1974 Ford Mustang

  1974 Ford Mustang

Mustang II

Emissions regulations made the high-compression, high-horsepower V8s unsustainable, and baby boomers were increasingly turning to smaller imported cars.  Making the Mustang a smaller, more fuel-efficient car seemed like a good idea.  The smaller Pinto-based Mustang II was produced with a 2.3L four cylinder and a 2.8L 105 HP V6.  This model was low on power, about 122 to 140 HP depending on the year and whether it was 49 state or a CA car.  1974 is the only year a V8 was not available in a Mustang and the first year there was no convertible available.  The Mustang II was smaller, more fuel efficient and handled better than the previous car.  It also sold ridiculously well.

Tossing aside the Falcon components that had underpinned the Mustang from Day One, Ford plopped the 1974 Mustang II (Ford put the "II" there to indicate the extent of the car's change from the oversize '73) atop the basic structure and suspension of its subcompact Pinto. The Pinto was smaller than the Falcon, but otherwise similar. It was still a unibody design, the front suspension was still a double wishbone design and the rear suspension still bolted its solid rear axle to a pair of leaf springs. If there were any steps forward in technology with the Pinto chassis, it was that it had a rack-and-pinion steering gear rather than the Falcon's recirculating ball, and front disc brakes were standard.

The Mustang II rode on a miniscule 96.2-inch wheelbase and stretched out just 175 inches long total. That's 12.8 inches less in wheelbase and 12.5 inches less in overall length than the '73 Mustang. That's also 11.8 inches less in wheelbase and 6.6 inches less in overall length than the original Mustang. And it weighed in about 400 pounds lighter than the '73 version as well.

Despite the smaller size, the Mustang II actually revived traditional Mustang styling cues like the scalloped sides while retaining others like the three-piece taillights and the running horse in the grille. Available as either a notchback coupe or a fastback hatchback, the Mustang II's pricing ranged from $3,134 for a base coupe to $3,674 for a Mach 1 hatchback.

Lighter weight with the same power means more speed. But the Mustang II's reduced mass came along with less power. In fact, the '74 Mustang II was the first Mustang ever to be offered with a four-cylinder engine and without a V8.

The base engine was a single-overhead cam four displacing 2.3 liters (that's 140 cubic inches, and from here on out Ford expressed all Mustang engine sizes metrically) and rated at a truly pathetic 88 horsepower. The only optional engine was the German-built "Cologne" 2.8-liter OHV V6 making an underwhelming 105 horsepower. In stock form, the first Mustang II was underpowered, period. Two transmissions were available, a standard four-speed manual or a three-speed automatic.

In addition to a base notchback and base fastback, a "Ghia" notchback and Mach 1 fastback were offered during '74. Ordering the Mach 1 mandated inclusion of the V6 in the package. The Ghia included a vinyl top and fancy interior trim.

Coming to the market while memories of the OPEC fuel embargo of 1973 were still fresh in buyers' minds, the more economical Mustang II sold a stunning 385,993 units during its inaugural year. As much as the Mustang II is despised today, Ford appreciated its success back then.

 

PRODUCTION NUMBERS Hardtop - 177,671 Hatchback - 74,799 Hardtop Ghia - 89,477 Hatchback Mach 1 - 44,046	VIN NUMBERS  -  4F02C100001 4 - Last digit of model year F - Assembly Plant (F=Dearborn, R=San Jose) 02 - Plate code (02=Hardtop, 03=Hatchback, 04=Hardtop Ghia, 05=Hatchback Mach 1) 100001 - Consecutive unit number
BASE PRICES Hardtop - $3,134 Hatchback - $3,328 Hardtop Ghia - $3,480 Hatchback Mach 1 - $3,674	ENGINES/ENGINE CODES Y - 140ci 2V 4-cyl. with 88hp Z - 171ci 2V V-6 with 105hp
FACTORY OPTIONS - Anti-theft Alarm System - Front and Rear Bumper Guards - Deluxe Seatbelts - Clock - Rear window defroster - Tinted glass - Luxury Interior Group - Remote Control mirrors - Pin Stripes - AM Radio - Power front disc brakes - AM/FM Radio - AM/FM Radio with tape player - Vinyl Roof - Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel *Not all options are included*	INTERIOR COLORS/INTERIOR TRIM CODE Black - A Blue - B Red - D Avocado - G Tan/White - M Red/White - N Silver - P Blue/White - Q Tan - U
EXTERIOR COLORS/COLOR CODE Medium Metallic Bright Blue - 3N Medium Lime Yellow - 4W Medtallic Bright Green Gold - 4B Light Blue - 3B Dark Red - 2M Bright Red - 2B Metallic Silver - 1G Pearl White - 9C Medium Metallic Copper - 5M Green Glow - 4T Ginger Glow - 5J Tan Glow - 5U Metallic Saddle Bronze - 5T Medium Yellow Gold - 6C