'71-73 and '74-78 Mustangs

[olbuddybob]

Great topic. With my current work situation (or lack of) I had to sell the Firebird. I have been checking out what is on the market for when my situation improves and have come across two very nice but very different Mustang IIs. One is a V8 Coupe, all original and clean $2500. The other is a very clean original Hatch back 4 banger. The four banger looks cooler in the present config. Black and yellow with rally wheels. the V8 is totally sleeper with hubcaps. Both automatics. I never thought I would find these cars appealing but the price on them sure makes them very workable.

[Silver68RT]

If I was going to rock a 71-73 Mustang again it would either have a full tilt 351C (channeling some Boss 351 juju) or an all out king of street: 71, black exterior, black interior, 4 speed, Detroit Locker and a Kaase Boss 429.

I like the black on black '71, 4-speed Boss 429 idea a lot. Anyone know what it takes to make one fit? Mine would have silver stripes, Ram Air hood, and a spoiler. There was a guy at my home track who raced a yellow '71 Mach 1, and I always liked that car. I'll probably end up buying one at some point. I've looked at a few over the years.

Mustang II's - I've seen a few race cars I liked, and the Blue Max F/C was pretty cool. Stock, not so much. I don't currently see myself owning one, but I seem to be heading towards owning one from every generation, so I guess it could happen.

[SpiderGearsMan]

my good buddy jimmy ran a 71 SCJ in D/SA with the C6 , no decals , it is retired now , and yes , that is the best running drag race mustang

[Mr.WFO]

the '71-'73 were the best looking mustangs of all time.

the '74-'78 were second worst. (behind the '94-'9

[ghustler]

My dad owned both this type and really there isn't much difference.
If they wernt fixed up they were both nerdmobiles.

[Darren N.]

If I was going to rock a 71-73 Mustang again it would either have a full tilt 351C (channeling some Boss 351 juju) or an all out king of street: 71, black exterior, black interior, 4 speed, Detroit Locker and a Kaase Boss 429.

I like the black on black '71, 4-speed Boss 429 idea a lot. Anyone know what it takes to make one fit? Mine would have silver stripes, Ram Air hood, and a spoiler. There was a guy at my home track who raced a yellow '71 Mach 1, and I always liked that car. I'll probably end up buying one at some point. I've looked at a few over the years.

I'm wondering the same thing, I wonder if the Boss 429 heads will clear the shock towers.

Man, I can't believe CMDBill's car slipped my mind. He has one of the baddest '71 'Stangs there is. Maybe he's got some insight on how much room there is with a BBF in there.

1971 429SCJ was, I believe, was the quickest stock stang in the quarter. 71-73 look good in NHRA Super Stock setting.

As a former owner of a string of 69-71 Fords with FE, Cleveland and Lima power, I feel obliged to respond to this. I'm sure the comment about the 71 429 SCJ can be supported with claims from old car mag track tests, etc, but on the mean streets of SW Ontario in the period up to the mid-70s I can confidently state that 1969-70 428-powered 'Stangs would eat alive almost anything powered by a 429 CJ/SCJ. Further (and just my opinion):

1 - the 351C powered 1970 and 1971 Mach I cars were the all-round best performing Mustangs built, at least until the advent of the 5.0 Fox bodies

I'd have to agree that the 428CJ's were bad ass mofo's. I haven't seen a 428CJ FE line up against a 429SCJ 385, but I'd sure love to see it! In fact, to make it more interesting, I'd throw a 1971 Boss 351 into to the mix (or a '72 R Code, basically a slightly detuned Boss 351). The 69-73 351C cars are definitely ballsey, but I'd venture to say that the 69-70 351W 4V were pretty stout as well.

[milner351]

My first car was a 70 mach1 351c 4v 4spd, so I'm more than a little biased, I had that same car in some form or another, through '00 when I got divorced, sold everything but my tools, and started over. A few years later, the '69 in my avatar found me while on a mission trip in SE Kentucky.

This will be my first FE build... I'm still gathering parts, but it's fun.

As inefficient as it was for all the OEMS to have so many different engines (351C, 351W, 428FE, 429/460, 350 / 454chevy, 350/455 pontiac, buick, olds) it sure makes things interesting.

With all the aluminum heads and stroker kits available now - it's hard to imagine which engine family would make the most power in a 71-73 these days - but - judging by the engine masters challenge - there are several blue oval options that make insane area under the curve numbers - as always - speed costs money - how fast do you want to go?

[mustang13]

[quote=mlcraven ]

3 - Mustang IIs? Sorry, homely as a picket fence, partic the notchback. Ugly then, ugly now. Doesn't mean they weren't or can't be fast/enjoyable (I'm thinking of the ground-breaking big block SCJ powered Joe Ruggirello 75 Mustang II that Gray Baskerville reported on), but they'll NEVER be pretty.

You mean this one Bad ASS!! II right there.

Another Bad Ass II from the cat in the hat.

[jcharliem]

1971 429SCJ was, I believe, was the quickest stock stang in the quarter. 71-73 look good in NHRA Super Stock setting.

As a former owner of a string of 69-71 Fords with FE, Cleveland and Lima power, I feel obliged to respond to this. I'm sure the comment about the 71 429 SCJ can be supported with claims from old car mag track tests, etc, but on the mean streets of SW Ontario in the period up to the mid-70s I can confidently state that 1969-70 428-powered 'Stangs would eat alive almost anything powered by a 429 CJ/SCJ. Further (and just my opinion):

1 - the 351C powered 1970 and 1971 Mach I cars were the all-round best performing Mustangs built, at least until the advent of the 5.0 Fox bodies

2 - the 70 Mach I is the best looking Mustang ever produced, full stop

3 - Mustang IIs? Sorry, homely as a picket fence, partic the notchback. Ugly then, ugly now. Doesn't mean they weren't or can't be fast/enjoyable (I'm thinking of the ground-breaking big block SCJ powered Joe Ruggirello 75 Mustang II that Gray Baskerville reported on), but they'll NEVER be pretty.

The quickest production Mustang could probably be debated until the cows come home. Yet, if you rely on the car rags' published times of yesteryear... it's a toss up between the '69 428SCJ and '71 Boss 351. The published 335hp for the 428SCJ and 330hp for the Boss 351 was a joke.

Having owned a Boss 351 and two '70 Boss 302s... I would weigh in that the Boss 351 was a terrific factory ride in a straight line; yet, couldn't handle worth dung. IMO, the '69/'70 Boss 302 was the best 'all-around' performance Mustang ever produced.

[Darren N.]

jcharliem, you make some valid points. While I haven't been in a totally legit Boss 302 or Boss 351 I've come pretty close. My dad had a '70 Boss 302 in the late 70's but he toasted the original motor. The car was later sold to my uncle and I've ridden in it a few times over the years with 351C power. I have to say that the '70 Boss 302 (albeit with 351C power) feels much tighter and well balanced than the '72 Mach 1 that my dad currently has. There's something about slipping into the driver's seat of the '70, you feel like a total badass, haha. I have to admit, I never really felt much excitement in terms of the driver's ergonomics in the 71-73 cars (poor visibility all around, although the interior feels roomier the driver's position isn't nearly as good as the 69-70 cars IMHO). That aside, I still prefer the styling of the 71-73's, heh.

Ooooh, this is pretty irrelevant here in terms our discussion but if ya'll would like to see the '72 Mach and '70 Boss 302 (w/ 351C power) out and about, here's an excerpt from a movie me and my friend made in the 9th grade: