In 1975 Ford made a lot changes with the oil crisis still there but starting to fade. The biggest and most important change is the V8 they added as an option. It was a 302 5.0 liter, (technically) 4.9 liter but close enough in the decimal to round up to 5.0 which became famous with 3rd generation in which people use the term 5.0 instead of saying Mustang or 302 to identify their car or one of the Mustang 3rd gens. The engine bay was re-engineered to accept the 302. They also revised the hood and header panel. The engine was limited to the two-barrel carburetor and only netted 140 horsepower. Testing by Road & Track recorded zero to 60 mph in 10.5 seconds with a top speed of 106 mph. The V6 could be upgraded which produced 106 horsepower.
Other than the optional V8 engine, the car underwent minor changes in 1975. The Ghia received opera windows and a padded vinyl half-top, as well as a plush Silver Luxury Group option. Ford sales literature continued to emphasize the car’s potential similarity to the era’s personal luxury models, with the cover of its main dealership brochure calling the Mustang II Ford’s “small, sporty personal car.” In mid-year, a 2.3 L “MPG” model was added, featuring a catalytic converter and a 3.18:1 rear-axle ratio (standard was 3.40:1) to claim EPA-version economy estimates of 23 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. To underscore fuel efficiency, all base 2.3 L Mustang IIs were called MPG after 1975.
Changes to the interior included short bucket seats with headrests, wood-grain trim on all models and, introduced later in the production year, windshield wiper controls on the turn signal lever rather than the dash. New regulations required all 1975 Mustangs to meet unleaded fuel requirements and add a catalytic converter.
This year was not as successful as sales fell off with total production down to 188,575. The sales made it the 9th best-selling Mustang of all time, with 199,199 sold.
The base hatchback line saw production go down to 30,038 for the 1975 model. This model included sportier, styled steel wheels and, as had become standard on the fastback and hatch back models, a fold down rear seat for additional cargo space. The hatchback had a base price of $3,818 for 1975.
Coupe adding almost $400 to its base price tag, at $3,529, the Mustang coupe production was down by nearly 100,000 units since 1974, totaling 85,155
Mach I Ford tried to market the Mach I to admirers of past Mustangs, while keeping in line with the economical concerns of the times. “Look at Mach I’s racy lines and you might never guess its budget-stretching ways,” was how they put it in the manual. The only model to come standard with the V6 motor, the Mach I featured an exclusive trim option featuring a black painted strip along the lower part of the car. As the aforementioned only model with a base price over $4,000, the Mach I sold for $4,188 and had a production run of 21,062.
Engine Specifications
Type Size Carb Horse Power
I4 2.3 L Fuel Injection 85 hp @ 5000 rpm
I6 2.8 L Fuel Injection 97 hp @ 4400 rpm
V8 302ci 1x2bbl 139 hp @ 4000 rpm
Performance Statistics
0 to 60 mph Quarter Mile Engine Source
10.5 sec 17.9 sec @ 77.0 mph 302ci/139hp
Year — Total ——-Growth % ——-% of Total Generation
1978 —192,410—- 25.62 ———–17.37
1977 —153,173 —-18.34 ———–13.83
1976 —187,567___ -0.53———— 16.93
1975 —188,575___ -51.15 ———–17.02
1974 —385,99———————–334.85