Over the last few years, the most unloved Mustang has become an unequivocal favorite of mine. Maybe it’s because I like the underdog, or because this Mustang had a reputation for being a decent handling car out of the box, as I like cars that can turn. This 1978 Mustang II here on craigslist is loaded up with all the right options, so thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for spotting it.
Let’s see: we’ve got the 302 V8 paired to a manual transmission. The seller has added a limited-slip differential, custom headers and a four-barrel carb. An electronic fuel pump and ignition add a little bit of reliability, and the seller had added some tasteful aftermarket wheels. Even better, he’s a longtime owner, having driven this car for close to the last decade. It’s rare anymore to find project cars for sale that have simply been loved and enjoyed, rather than either being flipped or dragged out of a lagoon with a unrealistic price.
The insides have been improved as well, with a custom cherry dash inlay and the desirable three-spoke steering wheel. Finding a Mustang II with a stick is always a plus, as this setup offers a fairly entertaining drive with the V8 and sportier handling of these least-loved Ponies. For $5,900, this seems like a smart buy if you want a turnkey car you can simply drive and enjoy. In its current condition, it might even appreciate slightly as these become harder to find in this configuration.
The seller says the Mustang could use new tires and has a few specs of rust in the wheel wells, but nothing serious. My eyes could be deceiving me, but it would appear the car has been lowered slightly as well; of course, having not seen one of these II’s on the street in so long, this could also be the stock ride height (but you can bet I’d lower it just a bit more if it were mine). I’m already talking myself into owning one of these if it looked exactly like this one – but I’d love to find a Cobra with the same subtle modifications.
This Mustang looks much nicer to my eye than the blue one posted yesterday
Actually, with the engine mods and in this condition, this could be a nice little sleeper.
If I were looking for one….This would be a nice one to have.
One of the more tastefully done up M2’s I have seen.
Ok, before folks start going nuts over this ( and never actually DROVE a Mustang ll with a V8, much less a hopped up one), I can say, from experience, be a lot happier with the blue one. This is an awesome little car, but the V8 is too much. I had a friend with a V8 Cobra ll, and while it was a fun car, it suffered many of the problems any V8 car like this presented. ( Monza, etc) Too heavy in front=light in the back, sluggish handling, and so on. I’m sorry, folks that don’t like the Mustang ll, never saw these. This has all the zing of the original V8 Mustang, just not in the right package. Very cool car, and a steal.
You can beef up the front suspension. To handle a v8. I had a ’68 Tempest pulled the 350 and put a 400 out of a goat. All of the interior too. Put heavy springs coiled shocks and aftermarket A Frames. Also tighter steering lingage, basically changed out everything to do with handling. I kept the manual steering
Not lowered I think weight of engine.
Wife’s 78 Cobra with a 302 never sat like that, I still think it’s the rear that’s a little high.
I wonder what the plaque on the glove box door reads?
I had a 1974 Mustang II with a V-6 with a manual trans. Dark red with the silver ” Ghia” interior. Fun car to drive. Howard A is correct too much engine (weight) over the front wheels takes some of the fun out of it, but not all of it. Did Ford ever make an aluminum black V-8 ?
In 1974 we ordered a new Mustang II for Mom, this time w a manual trans at age 61 !! She went around corners in 3rd gear sometimes but it was a nice throwback for her at the time. Later traded it for a new 77 Pontiac Sunbird coupe.
Shoulda kept the mustang. Ghia was plush inside w Lincoln carpet (they said).
My sister had a 78 Cobra II. Fun car to drive, once you got the understeer figured out.
I like this one much better than the Ghia model earlier. IMHO lowered no but the rear looks to be raised slightly. I think $5900 is a bargain as people are starting to appreciate them more and more. Wife’s 78 Cobra was a 302/auto and yes frontend heavy it was but I could do donuts at the end of our street all day if the cops would let me.
Very cool hot rod. My crazy buddy had a white and red one like this and it would lite up the tires at will
My first car was a ’75 hatchback V6 with the 4 speed manual, same color as this one. I thought it was pretty cool!
Mustang II, boredom now a 1!
The rear height of this one has been “enhanced”. Stock ride height from the factory was level regardless of package or engine option on the Mustang II’s as well as the Pinto’s. I’ll take both this one and the recently featured Ghia (minus the deck lid luggage rack). A 331 Stroker with 90’s GT40 heads would be in quick order.
The car that turned a lot of us off on the Mustang. 4,6 or a 302 the things were rattletraps, terrible handling & the 302 was nothing more than Ford trying to save face at the very least they could of gave it a different name😜😜
If I could get the wife to buy it I could still drive it and say it’s not mine.😀
I find it hard to swallow that some would duck down behind the wheel of a vehicle that they would actually like to drive as to not be seen by others while driving it. Makes no sense to Me. If you enjoy something, it should make absolutely no difference what other folks think about it. You choose the vehicle as well as drive the vehicle….the vehicle does not choose you, nor does the vehicle drive you. :)
I can appreciate a mustang in any form and have waited a long time for the Mustang II to get love. I have owned a few, none with the 302. I have driven my share though. Here are a few tips for someone interested in building a hotrod II. The 8.8 axle from a fox body fits. You need to weld in spring perches unless you go coil overs or a 4link. Later axles have rear discs. There are ton’s of front suspension pieces out there thanks to the Hot Rod industry. Drop spindles as well. 11″ Granada rotors fit and there are several caliper options. This will give you 5bolt hubs at all corners. This will then allow you to use 17×10″ rear wheels with 275/40/17 tires and 17×9″ fronts with 255/45/17 tires. They fit in the stock wheel wells. I would roll the rear lip a bit. With a panhard rod or better with a watts linkage and good shocks the rear would be planted. I used custom single leaf rear springs on mine. Coil overs are available for the front suspension as are wide lower A arms. The II has a small trans tunnel but a T5 will fit along with an aluminum drive shaft. I used a short box ranger one. The ugly bumpers are heavy but fiberglass tuck skins are available. I would weld in a tubular beam behind for crash protection. Flaming river makes custom quick racks too. The front sump oil pan limits engine choices a bit unless you are creative with a welder but the cars my brother and I built were quick enough. One was a 2.8 V6 with around 200 HP and the other was a 240 HP 2.3 mini stock engine that was a bit much for the street but wow! With aluminum heads and rad the front end can be lightened considerably. Point is, check out Summit, scan the web. Build your version of an underdog mustang and enjoy. Btw. The hard part for my brother and I was keeping them. They were both sold within months of finishing them.Oh Ya, I do like what was done to this Mustang and think the price is fair.
Thank you, Mercuryman, for the most rational and informed opinion on the Mustang II yet to be posted here. No one has to love them, but at least you seem to know what the heck you’re talking about. Thanks again.
I am trying to inspire people to build and restore older cars. If I can offer insight through experience I will. This hobby is its own greatest strength and biggest enemy. Which one is up to all of us. What will happen when they are all gone? If you read this site you are not eagerly awaiting self driving cars or the latest hybrid office on wheels. Build something, share the experience with someone younger who only knows the world as it is now. If you need inspiration, watch Bad Obsession Motorsport’s Project Binky on YouTube. Seriously, watch it.
These weigh less than a mustang and with some negative camber and a larger rear ARB they handle well with the 302, of course alloy intake manifold and heads helps also Ford has 5 speeds that fit also!
Walk up to a Mustang II owner at a car show and say, “nice car,” and see what happens. Quite possibly, you’ll get something along the lines of, “what’s that supposed to mean?” These poor guys have been abused in the Mustang hobby for decades; I saw it first-hand when I was a member of the local Mustang club. It’s unfortunate, really. Anybody who lovingly restores, drives, and/or preserves a car that they find appealing is worthy of acknowedgement and respect. I don’t have to like something to appreciate the effort that goes into it.
Well said! I feel the same way. I have found that you meet the most interesting people with unloved cars. They are passionate and knowledgeable about their chosen Marque or model. I find that fellow enthusiasts are the best part of the hobby. Next to driving of course……
Just because I personally don’t have a appreciation for the M2 it doesn’t give me the right to piss in there Weaties over it. I do appreciate the work that go’s into anything it’s a choice they’ve made. To me these cars are like the HD Sportster, people get ragged on about being a woman’s MC. Check the history and see how many time they saved HD butt I wouldn’t have my soft tail if it wasn’t for the Sporty. If anyone can’t marvel at the labor of love & craftsmanship it takes to do this. Buy a Hugo and quit calling yourself a car guy.
best looking Mustang II I have ever seen, I would actually love to take this one for a ride, but am ashamed to admit it.
Wheels are bigger than stock ,and it has bin changed to 5 lugs ,looks nice
Rather have one of these than the next gen foxbody.
I bought this car earlier this year in April. It now resides in sunny Florida on the space coast. I am going to upgrade the steering from power to manual for more Road feel. And I might add a c. It gets pretty hot down here. By the way the plaque on the dash was from a car show at the GM Tech Center up in Warren Michigan.
Correction Dash plaque was from a car show at the GM Proving Grounds.