houtex

My first car was this 1978 Mustang II V6. It was a four speed, had the 4 spoke wheels that looked kinda like those Magnums. Cloth tan interior. Hatchback.

It was Bright Orange. Or whatever they used for a name. It wasn't that Tangerine or Performance Orange, I mean >Bright< Orange. But not neon like....

What an utter piece of crap. It didn't have rust, had only the one dent in the passenger fender, and the turn signal was hanging by the electrical cord from the column. I had to learn how to stick it in every time I wanted to use it. And I used it, believe me. The front seats were covered in sheepskin. Stereo worked good though. Not the best, but decent.

But it was in the shop *every* 3 weeks. We paid 1700 for it, and by the time we got rid of it it had about $5000 in it. :bang: Couldn't seem to let it go. The old "Maybe it's fine now" thing.

Yet even with all the trips to the shop, I miss that stupid thing. I mean, it was ORANGE! Everybody liked the stupid thing.

If I ever earn enough money, or win it outright, I will find a nice II to fix up. Only this time, no German v6 for me. It'll be 78 through and through, except for the 95 5.0 powertrain.

And yes, it WILL be that Bright Orange.

Thought I'd say my story with the II. Loved it and still want one.

78CobraII

I drove a '76 hatchback with the 2.3L and 4 speed ALLLLL the way through college, and had pretty decent service. It wan't a performance car by any means, but I always felt if I could just get a few more hosepower out of it it would have been great. Usually if something went wrong, it was my fault.

I never had a 2.8L, but I've met folks that swore by them (not at them ). The basic architechure couldn't have been too bad as that engine was the basis for the 3.0L and 4.0L V6's used in the Explorer and Ranger until recently.

Through the years I replaced the engine and trans, certainly sooner than a car today, but probably about par for a '70's car.

I always wanted a 302 powered MII, and finally picked up a 1978 CBII to rebuild, got it apart and found a 1978 Ghia with a 2.3L, 4-speed, and the Sport Group and couldn't resist. So the CBII is in the basement, and the Ghia is getting ready to drive and show. I even picked up that 4bbl Offy intake and carb I always wanted but couldn't afford!

78CobraII

mhapner

me too....my first car was a '78 Mustang II notchback V-6 auto. Yellow w/ tan int. I had it 11 hours before some idiot ran a red light a nailed me in the front. I pulled out the dents, duct taped the headlight and drove it for 8 more months while we took the guy to court. Loved that car.
My father is driving a 93 GT Convert. (white w/ white) and my new car is going to be a 05-06 GT (or Shelby, Mach 1, etc.)..Silver (w/ stripe, if available) and red int.

burningman

hehe my first was a '77 Cobra 2

95 S-351 R-Code

My first new car was a 74 Mustang II Mach 1 ! I ordered it with the 2.8 V-6, 4-speed!It was bright blue. I never had a problem with the V-6 but the 4-speed had to be rebuilt 2 times. ( It was still under warranty) I was very hard on that car.It did very good burnouts and would catch 2nd gear! I traded it in on a V-8 Cobra II. It was an automatic car. I still like the II's!

StangII

You know ive heard people talk about problems with the IIs. Parts falling off all this crap . Ive had my II since mid 80s. Never had any probs like that. Fit and finish were fine and reliability was remarkable. To this day it has never failed to get me home. <excluding the explosion of the 8" 4.11 trac loc on a N2O pass..totally self inflicted> If you dont take care of cars all of them will fall apart. Ive never had the first issue on my II or any of the others ive had or been associated with.

Lalo

just found out today that my dad owned a 1978 cobra II t-top, guess he was a little emberassed, he only had it for 8 weeks and tried to put a new enigne in it, but i guess it didnt work out. he also owned a sweet red 1967 coupe.

Lalo

thinking of getting myself a cobra II also, seems like it would be a lot of fun to own one. thinking of a cobra II t-top or a king cobra. now that my 1992 nissan maxima's tranny is gone, i could use the money to repair the tranny to buy a cobra, and i could stop driving the marquis

63galaxie

I'm in the market for a Mustang, but i've seen thier prices skyrocket in the past few months...II's aren't that high though, i'm lookin for a stang around $1,000, VERY HARD TO FIND DEAL!!! lol don't we all wish to find that thousand dollar stang?

78Mach1

I picked my II up for $800 back in 1994, and Im still driving it! had to do a complete restoration though. I know one thing, I will never get rid of my Mustang II!

future9er24

dude, ur car rocks. perfect colors hehehe

woodside colaz

just thinking, it'd look real shapr with a ductail spoiler from a cobra II or King cobra....

69gmachine

I bought a brand new '79 notchback with the 2.3 when I was only 18, making good money in construction. It couldn't get out of it's own way going downhill! I had it just over a year and traded it in on a '78 hatchback w/the 2.6 V6. Silver exterior, red interior. I loved that car! It threw a couple of rods out of the bottom of the oil pan one day on the freeway, so I began to hot rod it. I put in a warmed over 302 with a 4 speed top loader and a Lakewood scattershield! It took some major remodeling with a sledge to the tunnel by E.T. Automotive in Garland Tx, but they made it fit I put a 9" rear out of a '70 'stang, Koni shocks and had the front rotors re-drilled for 5 lugs to which I bolted 14x7" ET wheels. I don't recall what size tire I used, but I do remember that I cut them on occasion as they rubbed the wheel well when I hit a bump. There was virtually no aftermarket for Ford (especially the MII) in those days, and it's front suspension was just begining to show up in hot rods. On top it had a Weiand Xcelerator intake, a Holley 600 4bbl, a High Energy 268 cam and Hooker pinto conversion headers. I never took it to the strip, but it was an absolute blast to drive

I didn't get to keep it very long as I desperately needed money to pay the IRS soon after completion . I found it years later in the Dallas Impound Lot, the engine bay burned beyond recognition. Someone added nitrous, and didn't do it very well :bang:

If I ever get the chance to do a MII again, I will install a 4.0 V6, maybe one with the overhead cam. I think it will have plenty of power for the little car. I've also thought about grafting early mustang inner and outer wheelhouses in the rear to allow at least a 15" wheel. Just dreaming out loud...

Navalbuff

Like my signature says, I had a 1974 MII. Bright blue, until I ran thru a barbed wire fence in Scotland and it was thereafter Bright British Blue, or some such shade. It was a 4 cyl that I ordered and got in 6 wks for $3,500. Great little car but no guts, which saved my butt a few times. Scotland was a good home for it 'cuz it could blow the doors off mini's and such (as long as I kept it between the ditches ) . I kept it until I got a recall notice from Ford, something about the tappets knockin' (which they were) and they would fix if it had less than 40k miles....Looked at the odometer and it had 42K. Got rid of it about 2 wks later...Wanted another 'Stang but didn't get one until Feb 01, when after I rolled my Ranger, I was on the market again. Found a nice 98 Blk GT w/5 spd and only 37K miles that followed me home. Parks for 4 months a year...

Ron