Is This the Coolest Mustang II Ever Built?
The Ford Mustang II doesn’t get a lot of respect. They were born during an oil crisis and when they debuted as 1974 models, they did so without a V-8 engine option. Still, their styling, size, and fuel economy made them a sales success. While their ‘70s engines and suspensions don’t do them any favors when compared to more modern Mustangs, the underlying design is worth celebrating.
Brett Behrens used a fastback from the final year of Mustang II production, 1978, to show what could be done with a lot of vision and even more talented fabrication. Now in its second iteration, this custom street machine is up for sale at Mecum’s Tulsa Auction set for June 8.
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The custom build, handled by A-Team Racing in Bend, Oregon, used a C6 Chevrolet Corvette suspension front and rear, a totally custom interior, a host of body modifications, and a custom chassis. A 12-inch stretch to the wheelbase is the most striking change. It made a massive difference to the Mustang II’s troubled proportions, righting one of the most egregious wrongs in the car’s original design. The rear wheel opening was enlarged and looks like it was shifted back a bit, but most of the change came by coaxing the front wheel opening forward. The increased wheelbase drastically shortened the front overhang and had a huge impact on the car’s balance, as the engine is well behind the front spindles.
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Despite plenty of custom bodywork, including new wheel openings and flares inspired by the fifth-gen Mustang, this ambitious custom still has the best bits of ‘70s style that the original Mustang II offered. The result is a purposeful stance that looks appropriate for a sporty car and it still works well 10 years after it was completed, not an easy task for a custom car this ambitious.
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When this car was first built, it was painted Kona Blue and powered by a 6.8-liter Ford V-10, the kind you’d find in a Super Duty truck. The iron-block engine made a statement and although we never got to hear it driven in anger, it had to make a unique sound as it produced just shy of 400 horsepower. This version of the car is a more iconic Mustang color, Grabber Blue. We think it suits it nicely and better highlights all of the custom bodywork. The other welcome change is the switch to Coyote V-8 power. Yeah, the V-10 was interesting, but the Coyote is shorter, lighter, and more powerful. That’s tough to argue against.
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We hope this car finds a new owner who will appreciate its interesting melding of Mustang styling trends and can inspire others to put some effort into rehabilitating some unloved classics, Mustang II or otherwise. It’s already got us thinking about how this sort of treatment could transform a Chevy Monza Spyder or even an AMC Gremlin. What other Malaise-era coupes would you consider?
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The Mustang II also looks good with a slight stretch between the front axle and door opening. A guy on the West coast was campaigning a Cobra II with a 4″ stretch and it was improved both in proportion and balance.
I had a 74 Mach 1
(mach what?? What a joke) it was a beautiful car, -but we all knew the Iacocca regime couldnt last forever.
Red With black lower panels and factory decals on each side stating (“Mach 1” in large lettering)
there was an “X” in the Vin to prove it (my insurance company pointed that out after dropping my policy)
Tiny 2800cc v6 with an automatic transmission. It revved up quick but I think the most I could get out of it was 80 mph.
I remember doing nice burnouts down the street in my 69 mustang. But this thing couldn’t spin the wheels in the rain.
It was a nice car, very agile around the city, great black vinyl seats, lots of mustang features inside, nice instruments and dash, just no muscle, very reliable, good gas mileage.
I’ve owned just about every mustang generation, loved my 69, 73 too big, 80, too small, got a convertible now, engine rumbling, top down on a warm Arizona night, can’t get any better than that…
You may not like everything about this version of a mustang but one has to admire the skill it took too build such a unique version of a mustang,