Its amazing how quickly negative opinion might extinguish youthful enthusiasm. A youngster may save up to buy a cara classic carand simply get what he thinks is right or maybe just what he can afford. Suddenly, hes surrounded by those who cant wait to tell him what he did wrong. Whats a poor kid to do?
When Chris Pasternak was 15, he took his money to his cousin, who had a project car that was simply stalled. At the time, it really didnt amount to more than a truckload of parts. Well, since Chris was 15 and he wasnt going to be driving for a while, why not let him buy the car and finish it up? It was kinda like a model kit in a way. The car, however, was a 76 Mustang Cobra II, and this was a time when the general consensus wasnt flattering to these cars.
When I got home, all my neighbors asked me why I wasted my money on a Mustang II, remembers Chris. They told me the best thing to do was cut out the front suspension and junk the rest. With all my money invested in it, I decided to keep it and build it.
It wasnt easy. He didnt have it on the road for his 16th birthdayor 17th, for that matter. In fact, it took five years of work to get it done.
One of the first things youll notice about the car (if, even today, youre open-minded enough to accept the Mustang II as a real Mustang) is the engine. It isnt a 2.3L, four-cylinder engine under the hood. In its place is a 351 Windsor powerplant, assembled by Chris and his father Bob, with machine work done by Kalies in nearby South Bend, Indiana. An MSD ignition and distributor were used, with a Crane cam and 11:1 flat-top pistons chugging through the cylinders. A manual valvebody C4 transmission was installed in place of the original unit. An 8-inch rear with 3:1 gears puts power where it needs to be.
Its a nice, smooth ride with the Monroe gas shocks up front and air shocks guiding the rear. A combination of 70-series 13-inch tires up front and 60-series 14-inch rubber in the back surrounds Cragar wheels.
The once decorative hoodscoop was made functional and a sunroof was added, mostly for the enjoyment of the family. On the rear glass, a specially etched Cobra draws the eye, a gift from Chris mother.
More than a decade after being questioned about his motives, Chris is starting to hear more compliments than complaints. The car was singled out at the MCA 25th anniversary show as an example of Fords best of the era. Whenever I take it to shows, people compliment the car and comment on not seeing Mustang IIs around anymore. It gives me a sense of pride to remind people of the forgotten generation of Mustangs.
Ah, yes; and had he followed the advice of others in his teenage years, it wouldnt be happening. Chris, his wife Elizabeth, and daughters Tarynn and Bethany all get maximum enjoyment from the hard work and dedication to cause. Its made a lot of people rethink that maybe the Mustang IIs werent so bad after all. Now its Chris whod love to give advice to the 15-year-old just starting out, whos bringing home a Mustang II. This time, the advice would be to give it your best shot. After all, it worked for Chris.