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Not Two Different
Just Enough to Stand Out in a Crowd
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The forgotten stepchild in the geneology of Mustangs is the second generation, 1974-1978 Mustang II. They were the right car for that unfortunate period of downsizing and gas shortages, and Ford sold lots of 'em. But in the long run, not too many people wanted to keep or acquire one - the earlier Mustangs are more desirable, and the Fox and SN-95 Mustangs are MUCH faster.
Dave and Irene Brooks are Mustang II fans from way back, and their 1976 "II" is proof that the "forgotten" Mustangs can be just appealing as the earlier and later models. The Brooks' purchased this Cobra II in 1978, because it looked sporty and was fun to drive. By 1980, they'd grown tired of the garish graphics and had it refinished in basic black. Fifteen years later, Dave and Irene are still making changes.
Refinement is the name of the game when it comes to this Mustang II. Under the hood we still find the original 2.8L V6, beefed up with .030-over 9.0:1 Ross pistons, Crane cam, ported and polished heads, and an Offenhauser 4-barrel intake manifold topped witha 390 cfm Holley. The little V6 and its surroundings are detailed with several coats of gloss black, Blackjack headers, and lots of chrome. Backing up the mini-powerhouse is a stock clutch assembly and four-speed transmission.
The chassis is also basically stock, rebuilt and upgraded with Monroe shock absorbers. The factory disc/drum brake combination has proven to be more than adequate for this lightweight flyer, particularly with the extra traction provided by the 205/40R16 BFGoodrich Euro T/A radials, mounted on 16x7½ Fittipaldi aluminum wheels.
Black is still the paint color of choice, with the latest coating applied four years ago, by Spectrum (Tucson, AZ) and dressed up with blue pinstriping laid on by hand at Stripes by Andy, in Phoenix. Inside we find simple but flawless black cloth/vinyl custom upholstery, a Grant steering wheel, and a high-wattage Pioneer AM/FM cassette and speakers. The carpets, door panels, and headliner are original.
This little black beauty is no pampered garage queen. Irene uses it as her daily driver, putting close to 12,000 miles per year on the odometer, while Dave shows it and runs it in slaloms and at the drags. The Brooks' and their "II" are still having fun after all these years.
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