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As the 45th Anniversary of Mustang approaches, Ford continues to look back at an American ICON

On April 17, 2009, Ford and the Mustang Club of America will commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Ford Mustang, an American icon, with a four-day celebration in Birmingham, Ala.

During the weeks leading up to the anniversary, Ford is taking a nostalgic look back at Mustang history, continuing this week with the period from 1974 to 1982

During this period, Mustang underwent two major transformations – first in 1974 with the Mustang II fuel-efficient pony car and in 1979 when Ford introduced a sleek, European-inspired version

MUSTANG FACTS: 1974 - 1982

DEARBORN, Mich., March 25, 2009 – More than 9 million Mustangs have been sold since Ford first introduced the iconic pony car in 1964. After four and a half decades on the market, the Ford Mustang continues to captivate car buyers throughout the world.

Ford Designer Jack Telnack was largely responsible for ushering in the third generation of the Ford Mustang.

Telnack is pictured here with a clay model of the third-generation 1979 "Fox-body" Mustang.

Click here to view related images.

And while the design of Ford’s beloved steed has evolved over the years to reflect the needs of a changing world, Mustang has never lost its essence – that certain cache that makes it an American icon. At no point in history is this more evident than in the period from 1974 to 1982, when the brand endured two major transformations.

Next month, Ford and the Mustang Club of America will commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Ford Mustang with a four-day celebration in Birmingham, Ala. During the weeks leading up to the anniversary, Ford is taking a nostalgic look back at Mustang history. Last week, we took you back to the early years, 1964-1973. This week, we begin with 1974.

It’s 1974. Americans have lost faith in government, following the Nixon Watergate scandal, but the country is moving forward under the direction of President Gerald Ford. The Vietnam War is coming to an end. Peace signs, mood rings, hip-hugger pants and pet rocks all are popular signs of the time. “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” wins the Oscar for Best Picture, and “All in the Family” continues to be a ratings success on television. “Love Will Keep Us Together,” by Captain and Tennille, is at the top of the record charts. The cost of a postage stamp is 10 cents, and there is a gas shortage in the U.S. – the likes of which hasn’t been seen since World War II.

The oil crisis, rising insurance premiums and tighter emission control standards helped bring the era of high-performance muscle cars to an abrupt end in 1973, and Ford responded with the second generation of the Ford Mustang – the smaller, more fuel-efficient Mustang II, which debuted in 1974.

The Mustang II – built on a derivative of the “Arizona” platform that gave Ford the Pinto – was 19 inches shorter and 490 pounds lighter than the 1973 Mustang. The 1974 model year was the first ever that a V-8 was not offered in the Mustang, and the Mustang II years never saw a convertible option.

Despite its smaller size, the Mustang II brought back traditional Mustang design cues, such as the side scallops from the ‘60s. It also retained classic Mustang traits, like three-place taillights, setback headlamps and the running horse in the grille.

Though the Mustang II has been much maligned over the years by some enthusiasts who claim the car lacked the power and luster of a true Mustang, it was a strong seller for Ford. In its first model year, nearly 386,000 vehicles were sold, and the Mustang II captured the coveted title of Motor Trend “Car of the Year.”

“The fact that the Mustang II arrived amid the Arab Oil Embargo was further testament that Ford had, indeed, delivered the right car at the right time,” said John Clor, author of the book The Mustang Dynasty. “There’s no denying that the II had connected with its customers in a way few cars of that era had.”

Performance-hungry enthusiasts prompted the return of the V-8 to the Mustang lineup in 1975. Ford introduced the Shelby-inspired Mustang Cobra II in 1976. And a special edition King Cobra Mustang debuted in 1978.

Mustang’s third major transformation

The third major transformation in the history of the Ford Mustang came in 1979, when Ford introduced a sleek, European-inspired pony car. The all-new vehicle shared its Fox platform with the Ford Fairmont and the Mercury Zephyr, and it was totally different from everything else on the road.

“We wanted to make a fresh statement for Mustang,” recalls Jack Telnack, chief designer of the 1979 Mustang. “We were very strongly influenced by European design, and we knew that we had an opportunity to make a contribution to the fuel economy of the car by more efficiently bending the sheet metal, giving the car a more aerodynamic wedge shape.”

Unlike its predecessors, the 1979 Mustang featured a slant-back front end. It was four inches longer in body length and wheelbase than the Mustang II. And though it was a bigger car with a more spacious interior, it was 200 pounds lighter than the previous Mustang, due to advanced body engineering and the increased use of lightweight materials.

“We actually wanted people to be uncomfortable with the car when they first saw it because if they weren’t uncomfortable with it, that would mean they had seen it before,” said Telnack. “It took people a little while to get used to the new look, but once they did, they understood the design, and they appreciated that it was a Mustang.”

It didn’t take long for people to fall in love with the new Mustang. Ford sold 370,000 cars in the vehicle’s first year.

No significant changes were made to the Mustang between 1979 and 1981, but in 1982, the “Boss” was back. The Mustang GT returned after a 12-year absence, and the 5.0-liter V-8 engine returned for specially equipped 1982 Mustang hatchbacks. At the heart of the Mustang performance revival was a tweaked “high output” 302-cubic-inch small-block engine that produced 157 horsepower – the most since 1971.

MUSTANG FACTS: 1974 - 1982

The completely redesigned Mustang II was introduced in 1974. Compared with the 1973 model, the Mustang II was 19 inches shorter and 490 pounds lighter. It was available in a notchback, including a luxury Ghia model and a 2+2 fastback. For the first time, there was no V-8 engine and no Mustang convertible option available.
An orange 1973 Mustang Mach I was featured in a prominent role in the action movie Gone in 60 Seconds, which debuted in 1974.
In 1975, V-8 power returned to the Mustang. But the 302-cid V-8 engine produced only 130 horsepower and came only with an automatic transmission.
The Cobra II package joined the lineup in 1976, replete with non-functional hood scoop, racing stripes and front and rear spoilers. Available in white with blue stripes, blue with white stripes, and black with gold stripes, the Cobra II was intended to recall the looks of the famed Shelby Mustangs.
In an attempt to appeal to convertible fans, fastback models became available with T-Top removable glass roof panels. A new Sports Performance Package added a four-speed manual transmission to the 302-cid V-8.
In 1978, the new King Cobra model was the first Mustang to wear a 5.0 badge – the metric equivalent of 302 cubic inches.
The new “Fox” platform made its debut in 1979. The new model was longer and taller than the Mustang II, yet it was 200 pounds lighter. A sleek, “Euro” design replaced many traditional Mustang styling cues. Engine choices included a 2.3-liter four-cylinder, a 2.8-liter V-6, a 3.3-liter inline six-cylinder and a 140-horsepower 5.0-liter V-8.
In 1980, the 302-cid V-8 engine was dropped and replaced by an economy-minded 119-horsepower, 255-cid V-8 derivative.
In 1981, performance headed to the back burner, as the turbo four-cylinder was dropped from the Mustang engine lineup and new emissions controls dropped the 255-cid V-8’s power to 115 horsepower.
In 1982, the Mustang GT returned after a 12-year absence. The 5.0-liter V-8, which delivered 157 horsepower was also back, and optional T-Tops returned.