It became the 6th bestselling Mustang of all time and won Motor Trend car of the year. Designers and engineers worked feverishly in early 70sti reinvent the new generation of Mustang. The new Mustang II returned to a size closer to the 1965 model. The economical Mustang II became popular for consumers almost concurrently with their experience with gasoline rationing that was part of the 1973 oil crisis. The Mustang II’s attractive all-new styling was influenced by coachbuilder Ghia of Italy, which had been acquired by Ford in 1970. It carried through the long-hood, short-deck theme of the original, and – as Iacocca requested it – came as a notchback and hatch-equipped fastback. Mustangs lost their pillarless body style; all models now had fixed rear windows and a chrome-covered “B” pillar that resembled a hardtop but was a coupe. In Mustang advertisements, however, Ford promoted the notchback coupe as a “Hardtop”. Unsure about whether or not to group the Mustang II with sporty cars, Consumer Guide initially referred to the car as a “luxury subcompact”, while Ford brochures suggested that the luxury-trim Ghia model, with its formal roofline, stylish exterior, and plush interior, be thought of as resembling the popular personal luxury category of the time.
1974 was the first year of what would be called the Mustang II. The Ghia was offered with a hardtop, and the hatchback was offered with the Mach 1 for the more of a Mustang sport look. The engine called “LIMA” as a 140 cubic inch 4 cylinder with an overhead cam that had the lowest horsepower of any Mustang ever made at 88 HP. The Mach 1 for this year was not the Mach 1’s of the first generation by a long shot when it comes to the power. It had the better cosmetics inside and out than the base model but there no option for a bigger and better engine. The Rallye Pack added Traction-loc, wide oval tires, extra cooling, competition suspension, color keyed exterior control mirrors, adjustable shocks, styled steel wheels a clock and a leather wrapped steering wheel.
Year Total Build Percentage of Total Mustang II Generations Built
1974 385,993 34.85
Description Retail Price
2 door hardtop Ghia (Inline 4) 3,480
2 door hardtop Ghia (V6) 3,709
3 door 2+2 (Inline 4) 3,328
3 door 2+2 (V6) 3,557
3 door Mach 1 (V6) 3,674
4 forged aluminum wheels on a 3-goor 2+2 w/ accent group 103
4 forged aluminum wheels on a Mach 1 w/rallye package 71
4 styled steel wheels on a Ghia 0
4 styled steel wheels on a hardtop 44
air conditioner 390
AM/FM Radio (Mono) 124
AM/FM Radio – Stereo 124
AM/FM Radio – Stereo & tape player 346
anti-theft alarm 75
California emission configuration 19
Competition suspension 37
Console 53
Convenience group on Mach 1 & Rallye pack or Accent Grp 21
Convenience group with luxury interior 41
Cruise-o-matic transmission 212
Digital quartz clock 36
Engine Credit for 2.3 L in a Mach 1 – 229
Engine Upgrade 2.3L to a 2.8 L V-6 229
Ghia 103
Ghia w/ luxury group and Rallye pack 4
Glamour paint 41
Hardtop 147
Hardtop (Inline 4) 3,134
Hardtop (V6) 3,363
Heavy duty battery 14
Light group 44
Luggage compartment trim 28
Luxury Interior Group 100
Mach1 and luxury group 4
Maintenance group 44
Manually operated sunroof – on 2 door only 149
Models with 4 BR78x13 Radial tires CR70x13 wide oval B/WL 77
Models with 4 BR78x13 Radial tires CR70x13 wide oval B/WL 65
Models with 4 BR78x13 Radial tires CR70x13 wide oval WSW 77
Models with 4 BR78x13 Radial tires upgrade BR70x13 wide oval B/w 59
Models with 4 BR78x13 Radial tires upgrade to WSW 30
Pin stripes 14
Power front disc brakes 45
Power rack & pinion steering 107
Protection group on all non Mach1’s 47
Protection group on Mach 1 41
Radio 61
Rallye package – Only available with 2.8 L V-6 (3 door 2+2) 200
Rallye package – Only available with 2.8 L V-6 (All others) 244
Rallye package – Only available with 2.8 L V-6 (Mach 1) 150
Rear window defroster 59
seat back release 24
Tinted glass 39
Traction loc diffential 45
Velour cloth seats 62
Vinyl molding – side body 50
Vinyl roof 83
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