1976 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: “76 cobra ii front - 5-6-2023” by Captainpisslord / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain . Cropped to 16:9.
The 1976 model year
Overview
Style over speed. With performance constrained by emissions rules, Ford leaned into appearance packages — and 1976 introduced the Cobra II, a tape-and-spoiler tribute to the Shelby cars that gave the Mustang II a sportier look without much more go. The mechanical lineup carried over, with the four and six recovering a little output. (Horsepower figures are SAE net; the 302 V8's 1976 net rating is reported inconsistently across period sources and is omitted here.)
Specifications
- Engines
-
- 140 cu in (2.3 L) I4 (base) 92 hp
- 171 cu in (2.8 L) V6 102 hp
- 302 cu in (4.9 L) V8 (2-bbl)
- 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
- $3,791 (base coupe) ≈$20,900 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
- 187,567 (model year)
Year over year
What changed
- The Cobra II appearance package debuted — black grille, simulated hood scoop, dual over-the-top racing stripes, quarter-window louvers, and front/rear spoilers.
- A Stallion appearance group arrived with styled wheels and blacked-out trim.
- An All-Black Sport Group joined the Mach 1, alongside a Rallye Package and the continuing Ghia Luxury Group.
- A manual moon roof became optional.
- Base four-cylinder output recovered to 92 hp and the V6 to 102 hp.
Living with it
Reliability & ownership notes
- The Cobra II is a looks package, not a performance one — verify whether a given car has the V8 or just the stripes before paying a premium.
- Standard rust inspection applies: floors, lower fenders, and subframe.
- Parts support is good thanks to shared Pinto/Mustang II components.
Worth knowing
Notable
- The Cobra II is the defining Mustang II collectible — its Shelby-style graphics made it a period icon and a frequent screen and toy subject.
- Production was 187,567 for the model year.
- The Ghia continued as the luxury trim.
Famous variants this year
Sources
Other Second generation years
Explore the Mustang II generation → All Second generation · Mustang II years →