What to do with a Mustang II ?

A nieghbor wants to trade me a 2003 Escort ZX2 for it that needs paint, but it's an auto, and the styling is pretty much as ugly as the Mustang II

nervousdog wrote:

Will wrote: Pretty sure that red CP Mustang is Rick Ruth's car.

It is. That's his wifes' number in that pic. I took that when they came up to run with us in Chicago. His SIL runs the local SCCA autocross group.

Thanks, guys. I remembered the car, just couldn't remember who it was.

I really don't understand all the hate for this thing Aeromoto's found, I thought finding something to do with a car like that was something we all had in common.

I really don't understand all the hate for this thing Aeromoto's found, I thought finding something to do with a car like that was something we all had in common.

Agreed. Certainly not the most desirable year of Mustang (gigantic under statement) but it's a low mileage one and appears to be in good shape. I would clean it up, drive it for a bit and sell it to some one who likes these. It's a shame to hack it up.

I agree. There are few enough of these left in original condition that they're worth saving. Of course, if it needs any rust repair - then CP.

Maybe it is because I am not a Mustang Guy... but I never found the looks of the II to be all that offensive. I wonder what it's reputation today would be if it had not been saddled with the name "Mustang II" and had been called something else?

In reply to mad_machine:

I reckon it may have become what the Camaro has done......

It was called something else, a Pinto.

The front suspension and steering are worth money to lots of people.

My first impulse was "burn to the ground"

mad_machine wrote: I wonder what it's reputation today would be if it had not been saddled with the name "Mustang II" and had been called something else?

I agree. We praise guys for buying high mileage Yugos around here, but give him a hard time for bringing this home? Come on...

Clean it up, rebuild the C4, swap on some nice wheels and tires and thumb your nose at everybody else.

I want more photos...

True... Maybe if it had been called the "Pinto GT" or something, it would be loathed less.

I never hated them, but I grew up with them and the first three Mustangs were just used cars with gas guzzling engines back then. Plus, I was a Mopar guy and didn't appreciate Mustangs until later.

I love it. To make it handle you could swap in a Mustang II front suspension and for power, a small block Ford. Oh wait! It has those already!

Yeah, I'd do a kind of "Boss 302" Mustang II. I don't mean with the graphics and stuff, just in purpose. I know the 302 in those doesn't make much power, but is there anything wrong with the actual engine? I mean, did they change anything, or could you build it just like any other 302? If not, you could certainly pop in a later 5.0 really easily.

I read about this one a few years ago and I really wanted one.

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/features/0604phr_1976_ford_mustang_ii/photo_02.html

Very cool car.

Shoot, now you got me looking again. Found this coupe:

Kind of along similar lines as the blue car, but a coupe.

My friend had oneback in the early 80's. it was stickered like the cobra with side pipes and all. he later found out it was a fake.

I have no love of at all for Ferd poducts, the only rustang that ever really caught my attention was the Bullit mustang and the early seventies mach ones. But I am developing a strange attraction to these cars. My vote is keep it and dosomething cool with it. Mustang II over ZX2 all day every day.

Wasn't there a cobra version of the mustang 2 at one point? Make a replica, or at least use the same suspension stuff from one.

Strizzo wrote: Wasn't there a cobra version of the mustang 2 at one point? Make a replica, or at least use the same suspension stuff from one.

I passed on a free Cobra II a few years ago - but after seeing that blue one in the pic above I am feeling pangs of regret. That looks very cool.

I say LS swap, leave the exterior alone, and embarrass the 'real' mustang guys on two levels.

I agree with the name thing...A vega doesn't have the greatest rep but if it were a Camaro II it would have been worse.

Of course, the Probe was almost the new Mustang. (Mustang III ?) :)

-James

Oh MAN, you have to keep it, at least for a little while.

Get it registered and insured and just start driving North, up Route 95, I'll do the same with my '85 GT 5.0 convertible. When we spot each other across the lanes, just pull over, stop the car, grab the keys and title, begin running for the median strip. I'll do the same.

When we meet in the middle, we can sign, swap keys, and run back to the other's car.

Done deal ! ! !

TeamEvil wrote: Oh MAN, you have to keep it, at least for a little while. Get it registered and insured and just start driving North, up Route 95, I'll do the same with my '85 GT 5.0 convertible. When we spot each other across the lanes, just pull over, stop the car, grab the keys and title, begin running for the median strip. I'll do the same. When we meet in the middle, we can sign, swap keys, and run back to the other's car. Done deal ! ! !

I love the fact that this is actually a feasible option for people around here.

TeamEvil wrote:

Oh MAN, you have to keep it, at least for a little while.

Get it registered and insured and just start driving North, up Route 95, I'll do the same with my '85 GT 5.0 convertible. When we spot each other across the lanes, just pull over, stop the car, grab the keys and title, begin running for the median strip. I'll do the same.

When we meet in the middle, we can sign, swap keys, and run back to the other's car.

Done deal ! ! !

Ha! How far north is north?

here's a twist... swap in a UZ with ITBs and hear it scream

So many posts and NOBODY suggests doing the Challenge with it? Wow.

Sure seems as if you can put together a pretty fun challenge car with it- study up on the front, try to change the rear to be 3 or 4 link with a simple panhard bar, tons of engine choices, etc. May even find out that a lot of the upgrade parts are shared with circle track cars, which means cheap parts new, practically free used.

I would almost do that just due to the "burn to the ground" posts. Have fun with that beast!

Replicate this little badass. The Monroe Handler.

If you push it off a cliff, pull the front end first.

That IFS is like gold to a hot rodder.