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The most changed car in the auto industry for 1974 is Mustang II, a small, sporty and luxurious car that Ford expects to be the forerunner of a new class.
          Mustang II is 19 inches shorter than the 1973 Mustang and seven inches shorter than the original Mustang introduced in April, 1964.
          Standard mechanical features and luxury appointments exceed those of any other domestic small car ever built by Ford. The car is engineered to provide outstanding maneuverability as well as big-car riding comfort.
          “Mustang appears to be the right car at the right time,” said Bennett E. Bidwell, Ford vice president and Ford Division general manager. “Americans increasingly want the functional advantages of a small car but they don’t want to sacrifice the comfort and luxury of a big car. Mustang II has them all.
          “Fuel economy also is of growing concern to the public and the four-cylinder engine in Mustang II will deliver about 20 miles per gallon in normal city and suburban driving.”
          Mustang II will be available in two body sytles and four models. There is a two-door “notchback” with a traditional roofline reminiscent of the original Mustang, and a three-door “hatchback” with a youthful sloping roofline wit the third door in the rear. The two-door notchback is available in a base four-seater model and a super-luxury four-seat Ghia model named after Ford’s design studio in Italy. Three-door hatchback models are a 2 + 2 and, a Mach I.
          Standard engine for Mustang II is Ford’s new 2.3-liter (140-cubic-inch) four-cylinder overhead-cam powerplant – the first metric engine ever built in the United States. Optional is the 2.8-liter (171-cubic-inch) V-6 engine built by Ford of Germany. Mustang II will be the only U.S. car to offer V-6 performance in a small car.
          Great attention to detail and quality is evident throughout Mustang II. Front and rear bumpers, which provide protection in barrier five-mph impact tests, are covered with a plastic coating color-matched to the sheet metal. Moldings are slim and lustrous. Paint work is of the highest quality, reflecting the use of an electrostatic process, and the finish coats are one-third thicker than those of ’73 Mustangs to give a deeper color.
          Standard equipment for Mustang II includes front buckets seats which provide exceptional lateral support, cut pile carpeting for the floor and lower door, tachometer and full instrumentation, simulated burled walnut accents, European armrests and door pulls, and full-width headrests. Full wheelcovers also are standard.
          Thera re 45 options including digital clock, sun roof, AM/FM multiplex radio and stereo tape system, air conditioning, left and right-hand remote control mirrors, and steel-belted radial-ply tires.
          A unique sub-frame cradles the engine and transmission and anchors the front suspension of Mustang II and is chiefly responsible for the big-car ride and for helping to isolate noise, vibration and harshness from the passenger compartment. This is the first use by Ford of a sub-frame with a unitized body.
          Rack-and-pinion steerign, preferred by sports car drivers for its precision, is standard, and power assist is optional. Brakes are disc front and drum rear with power assist optional.
          A new front seat occupant restraint/starter interlock system will be on all models to provide greater driver and passenger protection.
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