Cobra Clone: 1978 Ford Mustang II
After setting a sales record in 1966, demand for the Ford Mustang declined every year thereafter through 1973. That drop was attributed to a flood of competition arriving between 1967 and 1970, and the weight and size gain of the car, especially in 1971-73. Plus, the market was flooded by then. So, Ford reinvented the automobile as a subcompact in 1974, just in time for the OPEC oil embargo to cause buyers to flock to fuel-efficient vehicles. This 1978 Mustang is labeled as a Cobra II (a performance-oriented model), but it’s a tribute car. Located in South Bend, Indiana, this Tangerine replica of sorts is available here on eBay. A single bid of $8,000 has been cast.
The Mustang II delivered the kinds of sales numbers that Ford was probably hoping for. But when the car was conceived, I doubt anyone expected gasoline prices to double and then double again in the mid-1970s. The Pinto-based Mustang II had a 4-cylinder engine as standard equipment because that was all you needed for a car that was now 800 lbs. lighter. A V8 would be reintroduced by 1976, the same time as the Cobra II would come along. That would be the 302 cubic inch eight-cylinder that had been around since the late 1960s.
We’re not sure what may have been done to this Mustang to turn it into a Cobra II besides some lettering. The Tangerine paint is the original color (per the Marti Report), but the seller suspects it was repainted maybe 25 years ago. The 302 and automatic transmission may be original and could be had on a regular Mustang II. It sports Magnum 500 wheels and the lug pattern was changed to support them. Headers and a dual exhaust have been added.
The Ford has T-Tops and – while they look to be aftermarket to me – the Marti Report says the car was built this way. It’s a running and driving car, but the seller does not mention how well it performs these tasks at 90,000 miles or more. It was dormant for a time when the seller came along so some work may have been done (the radiator and battery, so sure). The car has an oil leak, but we don’t know if that’s in terms of drops or puddles.
While the seller planned to turn this Mustang into a restomod, another car caught his/her eye, so this machine must go. According to the seller, if the bidding were hold at the current amount, the seller would incur a $5,000 loss. There is some rust in one of the doors and the seller has a spare to send along with the Ford. These Mustang IIs don’t command the kind of prices the first-generation ones do, so will this car be able to hold any further investment that has to go into it?
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Comments
Though the real Cobra II’s, and the King Cobra models have been rising in price and popularity, recently. This clone will be lucky to hit 5 figures. It might be the camera angles, but that paint looks smoked. But that’s just my opinion.
Yes, its a fake,
The production numbers I have for my 78 King Cobra are 4,318 units, one year only.
Cobra 2 ‘s were produced from 76-78’ plenty of them were made
I think he overpaid by more than just $5k. Lots of buyer remorse in the ad. His loss can become your loss too–yipee!
Looks like 3k to me.
Well, this is a first. I’ve never given a thought to cloning one of these. What’s next Citation X-11s?
Age doesn’t make an ugly, slow POS a “classic.” These were ugly in the 70’s and they are ugly now. I’d give him a couple hundred bucks.
These were the ultimate hot girl car. Whenever you pulled along side one, anywhere you’d look over, expecting to find one behind the wheel. These and Rabbit convertibles, a friend used to refer to them as GGC’s, gorgeous girl cars.
Steve R
We can thank Farrah Fawcett for that,,,
You got that Right !
Plenty of Hot Chicks found their way into the passenger seat, the back seat, and the Hatchback, of my 78 King Cobra ! Back in the Day !
I have mixed feelings about this car, but I actually kind of like it.
To Big C’s point, King Cobras are being restored and the high-end cars are bringing big bucks ($30k for one recently).
Experts on the Mustang II would not really say they are “Pinto-based”, not in the way most car people use and understand the term.
That’s true, while it may seem a Pinto on steroids, I read, not much from the Pinto was used.
Well, I kept and still have a 1978 King Cobra from H.S. Thinking it was gonna be worth a lot, like all other Mustangs, but now I call them the 74-78 “Mis-fit” Mustangs that Nobody wants !
I also have a New1970 302 Boss Block, that was gonna get built and installed.. still don’t know what to do ? and I wanna retire soon. Any ideas on what to do would be appreciated.
I’m starting a home for unwanted Mustang’s. You could donate your unwanted King Cobra. It’ll have a good, safe, rest of it’s life.
Sell me the King Cobra cheap! Clear space in your garage for the next project!
I had a 78 tangerine 4 cyl, 4 spd I loved that car and wished I still had it!
Would have been very interesting in stock form, with the great colors and t-tops. Pity someone didn’t understand that and screwed it up with scoops and Cobra II decals.
Take 2, I’m a bit surprised the author made no mention of the Charlies Angels hack. It was the most popular show for young males, and sales clearly spiked for Mustang lls in ’77. Over 386,000 Mustang lls were sold, mostly to women, all wanting to be Jill Monroe( Farrah Fawcett) She was only on one season, but what a season! I had a friend, his then gf had a real Cobra ll, and was a fun car. I really liked these, much better than that dismal ’88, LX, but not as nice as my ’95. I remember, publications that sold cars, the Mustangs stopped at 1973. I say women buyers, because REAL men didn’t drive a Mustang ll. It was another bitter pill to swallow.
I Drove a Mustang 2….
Bring it On !!!💪💪🤜🤛🥴L.O.L
It was a much nicer looking car than those crappy Chevy Monza 2+2, at the time.
Think, before you start tapping on that keyboard. Hopefully, you didn’t say that to peoples faces, back in the day. You wouldn’t have been munching on solid food, as you drove your truck around.
Fugly feaubra
What a concept vehicle!
It’s a clone of the clone ford sold as the cobra 2.
Had the 2.8 cologne and tasteful copper/gold paint that paired well with the rust.
Looks good until you get to the engine bay,needs the engine pulled,rebuilt with some real hi-performance parts,needs another 75-100hp to make it as fast as it looks…..
Had a friend who had one that someone had taken an older 390, put a bunch of money in it and then stuffed it into that little car. Also a much better trans and a Ford 9″ shortened rear end. Talk about a crazy car to own. Really wasn’t the car for a 20 year old kid to drive but luckily he got responsible before he got into any serious trouble….or worse. I’ve always liked the Mustang II hatchback. It just needed more power. This would be a whole lot better with a 4 speed. Just my opinion.
Good to see she’s still around, I’m the one who rehabbed this orange beauty. This is not a clone it is a Cobra ll. It’s body plates and the title are CB. That said cobra was nothing more than appearance package on the ll’s.I bought this car from the man who originally bought it.When I got it he had repainted it and changed the rear end and front hub’s several years before and it had been sitting in his garage. It’s was a slow turd stock for sure. I swapped out the intake and put a 4bbl holly with headers and true duals. What a difference it was fun to drive and a head turner that got a lot of attention. I had a lot of fun on old 66 with it. I sold it to a old guy who had a ford collection and he wanted it back with the stock 2bbl. He would take it out a couple times a year.
SOLD for $8799.25.
Interesting bid number.
Yeah that’s different