1974 Ford Mustang
Second generation · Mustang II 1974–1978
The Mustang II — a smaller, more economical Pinto-based car for the oil-crisis era, built 1974–1978.
Photo: “1974 Ford Mustang Ghia (14389802775)” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY 2.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
The 1974 model year
Overview
The Mustang reinvented itself for the oil-crisis era. Smaller, lighter, and built on the subcompact Ford Pinto platform, the Mustang II answered a market that suddenly wanted economy over muscle. Enthusiasts have never forgiven it, but the timing was right: it won Motor Trend's Car of the Year and was a sales hit, the best-selling Mustang since the 1960s. 1974 is also the only model year in the car's history offered with no V8 — the lineup was a 2.3-liter four and a 2.8-liter V6 only. (Horsepower figures are SAE net.)
Specifications
- Engines
-
- 140 cu in (2.3 L) I4 (base; the only Mustang year with no V8) 88 hp
- 171 cu in (2.8 L) V6 (sole option) 105 hp
- Transmissions
- 4-speed manual, C3 3-speed automatic
- Body styles
- 2-door coupe (hardtop), 3-door hatchback (2+2)
- Dimensions
- Wheelbase 96.2 in · Length 175.0 in · Width 70.2 in
- Base price
- $3,134 (base coupe) ≈$19,900 today (inflation-adjusted) Original MSRP adjusted for inflation (CPI, 2024); not the car's current market/collector value. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U (U.S. city average, all items), annual average.
- Production
- 296,041 (model year)
Year over year
What changed
- Complete redesign — a downsized, Pinto-based car roughly a foot shorter and far lighter than the 1973 Mustang.
- The only Mustang model year offered with no V8 in the US (a V8 was available only in Mexico).
- New base 2.3-liter inline-four (Ford's first US-built metric/overhead-cam engine) with a 2.8-liter V6 as the sole option.
- Rack-and-pinion steering and an isolated front subframe for refinement.
- Body styles were a notchback coupe and a 2+2 hatchback; no convertible was offered.
- Trims: base, Ghia (luxury), and Mach 1 (the V6-powered sporty hatchback).
Living with it
Reliability & ownership notes
- The 2.3-liter four is durable but slow; the 2.8-liter V6 is the livelier choice for this year.
- Pinto-derived running gear means good parts availability, but rust in the floors, lower fenders, and front subframe is the chief concern.
- These are economy-era cars — expect modest performance, and judge them as their period intended rather than against 1960s muscle.
Worth knowing
Notable
- Motor Trend Car of the Year for 1974 — the last Mustang to win it until 1994.
- A strong sales debut: about 385,993 cars in the first (introduction) year, with 296,041 produced for the 1974 model year.
- The Ghia brought a vinyl roof, upgraded trim, and a more formal interior as the luxury choice.
Famous variants this year
Sources
Other Second generation years
Explore the Mustang II generation → All Second generation · Mustang II years →