Papercraft model of the 1974 Ford Mustang II, the second generation of the iconic American “pony car” adapted to the 1970s oil crisis.
| Manufacturer | Ford |
|---|---|
| Season | 1974 |
| Category | Classics |
| Scale | 1:24 |
| Difficulty | Low |
| Estimated time | 2-3 hours |
| Print format | 1 A4 sheets |
| Source | Unknown |
What you'll need: 200-250 gsm paper or cardstock, scissors or a craft knife, a ruler and glue stick.
Facing the 1973 oil crisis, Ford downsized the Mustang and reduced its fuel consumption for this second generation, a response to new demands in the American market.
The so-called "Mustang II" launched in September 1973, just before the oil crisis hit, which turned its smaller, more efficient approach into an unexpected stroke of commercial luck for Ford. Unlike the first generation, this model was built on the Ford Pinto platform, a much smaller economy car, and for the first time dropped the iconic V8 engine in its debut year, offering only four-cylinder and V6 options. The design was overseen by the team under Lee Iacocca, who had also driven the creation of the original 1964 Mustang, again aiming to match shifting public tastes.
Despite criticism from purist enthusiasts, who saw this generation as a step back from the power of 1960s Mustangs, the car was a strong seller at the time thanks to its low fuel consumption during the fuel shortage. Motor Trend magazine even named it "Car of the Year" for 1974, a rare accolade for a generation that today is often overshadowed by its predecessors and successors. A year later, in 1975, Ford reinstated the V8 option to give the lineup back some sporting character, ahead of the third generation, built on the Fox platform, which arrived in 1979.