Driving the Ford Mustang II King Cobra: Some context required

Nearly every Ford Mustang -- from the very first cars through the Fox platform era and right up to today's models -- has its partisans. The only exception? The poor, forgotten Mustang II.

Technically the second-generation 'Stang, the Mustang II debuted as a 1974 model year car in 1973 and lasted only until 1978. And given the car it shared a platform with -- the infamous Pinto -- perhaps Ford would rather leave the uninspiring pony car swept under the rug.

But was it really so bad? We took a look at the 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra in the Jan. 13, 1978, issue of Autoweek, and a contemporary review of the V8-powered range-topper is enlightening. We certainly didn't go easy on the car.

"The suspension takes the typical American approach," we said, "trying to achieve better handling by stiffening everything, with the end result that it becomes too harsh. The ride is uncomfortable at both low and high speeds on anything but a very smooth road."

So are all the present-day haters right? Well, not entirely: We said the King Cobra packed a good engine with "plenty of power" and a "very smooth" four-speed gearbox. It is, we conclude, "for the person who thinks he is a racer." For better or for worse.

All in all, not exactly a ringing endorsement for the car. But this is malaise-era motoring we're talking about -- apparently, it didn't take much to impress. We ended up deeming it a "pleasant surprise," even if it wasn't a car that could go up against European competition.

Read the full article below. And check out the T-top on that Trans Am!

Vintage Autoweek review of the 1978 Ford King Cobra II Mustang

The Ford Mustang turns 50 years old during 2014; to celebrate the many lives of America's favorite pony car, we'll be posting selections from our archives. Check out our Mustang mini-site where you'll find news, road tests, sneak peeks and even classic Mustang ads from the pages of Autoweek. We'll also have all the latest news and photos surrounding the redesigned 2015 Ford Mustang as it rolls out, so stay tuned.

By Graham Kozak