The Public Response
The 1974 Mustang II wasn’t a power horse, but it was nimble and got good gas mileage. As such, consumers of the day loved the car. For a little more than $3,000, they could purchase a base model coupe. Throw in all the bells and whistles, and the Mustang II went for a bit more than $4,000. In spite of its lack of power beneath the hood, the Mustang II was a huge success. In fact, Ford sold 385,993 of the cars in 1974. Those were good numbers, considering the company had only sold 134,867 Mustangs in 1973. The car was loved. So much, in fact, that it was voted Motor Trend Magazine’s “Car of the Year” in 1974. Talk about a prestigious honor. According to the magazine, the car was awarded the title because of its superior fuel economy and overall value. As you can imagine, Lee Iacocca was once again happy to have his name associated with a winning vehicle.Looking back, many people today reflect on the 1974 Mustang as an under performer. Its important to remember, the Mustang II was created with a specific purpose. As the sales figures proved, the car was a success in its day. In the grand scheme of things, it goes to show how versatile the Ford Mustang has been over the years. Unlike many cars on the market, the Mustang has been able to weather the storm by adapting to the needs of the day.
Engine Offerings
- Engine Code Y: 140 cubic inch 2.3L 2V 4-cylinder engine @ 88hp
- Engine Code Z: 171 cubic inch 2.8L 2V V-6 engine @ 105hp
Vehicle Identification Number Decoder
Example VIN #4F05Z100001
4=Last digit of Model Year (1974)
F=Assembly Plant (F-Dearborn, R-San Jose)
05=Body Code Mach I (02-coupe, 03-matchback, 04-Ghia)
Z=Engine Code
100001=Consecutive unit number
Exterior Colors: Bright Green Gold Metallic, Bright Red, Dark Red, Ginger Glow, Green Glow, Light Blue, Medium Bright, Blue Metallic, Medium Copper Metallic, Medium Lime Yellow, Medium Yellow Gold, Pearl White, Saddle Bronze Metallic, Silver Metallic, Tan Glow
