's and was going to put a 5.8 in it. it got a lot of looks probably because it was an old rare great condition mustang. if it wasnt a mustang i think it would be the other way around
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,043
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by DOHCmarauder
Right on!!! It was all us Ford boys had at the time........I do remeber a CAR & DRIVER shootout and the consensus was the "II" was a "sheep in wolf's clothing"!!!.............EVERYTHING was faster in the test!!!
The suspension may have been inovative for Ford........but a double control arm/coilover that cleared up a lot of under hood space was welcome (I'm going to retrofit that setup into my '70 psuedo BOSS)
I reluctantly liked it at the time.........but it was sure hard to defend when a Dodge truck could smoke your choice of muscle car....
The suspension may have been inovative for Ford........but a double control arm/coilover that cleared up a lot of under hood space was welcome (I'm going to retrofit that setup into my '70 psuedo BOSS)
I reluctantly liked it at the time.........but it was sure hard to defend when a Dodge truck could smoke your choice of muscle car....
Also, I did see where someone swapped in the enigne and trans from a turbo T-bird and then hopped it up. It was a pretty impressive ride.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,746
Likes: 7
From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
76supercab2 hit the nail on the head. The timing of the Mustang II was incredible- it hit the showrooms just as the Arab oil embargo started, and Ford couldn't build enough of them (our next-door neighbor waited 6 months for hers- sound familiar?). That car may very well have saved Ford at the time, as little else of what they were offering was really selling. And what caught Iacocca's attention were the brisk sales of smaller, sporty imports like the Capri, Celica, Colt, etc... Say what you want about Lido and the Mustang II, but the man knew how to read a market, and that little car SOLD. It's very difficult to argue with success.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,043
Likes: 4
What are the odds that one guy could hit the market that well twice? Once in 64 with the original Mustang and again in 74 with the II. Then to be able to turn Chrysler around as well. The guy had a remarkable career.
Funny thing about the chrysler turn-around was that he marketed the same car as about 10 different models. And it worked.
Funny thing about the chrysler turn-around was that he marketed the same car as about 10 different models. And it worked.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
From: Saratoga USA
Back in 1976, the neighbor across the street bought his new (young) wife a Mustang II Ghia with the 302 2BBL. White with a blue vinyl top and blue interior. A really nice looking car. The Mustang II was the right car at the right time for Ford, and was nothing to be ashamed of. If Ford had kept making the '73 land yacht, there would be no Mustang today. It had become so bloated that sales were terrible, and with the gas crunch of late 1973, plus the emissions controls, well, forget it. By '73, the biggest engine was a smogged 351, all the mileage of a 460 with the power of a pre-smog 289.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BigBlueCat
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
11
Nov 29, 2014 08:20 AM
Dobies4life
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
17
Jan 9, 2013 03:58 PM