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1974 Small Car Lineup - Mustang
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The name Mustang, which was attached to a once small car introduced by Ford in 1965, is in its so-called second edition with the Mustang II, after the original two-seater grew into a pretty big car over the years of its model changes. What was once the original Mustang with a 108-inch wheelbase is now being built on a 96.2-inch dimension, nearly a foot shorter here and in its overall length, about five-inches less. This might have been even a smaller length at 175 inches were it not for the new energy absorbing bumpers that add a bit front and rear.
A completely new car, the II is offered as a compact sporty machine in five models, two in the 2-door style, and three in the 3-door configuration. The two-door design is a rather conventional rear roof line resembling the original Mustang, while the three-door models, featuring that extra door at the rear, have a fully swept back or fastback styling. Two door models are classified as the Hardtop and the Grande, while three-door designations are the Two-passenger, the 2+2, and the Mach 1. With the exception of emblems, front end styling on all models is nearly identical, featuring an egg-crate grill with wide set headlights in recessed square openings.
Interiors have front bucket seats, cut pile carpeting, fuel, anmeter, temperature gauges, and a tachometer set in a simulated burled walnut panel, and padded arm rests. A fold-down rear seat back is standard on the 2+2 and Mach 1, and optional on the two-door models. The Grande version has added trim and luxury features such as a one-piece vinyl roof with padded applique, steel belted radial ply tires, left and right interior controlled side mirrors, special body striping, digital clock, color keyed two-tone interiors, and a host of other items including special upholstering cloth.
Much of this is also standard on the Mach 1 model and the 2+2. The Mach 1, however, is distinguished by special black paint trim, and identification emblem, and bright trim rings on specially styled wheels. Also, the Mach 1 has as standard the 2.8 liter V-6 engine with dual exhausts, which is optionally available on the other Mustang models. This power plant is built in Cologne, Germany by Ford of Europe, and features a very compact configuration due to the near vertical placement of the V'ed three-cylinder banks, much more acute than the angle used on most V-8s. This is a push rod type of overhead valve power plant and provides better performance than those original Mustangs with the small V-8s.
Standard engine for the other II's is an American built single overhead cam four-cylinder 2.3 liter power plant, the first all metric passenger car engine designed and built in the U.S. It has a cross flow cylinder head, staged two-barrel carburetor which allows cruising on one barrel, two-barrel response and performance when desired, and hydraulic valve las adjusters that automatically regulates rocker arm height to zero lash, eliminating need for periodic service adjustment. Reverting from the metric system to the one we are most familiar with at this time, the 2.3 liter engine is 140 cubic engines, the 28 liter, 171 cubic inches.
A four-speed fully synchronized manual transmission is standard for all models and both engines, with a three-speed automatic optional. Both transmissions have floor mounted controls and drive through a 3.55:1 real axle ratio.
The front suspension is fully independent and employs coil springs around tubular shocks, with upper and lower control arms. This is similar in design to that used on larger Ford cars and eliminates the need to place the upper spring portions in housings in the engine compartments. The suspension system is isolated from the body by being mounted to a mini-subframe which dissipates road shocks from the passenger compartment providing a smoother and more quiet ride. There is also built-in wheel recession that allows the front wheels to move slightly rearward when encountering bumps, reducing the jolt encountered without this feature. Rack and pinion steering provides precise control with low steering effort. Front caliper disc brakes are also standard on all models.
At the rear, suspension of the rigid or solid axle is by leaf springs with extensive use of rubber to isolate road shocks. Tubular shock absorbers with soft upper and lower bushings are angle mounted with the left side behind the axle, front ahead of it, to counter wheel hop. There is an optional competition suspension option which provides a rear stabilizer bar, heavy duty front and rear springs, and adjustable front and rear shocks.
Standard tires for the base models are black sidewall bias plies, with the A78 by 13 used on the two-passenger three-door model, and the B78 by 13s mounted on the hardtop and 2+2. The Grande mounts steel belted radials, BR78 by 13 with whitewalls, while the Mach 1 has wide oval BR70 by 13s with raised white letters.
Preliminary price tags indicate that the Mustang II, even in its basic form, is going to be more of a luxury compact than an economy car as far as the original investment is concerned. However, these models offer alot of car for the money in today's inflated economy and those small displacement engines are most certainly going to give a lot better gas mileage than the big bore V-8s, what with emission controls and low or no-lead fuels. While the original Mustang took off like a bomb on the sales room floors because it was fun to drive, relatively cheap to buy, and got good gas mileage, this one appears to have hit a segment of the market that wants something different again and it looks like a winner.
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