Sudden Death Mustang II

A true inspiration when I was in high school during the automotive malaise era:

 

in the summer months, Roush would do an open house at his collection in Livonia Michigan, you could walk through the building with his car collection. Haven’t been there since prior to 2013, don’t know if they still do it.

 

There’s quick and then there’s insanely quick….for 1977 that is. 9.40’s @140 mph is pretty fast for even todays cars.

 

Single digit ETs are fast! That short little car must have been a handful with all that power, and weight on the front end.

 

Definitely fast for the times! I was 16 in 1977....had been reading HRM for a few years....

but this one influenced me more, for some reason

 

April 77 I was cruising through my last semester of high school. I had enough classes and credits to graduate, so I wasn’t doing much. I was dating a gal with a 76 MII, ended up marrying here the next March. Drooled over Sudden Death in the pics, wanted to do hers that way but it was a coupe, and I didn’t have that kind of money anyway.

 

I remember that car from an article in a Ford book but I thought it was a little earlier than 77, maybe 75 . I actually thought the car was a 74. But it was before I new who The cat in the hat was.

 

Saw it a few years ago at the Ford PDC show….heard stories over the years about it..was cool to see it up close

 

neat! they spelled Gray's name wrong, though

 

There is one of those little Mustangs running around our town that is set up like the Sudden Death car. The one here sounds, looks, and lights up the tires at his will, if its not the real thing, it sure is putting on a good show. Pretty bad azz little ride with a full cage and racing seats, the guy drives it to a lot of local car shows. Mmmm , the smell of burning racing fuel. The car wins a lot of trophies. Not my style, but its not my car. He sure is enjoying it.

 

That’s a neat little car. If anyone wants to build a clone…I know where a real nice survivor is to start with that is even silver.

 

This is a local one

 

I remember that car & article... Geeez , in 1977 we had been married 4 years. She still puts up with me after 51 years of marriage.

 

Er, that’s a Pinto. Close cousin though.

 

Pinto/Mustang II all the same just a different gas tank location lol

 

same gas tank location, but the II was expensive enough that they could put the rubber cushion on the end of the panhard bar bolt, to keep it from poking the gas tank

 

After one V-8 Vega build, I gave up on those little pocket rockets.....

 

I gave up after doing a v6 chevette.

I should have put a big block in it!

 

New guy so be nice, please!

I don't know about the modification for the gas tank on the early MII or the Pinto to mitigate rear end collision. But I can say with confidence that the '78 MII with the 8" rear has a clip spot welded to the rear cover that the brake line is secured to that is the can opener for the gas tank in a rear end collision. The 'cure' from Ford was a nylon/plastic kind of skid plate that is secured with one of the tank straps. It wraps around the lower edge of the tank and up the front of it high enough that it clears the center section.

Source: I have one hanging up in the back of my garage. I took the clip off the cover. I haven't tested it yet.

 

Here on East mid 70s until early 80s
@ Old dominion Speedway Va ,there where many mustang 2s , Pinto coupe & wagons , Vega same , Monza , Chevett
Lov truck, in Super Pro class , this was one of local & very early beginning of Race car on street /driven , 500cid Lenco around 1981, in HRM 1984

 

Actually Swade41 has it right,,,,the original Mustang II’s were Pinto Sports .
Almost the same body style,,,very close dimensional ,,,,but they sure did look good .
I’ll never forget Farrah Fawcett driving one on the Angels show,,,,really looked good after that,,,lol .

Tommy

 

Yeah, I tried to get my dad to buy me a new '76 Cobra when I turned 16.... What the hell was I thinking????

 

That was a Great car and a Runner! Always thought the front wheels needed to move ahead a few inches and the bumpers were too big, but Instant Whomp-Ass!! Not a critique of this car, but Stang II's as a whole.

 

Roush’s place is open to the public every weekday. 930am to 4pm

 

In '77 I was in Autobody 10. One of the teachers had a newish Cobra, white with blue stripes, 4 speed. She had the class strip the car to bare metal and painted silver

 

^I used to call 'em a Pinto II, just to agitate.