Ford Mustang celebrates 45th anniversary
April 9, 2009 by Matt Brogan
The Mustang Story: Generation Two (1974 – 1982)
The oil crisis, rising insurance premiums and tighter emission control standards helped bring the era of high-performance muscle cars to an abrupt end in 1973, and Ford responded with the second generation of the Ford Mustang – the smaller, more fuel-efficient Mustang II, which debuted in 1974.
The Mustang II – built on a derivative of the “Arizona” platform that gave Ford the Pinto – was 19 inches shorter and 490 pounds lighter than the 1973 Mustang. The 1974 model year was the first ever that a V8 was not offered in the Mustang, and the Mustang II years never saw a convertible option.
Despite its smaller size, the Mustang II brought back traditional Mustang design cues, such as the side scallops from the ‘60s. It also retained classic Mustang traits, like three-place taillights, setback headlamps and the running horse in the grille.
Though the Mustang II has been much maligned over the years by some enthusiasts who claim the car lacked the power and luster of a true Mustang, it was a strong seller for Ford. In its first model year, nearly 386,000 vehicles were sold, and the Mustang II captured the coveted title of Motor Trend “Car of the Year.”
“The fact that the Mustang II arrived amid the Arab Oil Embargo was further testament that Ford had, indeed, delivered the right car at the right time,” said John Clor, author of the book The Mustang Dynasty. “There’s no denying that the II had connected with its customers in a way few cars of that era had.”
Performance-hungry enthusiasts prompted the return of the V-8 to the Mustang lineup in 1975. Ford introduced the Shelby-inspired Mustang Cobra II in 1976. And a special edition King Cobra Mustang debuted in 1978.
The third major transformation in the history of the Ford Mustang came in 1979, when Ford introduced a sleek, European-inspired pony car. The all-new vehicle shared its Fox platform with the Ford Fairmont and the Mercury Zephyr, and it was totally different from everything else on the road.
“We wanted to make a fresh statement for Mustang,” recalls Jack Telnack, chief designer of the 1979 Mustang. “We were very strongly influenced by European design, and we knew that we had an opportunity to make a contribution to the fuel economy of the car by more efficiently bending the sheet metal, giving the car a more aerodynamic wedge shape.”
Unlike its predecessors, the 1979 Mustang featured a slant-back front end. It was four inches longer in body length and wheelbase than the Mustang II. And though it was a bigger car with a more spacious interior, it was 200 pounds lighter than the previous Mustang, due to advanced body engineering and the increased use of lightweight materials.
“We actually wanted people to be uncomfortable with the car when they first saw it because if they weren’t uncomfortable with it, that would mean they had seen it before,” said Telnack. “It took people a little while to get used to the new look, but once they did, they understood the design, and they appreciated that it was a Mustang.”
It didn’t take long for people to fall in love with the new Mustang. Ford sold 370,000 cars in the vehicle’s first year.
No significant changes were made to the Mustang between 1979 and 1981, but in 1982, the “Boss” was back. The Mustang GT returned after a 12-year absence, and the 5.0-liter V8 engine returned for specially equipped 1982 Mustang hatchbacks. At the heart of the Mustang performance revival was a tweaked “high output” 302-cubic-inch small-block engine that produced 157 horsepower – the most since 1971.
To read “The Mustang Story: Generation One”, click here.
We will feature both Generation Three & Four of the Mustang Story over the Easter long weekend.
CarAdvice wishes to thank Ford Media US for use of text and images.
Print it: 
Gross models in this era………yuk!
They lost the plot.
Gotta agree there!.. A shame to call these abominations Mustangs!
I like this quote,
“We actually wanted people to be uncomfortable with the car when they first saw it because if they weren’t uncomfortable with it, that would mean they had seen it before,”
That’s brilliant. I hear allot of winging about how new cars look. But how can you explore new oceans with out loosing site of the shore.
Obviously Ford had the right ideas at the time.
Car Advice,
I must clarify the following quote; “the running horse in the grille”.
I understood that, that horse isn’t just a horse, but a Mustang (which admittedly is a breed of horse). Therefore it could read (not should read) “the running Mustang in the grille.” It’s a technicality but when it is the emblem and name of the car surely should be noted? It is after all synonymous with this legendary car.
Mustang – the breed of wild horse in Northern America that the car is named after.
-Luke.
undoubtedly the worst mustangs ever
However gross it got between the bookends, it’s all part of Mustang’s rich tapestry and can’t be ignored. That’s what makes the history.
Who can forget the classic in car footage of Dick Johnson in his green Group A Mustang and Jim Richards in his black JPS 635 BMW side by side heading up Mountain Straight at Bathurst? Initially the torque of the V8 Muzzy pulls away from the BMW, then the top end of BMW gradually puts it’s nose in front, while the drivers give each other the thumbs up. Great stuff!!
Yeah Golfy lets hope have they lived and learned from them……in all fairness a lot of car manufactures that era were ugly ……….
Also soon to be 50 years of the Ford falcon just shows the world how much pride Ford have in there cars. No other auto maker comes close to Fords world achievements.
This is the era when American cars lost it and sadly I don’t think there’s any sign of them getting it back.
Mustangs began to look good again in 1999 but since American cars started getting more electrical along with more plastic added on to them in the ’70s, their reliability and build quality sucks.
Total american faux muscle car crap , still is
Oh dear, when I think of that classic car chase scene in “Bullitt” starring Steve Mcqueen, the green 390 V8 Mustang versus the 440 Charger…and then I look at these 1980’s “Mustangs”. I’m not inspired by these newer Mustangs at all. It’s not a muscle car at all, it’s completely wimpy.
Having just completed a round trip of 6400 Miles in an as Brand New 1979 Indianapolis Pace Car Mustang with 8900 origional miles on it, as part of the Mustangs Across America Run for the 45th Anniversary Celebration in Birmingham Alabama, all I can say is “Don’t Knock It Till You Have Tried It”
Car was Faultless the whole trip and a joy to drive.
Having just completed a fualtless and trouble free 6400 Mile round trip from LA to Birmingham Alabama as part of the Mustangs Across America Run for the Mustang’s 45th Anniversary Celebration in an as new 8900 origional mile 1979 Indianapolis Mustang Pace Car, all i can say is ” Don’t knock it until you have lived with it”