Mustang Round Up highlight – 1977/78 Cobra II

For a one-make car show to attract more than 370 vehicles is an impressive feat. Such was the case at the 2024 Mustang Round Up in Victoria, which saw examples from all seven generations of Ford’s famous pony car make the journey to the Dandenong Showgrounds on Sunday, 27 October.

Presented by the Mustang Owner’s Club of Australia’s Victorian chapter (MOCA Vic), the Round Up combines a Show ‘n Shine that’s open to all Mustang owners with the MOCA Vic State Concours and Shelby Nationals for club members.

Celebrating 60 years of the Mustang and the 50th birthday for MOCA Vic, the 2024 Mustang Round Up saw at least one example of every Mustang generation on show, including the ‘Mustang II’ (Gen 2); a “downsized” pony car that replaced the original for 1974 and remained in production through to late 1978. The Mustang II is a rarity in Australia these days, even at an all-Mustang event like this, so it was a real treat to see this one - a Mustang II Cobra II - at the Round Up.

While the Mustang II cops a lot of flak, it was extremely successful when new, with more than 385,000 produced in 1974 alone. That said, the Mustang II did have an image problem, especially for those who remembered the high-powered V8 Mustangs from only a few years prior. While the Mach 1 variant had been continued from the first-gen Mustang, no V8 was available in the Mustang II’s debut year of 1974. Ford did introduce a 4.9lt (302ci) V8 option for 1975, then offered the ‘Cobra II’ in 1976.

Inspired by the Shelby GT 350, the Cobra II was a cosmetic package that included front and rear spoilers, a non-functional bonnet scoop, rear window louvres, dual sports mirrors, body-length GT stripes, lower sill stripes bearing the Cobra II name and snake decals on the front guards (most of which would be replicated on the Ford XC Falcon Cobra a couple of years later). Inside, a faux metallic finish was added to the instrument panel, centre console and door trims.

Although it was limited to the fastback body style, the Cobra II package wasn’t tied to a drivetrain, so Mustang IIs with the 2.3lt four, 2.8lt V6 or 4.9lt V8 could have it. No upgrades to the suspension or brakes came with the package, either.

The Mustang II Cobra II featured has clearly been residing in Australia for some time, as it’s in RHD, with some extensive mods to the engine - presumably a 302. It’s unclear if any changes have been made to the transmission (an automatic) or suspension, but the brakes appear to be the factory disc front, drum rear set-up.

In the cabin, Vintage Air air conditioning has been fitted, with aftermarket gauges and a modern stereo system visible, too.

To see JUST CARS’ report from the 2024 Mustang Round Up, click HERE.