‘Mustang Countdown’ Video Sheds New Light on Mustang II
Yep, without the car that still to this day consistently conjures up references to the Pinto, there might not be a Mustang today, according to a new Ford video titled “Mustang II: The Unsung Hero.”
Introduced as both a coupe and hatchback for the 1974 model years, the Mustang II has for years been the brunt of jokes. But the video posted by Ford on YouTube in anticipation of the Mustang’s 50th anniversary, implies it was a spark in sales of the second generation Mustang that convinced the company to continue making the car after a few lackluster years preceding its launch.
When introduced, at 19 inches shorter and 500 pounds lighter than the 1973 model it replaced, the second generation Mustang was a radical departure from the design and power that had defined the first generation car. In fact, the Mustang II wasn’t even offered with a V8 engine in its first model year.
But it was more affordable. With the onset of the first big oil price spike and new emissions control and safety regulations, it was a lot more practical than other cars on the market, which made it appealing.
According to Ford, nearly 400,000 units of the car were sold in 1974: the highest sales number Mustang had seen since 1966.
“In any measure of success, in context of the seventies this car was a homerun,” notes Mustang enthusiast John Clor, in the video, “And still today, almost fifty years later, three of the five years this car was out still remain in three of the top ten best selling Mustangs of all time.”
Clor, author of the book “The Mustang Dynasty” says despite often being referred to as the “Pinto-Stang,” the second generation Mustang did not share any of the same sheet metal.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is that the Mustang II and the Pinto are as far divorced as just about any of the Ford vehicles,” said Clor. “Although, the original idea for the platform came from the Pinto they don’t share the same platform. You can’t mold any sheet metal off of a Pinto onto a Mustang II or vice versa.
http://youtu.be/Pxg90JdtPFQ