Updated Duece
First Report - by Gray Baskerville
I don't know if you're aware of it or not, but we've been snake-bitten. No, it's not a negative encounter with one of those lowrider reptiles that got the earth's first couple thrown out of the garden. Nor is it a hindsight comment made by Raymond Beadle after he raced Don Prudhomme at Ontario. The fact of the matter is that Hot Rod is about to take delivery of Ford's latest fun car, a Cobra-ized Mustang II, that we were able to test drive. And we're happy to report that things are certainly picking up in Dearborn.
For those who remember Ford's performance commitment of the '60s, the name Cobra should quickly elicit visions of Carroll "the chili man" Shelby and his retine of Cobras; some very fast, some very streetable and some 2 + 2 fastbacks, based on mid-'60s Mustangs. But that was some ten years ago, and in the meantime, we've seen a chilly combination of cosumerism, escalating insurance rates, emissions and gas price hikes which have put the kabosh on such frivolities as GT 350s or 500s.
Yet somehow, somewhere, somebody at Ford has managed to reverse this disgusting development. We have an idea that Bob Negstad, Senior Engineer Mustang Development Department and a key figure during Ford's heydays of Le Mans and Sebring, had something to do with it, because lo and behold, there is being produced an updated version of the old Shelby option, based on their new Mustang II. We don't know what Bob's involvement has been on the new/old project, but every tme he would snake the 'Stang into a corner, while recalling the glory days of the original Mustang development, you got the feeling that a new ray of life was being injected into an otherwise gloomy progression of frill-less, funless, four-door family movers.
So why did we leave the warm climes of "Sunny Southern" to mess around in the 10-above weather on Henry's hauling grounds with the only 302/four-speed Cobra in existence? A mountain climber would answer because it's there. A nonenthusiast would conclude that you car crazies are nuts. But if Hot Rod Magazine in general and Gray Baskerville in particular are going to take delivery of a '70s-style Deuce, then we had better find out what's snakin'.
Before we give you our impressions of the car, we thought it might be of interest to let you in on just what it is we're getting. The basic package is a '76 Mustang II 2 + 2 fastback equipped with a white body and blue stripes, plus the exterior trim package that includes front air dam, front and rear wheel pants, rear deck spoiler, hood scoop, louvered rear quarter window inserts, full Cobra-sytle striping, Cobra emblems and a blacked-out grille. The engine is your typical low-profile 302-inch V8 factory-rated at 134 horsepower @ 3600 rpm and 247 ft.-lbs. of torquer @ 1800. Intially Ford intended to offer two four-speed options, but has since reduced its offering to a close-ration gearbox featuring a 2.64 first, 1.89 second, a 1.34 third and a 1:1 high pulling through either a standard 2.79:1 or an optional 3.00:1 (locker if you want) rearend.
Driving the duece was short but sweet. We really didn't want to stuff their only toy into a sack just before Christmas, so we kinda cooled it. Acceleration was decent, throttle response good, but you'll like how it shifted. Ford PR's Owen Bombard thought it rather sloppy, but it felt quick and clean to us. You'll really get behind the interior though. Seating is comfortable as well as safe. You really feel you're tucked down out of the way within easy reach of the steering wheel, shifter lever and control pedals. And as for the brushed aluminum applique behind the gauges, all you need to do is to replace it with an engine-turned duplicate, and presto - just like a well-done Auburn dash!
What we have planned for the little rascal (we should be behind the tiller the first part of March) is still open to speculation. However, the feeling around here is to match the Mustang II / Cobra II with another type of Deuce, the more traditional form that's under our house. In addition, we would like to give it a thorough detailing, such as blueprinting the engine, addin' a few aftermarket parts designed to improve low-speed torque and reduce emissions, plus adding a nifty wheel and tire combination, maybe new paint, a slightly reworked suspension system, perhaps even a new dash treatment. As you can see, it's not our intention to kill 'em at the quarter or mow 'em down on Mulholland. On the contrary, what we have in store is showing you how we have fun with the car within the confines of today's realities.
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