Rolling Project: 1974 Ford Mustang Mach 1
After sales continued to decline year after year, Ford redesigned the Mustang in 1974. Now dubbed Mustang II, the car was 500 lbs. lighter and 19 inches shorter than the 1973 model, which had become big and bloated over time. The Mach 1 continued as one of the performance models, relying on a V6 engine because big V8s were no longer needed or in fashion (remember the OPEC oil crisis of 1973-74?). This 1974 edition was purchased by the seller to use as a parts car, but it may be too nice for that, so it’s up for resale. Located in North Branch, Minnesota, this project Mustang is available here on eBay where the current bid is $800.
Timing for the new, smaller Mustang couldn’t have been better timed. It came out just as fuel prices were on the rise, and buyers responded enthusiastically. Sales more than doubled in 1974 to 385,000 units of which 44,000 were the Mach 1 – sold only as a 3-door hatchback. The seller’s listing is slightly confusing as the model year is listed as both a 1974 and a 1978, but the VIN supplied is that of a ’74 ‘Stang. The seller wanted to take the car apart for another project but has decided to look for a rougher candidate.
This Mach 1’s V6 engine is long gone and the automatic transmission is out of the vehicle but is still hanging around. The body is somewhat rough, and the burgundy paint has run its course, but the interior has survived for the most part (as best we can tell) although we’re told it needs a few things. Some of the trim pieces have been removed but were kept, too. And the glass is intact and quite good. The dashpad was replaced, but the job was not professionally done.
The front inner fenders are rusty as liners were not used in 1974 but were added in 1975. We’re told the roof has some surface rust because something wet was laid there and stayed for a good while. You’ll have to source another engine, so perhaps this is an opportunity to go with a small V8 like a 302. The air conditioning and other hardware have survived, and a bunch of brackets will be included. The seller is upfront in saying he/she is just trying to recover the money already tied up in the car, hence no reserve.
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Comments
What no comments? This generation Mustang really has bad press. The more I look the more I like these. I saw one at a car show that a guy built for his wife with a 5.0 and it was sweet, but I wonder what this would be like with a turbo charged 2.3 four and a five speed. Probably would be a hoot to drive and that button upholstery looks plush.
The car would handle better with the turbo 4 than the 302.
Mustang II’s are the brunt of lots of jokes, and frankly they were disappointing as Mustang’s. But if you consider Mustang II as the first “Premium” small car, it starts to look better. In ‘74 small cars were mostly cheap, plain econoboxes built to be cheap to buy and run, but in no way plush or well equipped and trimmed. Mustang II changed that, a small car that had a bit more style, a nicer interior, upmarket engine options including V6 and V8 and a generally more comfortable and rich appearance than a Vega, Pinto, Gremlin, etc. Modern day premium subcompact’s like the Mini, BMW 2 series, Audi A3 etc. are the current generation of small but nice. The idea worked so well, Ford duplicated it with the larger Granada a year or so later. GM of course did as well with the Monza.
Good observation wjtinfwb. Your comments are in line with Iacocca’s “little jewel” label during the development of the car.
We had quite a few of these at the bodyshop/car dealership I worked in during and after highschool,,,,the King Cobras we had bought to resell from local dealers when gas hit the magical dollar a gallon because people were dumping them because of gas prices.Not really a bad car other than the anemic wheezer-of a 302 I actually thought they looked pretty cool and I honestly don’t understand why guys didn’t yank the motors and treat it to a good old fashioned rebuild to wake em up being that Pennsylvania didn’t have emissions testing in place yet
I don’t think this car is all that bad. The seller seems forthright about its rust, which doesn’t sound terrible. Decent II’s are hard to find, I’m glad this one might be a candidate for restoration as opposed to being a parts car. I can visualize it “finished”, it could be a sharp little car.
Yes I agree with fox owner these cars didn’t get much love. Well back in the 70,s guys were putting V8,s in Vegas. There was even a place called Motion that you could buy a V8 vega from I believe. Why nobody put high po V8,s in the Mustang 11 I don’t understand. They were small and light. If I was a younger man I would scoop this thing up and build a high po 289 V8 mate it to a good Ford 3 speed swap in a 9 inch Ford rear strip the interior weld in a roll cage well you get the picture. It would be a great street strip car. Then I would drive it and have some fun with it. GLWTS
Sold on 11/3/2024 for a high bid if $830.
Steve R