Every fan of Ford will know about the Ford Mustang models. Yet, not everyone knows much about the Ford Mustang II lineup or its special edition King Cobra. The Ford Mustang II is the second generation of the Mustang line, which was in production from 1973 through to 1978. Each year during this period, a new Ford Mustang II was in production.
In 1978, the King Cobra edition was new to the lineup, and sadly, it was the final Mustang II model for this second generation. With the 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra being fairly limited in production, it isn't every day that someone sees one driving down the highway. However, there are still some flying around the market from time to time and for not a bad price.
Here is a closer look at the 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra and what it is worth today.
The 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra Is A Limited Run Model With An Impressive Engine
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The Ford Mustang II King Cobra is different from all the other Mustang II models, which is due to its sportiness rather than its luxury appeal. For this model year, Ford went about emphasizing the sporty side of the Mustang II, which the previous models did not. The sportiness oozes itself through its unique exterior design, which includes stripes, a deep air-dam, and a Pontiac Trans Am style cobra snake decal on the hood.
Likewise, the 1978 Mustang II is the only one in the lineup with the name King Cobra. The King Cobra saw a limited run of only 4,313 units in production throughout 1978. Thereafter, the Mustang II second-generation lineup came to an end.
In terms of specifications, the 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra boasts only the V8 engine as an option, which was in place to bolster the image and sportiness of the model. This was a 4.9-liter Windsor V8 that could cough out 139 horsepower. In comparison to the 1974 Ford Mustang II's top horsepower of 88, this was quite some jump.
What The 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra Is Worth Today
At the time of release, the 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra was on the market for $6,350. Then, this was pretty expensive. In today's market, it is pretty affordable, even for a second-hand ride.
Funnily enough, the current market price of the 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra is pretty much the same as it once was. Some sell for around $7,000, which is very reasonable for a car that saw such a limited run. They are hard to find, seeing as very few were ever made. But, there are some hitting the auction houses online from time to time. So, anyone that really wants one of the beauties will have to have a watchful eye.
Some Interesting Facts About The 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra
Ford was serious about enhancing and exaggerating the sportiness of the Ford Mustang II King Cobra, so the team took to make it look sporty as well as play sporty. The team went about placing a racy-looking 2+2 hatchback model, which came with a T-top roof, on the cover of the car's dealership brochure. However, this was not quite what the customers saw when they got to the showrooms. Although it was sporty enough, thanks to its flame decal, it did not quite live up to those expectations.
In addition to this sportiness theme, it is important to note that a fashion accessory package was also on offer for this model year, which has the name "chic". This package would equip the Ford Mustang II King Cobra with striped "Fresno cloth" seating that had special pinstripes. Also inside, the car would boast funky interior lighting and vanity pockets. Again, this was all for show and not for practicality.
The 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra was in close comparison to the likes of the Chevrolet Monza, especially when it comes to power. It just exceeds the power potential of the Monza. However, the ride and overall handling of the King Cobra was not as impressive, which is shocking seeing as it boasts performance suspension.
Although there was an end to the King Cobra and the Mustang II lineup, the success was tremendous. Therefore, Ford went on to create a brand new Ford Mustang for 1979, which was a coupe model.
Overall, the 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra was a great success for Ford. The second-generation certainly boasts a lot of fun and innovation. Yet, the King Cobra model stands out among its younger siblings thanks to its performance and limited run. It is fairly reasonable to buy today. Yet, the classic Ford Mustang market is tough, especially models like the King Cobra that saw such a limited run. If someone finds one, they will be extremely lucky, especially as fewer than 5,000 were ever made.