"newsmctado" (newsmctado)
08/20/2015 at 07:44 • Filed to: None
2
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"newsmctado" (newsmctado)
08/20/2015 at 07:44 • Filed to: None | 2
| 18 |
So, while driving home from work yesterday, I got a look at this beauty/beast/bastard (sorry for the potato pic):
The car seemed very clean and in great shape. But, I had never heard of the “King Cobra” Mustang II before, so I did a little bit of internet snooping to see what I could find. Really, this is all you need to know:
Built on the Pinto platform
302-cu.in. V-8 producing 139hp (that is not a misprint. 139 hp!!!)
0-60 in 11.2 seconds.
It was available with an optional T-top
Ford managed to sell 2,017 four-speed King Cobras and 2,289 automatics.
The King Cobra was never a distinct vehicle. It was simply an option package on the Mustang II.
From what I can tell, this really is an example of a production company throwing some paint and stripes on a vehicle and calling it a performance package.
What do you think Oppo-Nauts?
(2/10 would Hoon).
pip bip - choose Corrour
> newsmctado
08/20/2015 at 07:48 |
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replace 302 with 429 and we’ll talk
8)
Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
> newsmctado
08/20/2015 at 08:02 |
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Beyond anemic, but a cool looking car nonetheless. The Mustang is only .5 tenths quicker than a Mitsu Mirage.
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newsmctado
> Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
08/20/2015 at 08:05 |
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You know. It really wasn’t bad looking. I mean, if you can get past the fact that it has a fake hood scoop and louvers, and stole what is really one of the most iconic paint jobs in automotive history.
I wonder if, when people ask this guy what he drives, he says, “I have a Shelby Mustang.”
TheRealBicycleBuck
> newsmctado
08/20/2015 at 08:18 |
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I would be surprised if any of them were left stock. With just a little modification, the 302 in this car would turn back into a beast. From wikipedia:
The most common form of this engine used a two-barrel carburetor, initially with 9.5:1 compression. It had hydraulic lifters and valves of 1.773 in (45 mm) (intake) and 1.442 in (36.6 mm) (exhaust), and was rated (SAE gross) at 220 hp (164 kW) at 4,600 rpm and 300 lb·ft (407 N·m) at 2,600 rpm. Optional was a four-barrel version rated at 250 hp (186 kW) at 4,800 rpm.
Keep in mind that 302 cubic inches is the same thing as 5.0 liters....
crowmolly
> newsmctado
08/20/2015 at 08:19 |
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If I had to keep it stock, no.
But if not, absolutely. You can make 3-400 hp by spending less than $1000.
Birddog
> newsmctado
08/20/2015 at 09:03 |
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That’s not a King Cobra. (Semantics..)
I don’t hate the Mustang II but I’d stop short of calling it a good car. It wasn’t quick, it didn’t handle all that well and they didn’t hold together.
Over a million Mustang IIs were produced between 1974 and 1978 and I’d bet less than a third of that number are still on the road.
MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> newsmctado
08/20/2015 at 09:18 |
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Because I know 302’s pretty well, which is by the way the legendary 5.0 Ford Small Block V8, I absolutely would. The Mustang II front end suspension was a massive leap forward for Ford, and people load those suspensions under older Mustangs, Torinos, Rancheros, Fairlanes, and even MONTEGO’s! I’ve looked at the conversion kits before.
The 302 in these is just smog controlled to death. And you should remember that it may have only had 139 hp, but with 48 more inches and a 4 barrel, the Corvette was putting out 175 hp.
All of the 70’s cars should be taken with a grain of salt because with a weekend in the garage and hand tools you can take that 139 or 175 hp ratings all the way up to 350-400.
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newsmctado
> Birddog
08/20/2015 at 09:31 |
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That’s not a King Cobra. (Semantics..)
Can you explain? I saw this with the “Cobra II” badging, but had no idea what that meant. I couldn’t find anything about a Mustang II Cobra II. The only info available was for the “King Cobra”
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Birddog
> newsmctado
08/20/2015 at 09:38 |
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Cobra II was 1976-1977 and King Cobra was exclusive to 1978 like a last hurrah.
Here’s a good write up on them.
http://phscollectorcarworld.blogspot.com/2012/05/mustan…
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newsmctado
> Birddog
08/20/2015 at 09:42 |
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Thanks.
nermal
> newsmctado
08/20/2015 at 10:08 |
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I think it would be cool to resto-mod one of these with the drivetrain from a modern Mustang.
CounterTorqueSteer
> newsmctado
08/20/2015 at 10:28 |
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I saw one parked around my neighborhood a few weeks ago.
Manic Otti
> newsmctado
08/20/2015 at 13:39 |
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Wait a minute. That’s a Cobra II which was basically a spoiler/stripe package that was available on 4, 6 & 8 cyl Mustang II’s. The King Cobra was a 1978 only package that was V8 only and had unique ground effects/snake decals. And 0-60 in 10-11 seconds was pretty common for 1974-1978.
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Manic Otti
> TheRealBicycleBuck
08/20/2015 at 13:50 |
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The problem was the emissions. If you lived in a DEQ area, there wasn’t that much you could do with it. These are good cantidates for modern engine swaps.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> Manic Otti
08/20/2015 at 14:09 |
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Perhaps back then, but now you can do what you want. My cousin had a Maverick (!) with a 302 that was from the same era. After a little work to open up the restrictions, it had no trouble roasting tires.
JEM
> newsmctado
08/20/2015 at 15:08 |
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Cobra II not a King Cobra like others have said.
This is actually one of my dream cars. I totally dig the white wheels and the mudflaps! Not sure if I’ve seen those on one before.
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Manic Otti
> TheRealBicycleBuck
08/20/2015 at 16:16 |
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I’ve seen a couple of nice Mavericks/Comets around here. I love those thing way more than I really should. : )
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newsmctado
> Manic Otti
08/20/2015 at 20:48 |
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Yeah, I realize that now. When I was looking online, I couldn’t find anything about the Mustang II Cobra II, only the King Cobra. Either way, it’s really just an effects and paint kit.