Ford's Mustang's "Pinto Mustang Era," beginning with the second generation in 1973, is widely regarded as the model's lowest point.
They were tiny cars with inline-four or V-6 engines, in stark contrast to the first generation's lethal GT350s, Boss429s, and Mach 1s. The
Mustang was the worst hit among the American muscle cars in '73, but there were still some attractive options like the 1976 Mustang II
Cobra II that fell short in terms of performance. Every worst muscle car list includes the 1978 Mustang II King Cobra, not because it
looked bad but because of its weak engine. If you close your eyes and picture a 1,000+ horsepower engine lurking behind that awesome hood serpent, you'll see why it requires a Hellephant.