When it comes to the background and history, we all know pretty much everything about the Mustang nameplate. Designed as a sports car in the early 60s, the Ford Mustang practically ate up the sales back in the day, much to Chevrolet's dismay. It even launched a whole new genre of automobiles, the mighty pony cars that will continue to come out in record numbers.
Over the years, the biggest nameplate in the Ford lineup will continue to grow. People could see larger and more powerful Mustangs coming from the production lines. However, the sales did halt for a little while in the '70s, mostly due to the oil crisis (although the bulky design played its part). To remedy the sales decline, Ford introduced the second generation of the Ford Mustang.
This particular generation was known as a sporty lineup of more compact and powerful vehicles, and it gained one special model – a highly-regarded Cobra. Just as the Shelby represented the peak of Mustang performance, so did Cobra, which is why famous Charlie Kemp decided to take one to the race.
The 1976 Ford Mustang Cobra II Race Car was one of a kind, produced solely for racing purposes. Today, we explain why we love it so much and reveal more details behind the regular Ford Mustang Cobra II, especially compared to the race version. Read on to learn more.
We Love Charlie Kemp's Cobra II Was A Custom-Designed Race Car
As we mentioned, Charlie Kemp's Cobra was one of a kind. The prominent American driver ran Corvettes and Mustangs before but decided to take things one step further in 1976 to beat the dominant German cars in the the IMSA class races. He went for the Ford Mustang Cobra II.
However, Kemp didn't ask for backup from the Ford Motor Company – he formed an independent team to work on his race car, equipping it with 560-hp. The new Cobra was looking to beat the Chevrolet in specs, and it also appeared more impressive with a sleek and low-profile design.
Because he didn't get any support from Ford, the American driver simply named his new race car the "Kemp Cobra II." So, the custom-styling was probably what Kemp loved about this Cobra the most in the end, just as we do. Unfortunately, not everyone approved of the radical and independent design.
The Cobra II debuted at Daytona in 1976 but was not accepted as an AAGT (All American Grand Touring) car. Kemp had to move to the Le Mans GTX category. He also had to continue to develop the vehicle to meet all the IMSA regulations over time. Sadly, one of the fastest cars out there never reached first place. The powertrain with 635-hp couldn't ensure a win for Charlie Kemp, which ultimately led them to give up on his custom project.
Things To Know About The Ford Mustang Cobra II
Allegedly, there was a plan to make Kemp's Cobra a street-legal car, but it was dropped due to financial reasons. Seemingly, the project would cost enormous amounts of money.
However, Ford already had an appearance package in place. It was not anywhere near the monstrous custom-made Kemp Cobra, but it was an attention-worthy sports model people could buy in 1976. Let's take a brief look at the 1976 Ford Mustang Cobra II.
The Mustang Nameplate Brings Back The Popularity In The 70s
As we already mentioned, the second generation of the Mustang nameplate came as an attempt to remedy Ford's decreasing popularity during the oil crisis. The new lineup indeed gained much-needed attention by appealing to budget-conscious consumers, and it raised sales.
However, Ford had to readjust its lineup quickly to meet the emerging needs and desires of customers. That's how the sporty, visually appealing package Cobra II came to be. Featuring the fresh design and the mighty V8 optional engine (along with the four-cylinder and the V6 one), the Ford Mustang Cobra II was a real gem of a package.
The Sports Car Made For The Street But Looking Race-Ready
The 1976 Ford Mustang Cobra II was a super exciting upgrade package customers could add to any hatchback body style. Visually, it consisted of wide stripes running on top of the car and a more narrow one going along the lower body. The big "Cobra II" heading was also squeezed on the side, enriching the sports car along with the black grille, simulated hood scoop, front and rear spoilers, quarter window louvers, and many other features.
Essentially, anyone who wanted a more aggressive-looking sports car could add the Cobra II appearance package to their hatchback of choice. It was far from having the same experience as Charlie Kemp, but the package somewhat reflected the same racing spirit.