|
|
|
chart, the car yielded highly respectable fuel mileage, considering the
size of the engine and the performance available. Also in the good
news department is that a 16.5-gal. fuel tank comes with the 302 V-8 in
place of the standard 13-gal. tank. We discovered the way to get the most out
of this engine/gearbox combination economy and performance-is not to
try squeezing out the last rpm in each gear but to get into top gear as soon
as possible.
The Cobra II finery, consisting of decals, emblems, spoilers, slotted
window covers, a padded steering wheel rim, etc., proved to be areal
attention getter, exactly as it is intended to do. It's doubtful if any of
the airfoils help or hurt anywhere within the car's actual speed range,
but they certainly impress the aver age beholder .
The combination of the rally sus-
|
pension and large-section steel radial tires yield a ride definitely on the firm
side-perhaps a little too firm for some people. Rear roll stiffness is
augmented by an added-on anti-roll bar. The car remains a basic understeerer,
but with the stiff rear end, oversteer can be induced with power
at lower speeds. The car feels as if it might do very well in twisty, slalom-type
competition.
The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering gets high marks because
it doesn't over-assist and leaves a good feel of the road.
The brakes did a fine job of stopping the car in the panic stop tests
with virtually no sluing to one side. They did, however, emit strong odors
when used hard to stop at the end of our acceleration runs. The hand
brake proved powerful and easy to use when driving uphill in stop-and-go traffic.
|
Air conditioning was one option not included on our test car, but the
fresh air system did an adequate job of cooling the occupants while the
car was in motion. When at rest, lowering a window was required.
A Johnson GB with a magnetic base antenna provided fun and entertainment.
As well as could be de termined just by using the GB, the
radiation characteristics of the antenna weren't greatly affected by replac-
ing a large percentage of the metal roof with glass and losing some of
the ground plane. The magnetic antenna solves the theft problem nicely,
because it can be unstuck and stowed out of sight when leaving the
car.
For the young or the young at heart, a Mustang II T-top optioned
about like our test car makes a prideful and pleasing piece of
transportation.
|
| Specifications: 1977 Mustang II T-Top |
|
| GENERAL | |
| Manufacturer | Ford Division
Ford Motor Company |
| Number of U.S. dealers | 5572 |
| Warranty | 12 months/12,000 miles |
| Base list price | $3901 |
| Options on test car | 302 V-8, 4-spd (234),
| Cobra II pkg ($514),
T-top sun roof ($750),
AM/FM stereo tape ($229),
E.F. Johnson CB ($169.95),
lacy spk alum wheels ($173),
pwr steering ($125),
plus various comfort &
convenience items ($418) |
| Price as tested | $6513.95 |
| POWER UNIT | |
| Type | Water-cooled V-8 |
| Bore & stroke | 4.00 x 3.00 in/
101.6 x 76.2 mm |
| Displacement | 302cid/4948cc |
| Maximum net HP | 129 @ 3400 rpm |
|
| Maximum net torque | 242 lb/ft @ 2000
rpm |
| Compression ratio | 8.4:1 |
| Carburetion | 2-bbl |
| DRIVETRAIN | |
| Transmission type | 4-spd manual |
| Final drive ratio | 3.0:1 |
| CHASSIS | |
| Body/frame | Unitized, isolated front frame |
| Suspension, front | Independent, stabilizer
bar, compression
struts, coil springs,
tubular shocks
rear Live axle, semi-elliptic
leaf springs, tubular
shocks, stabilizer
bar |
| Brakes, front | 9.3-in. vented disc |
| rear | 9.0- x 2-in. drum |
| Steering system | Rack and pinion
power-assisted) |
|
| Steering ratio | 19.0:1 |
| Tire make & size | Firestone 195/70R-13 |
| DIMENSIONS | |
| Wheelbase | 96.2 in./24.35 cm |
| Track, front | 55.6 in./141.2 cm |
| rear | 55.8 in./141.7 cm |
| Length | 175.0 in/444.5 cm |
| Width | 70.2 in./178.3 cm |
| Height | 50.0 in/127.0 cm |
| Weight | 3225 lb/1465.9 kg |
| Fuel capacity | 16.5 gals. |
| PERFORMANCE | |
| 0-30 mph | 3.7 sec |
| 0-60 mph | 11.3 sec |
| 40-60 mph | 5.4 sec |
| Quarter mile | 17.7 sec |
| Speed at end of quarter mile | 77.6 mph |
| Braking, 30-0 mph | 29.8 ft |
| 60-0 mph | 135.5 ft |
| Fuel economy, | |
| 73-mile MT loop | 20.1 mpg |
|
FEBRUARY 1977 MOTOR TREND
©1998-2014 The Mustang II Organization,
©1997-2010 D'TechnoArt Designs, &
©1999-2014 Lee Lafountain
|
MustangII.Org