1978 Ford Mustang II

The Ford Mustang II (1974-1978) is the Pinto-based second generation of the Mustang, a deliberate downsizing onto a 96.2 in wheelbase that arrived alongside the 1973 oil crisis. The 1974 Mustang II offered no V8, only the 2.3L (140 cu in) Lima SOHC inline-four, the first metric-dimensioned engine built in the United States, and the 2.8L (171 cu in) Cologne V6. It was the first Mustang with rack-and-pinion steering and was named Motor Trend Car of the Year for 1974. The 302 cu in (5.0L) Windsor V8 returned as a two-barrel, catalytic-converter option for 1975 with modest net horsepower. Mustang II buyers chose between a two-door notchback coupe and a three-door hatchback (2+2), with trims and packages including the Ghia luxury model, the Mach 1 sport variant, the 1976 Cobra II and the 1978 King Cobra. Across five model years the Mustang II sold roughly 1.1 million units, with its strongest demand in the 1974 launch year. 1978 was the final year before the Fox-body third generation arrived for 1979.