1978 Ford Mustang King Cobra 0001-4670

This official archive image documents the 1978 Ford Mustang King Cobra, the last and most extreme Mustang II. 1978 was the generation's final year, and the King Cobra sent it out with a bonnet-filling cobra graphic, a deep air dam, a rear spoiler and the 302 V8 as standard. Only 4,313 were built before the Fox-body Mustang replaced the model for 1979.

Why Was 1978 the End of an Era?

1978 was the last year for the Mustang II, and with it the Mach 1 and the Cobra II option package. For 1979 Ford replaced the car entirely with the Fox-platform Mustang, a completely different and far more capable machine that would run in various forms until 2004.

The King Cobra therefore closes a chapter. It is the final statement of the appearance-led approach that defined American performance marketing through the 1970s.

What Made the Graphics So Distinctive?

The bonnet cobra decal covered almost the entire panel, a scale of graphic treatment that only the Pontiac Trans Am matched. Combined with the air dam, spoiler and lower body striping, the effect was deliberately theatrical.

Those graphics are also why original cars are rare. Decals faded, were damaged, or were removed during repaints, so a King Cobra with its original bonnet graphic intact is unusual.

What Are the Key Facts?

Summary specification:

• Produced for the 1978 model year only
• 4,313 units built, the lowest volume of any Mustang II variant
• 302 cubic inch V8 standard equipment
• Full front air dam, rear spoiler and bonnet cobra graphic
• Final year of the Mustang II before the Fox-body replacement

Who Is This Print For?

This 1978 King Cobra print suits Mustang II owners, King Cobra collectors, 1970s car enthusiasts, restoration shops, offices and garages. As vintage Ford wall art the bonnet graphic makes for an unusually bold print. Choose framed, canvas, metal or Giclée formats for a home office, study, museum display or Ford wall decor programme.

Photograph Details

• Subject: Ford Mustang II King Cobra
• Model year: 1978
• Notable: Final year of the Mustang II generation
• Engine: 302 cubic inch V8, standard
• Details: Bonnet-filling cobra graphic, deep air dam, rear spoiler
• Production: 4,313
• Archive reference: 0001-4670

This archival photograph is made available through Fordimages.com, the official Ford archive imagery licensee operated by Richard Weedn LLC. Each image is digitally restored before printing and handcrafted to order.

Available as:

• Framed Print — museum-quality paper, archival inks, Acrylite glazing, hanging hardware included
• Stretched Canvas — hand-stretched over 1.25-inch pine bars, heavy cotton poly matte finish
• ChromaLuxe Metal Print — image infused directly onto sheets of alloy metal for maximum vibrancy and durability
• Giclée Art Print — 260gsm satin finish paper, finest archival inks, white border

Made in the USA or Europe depending on your location.

About the Artwork

Artwork in this collection comes from the Ford Motor Company Archives, The Henry Ford Museum, the Carroll Shelby Archives, and the collections of acclaimed photographers and painters from around the world. Reproduction rights are reserved by the respective copyright owners.

Our framed prints feature a black, hand-stained solid wood frame with a white mat, museum-quality paper, archival inks, Acrylite glazing, and hanging hardware. The frame features a slim 0.8-inch face and projects 1.3 inches from the wall, creating a clean, contemporary shadow-box effect. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

Our stretched canvas prints are produced on acid-free, pH-neutral, and fade-resistant canvas. Each canvas is hand-glued to solid wood stretcher bars and stretched over 1.25-inch-thick pine bars. Mounting brackets are included. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

Our Giclée prints are produced using premium 200gsm semi-gloss paper and high-quality archival inks. Each print includes a white border around the perimeter.

For the 40 x 60 size, we use 250gsm museum-quality archival paper with an off-white, uncoated finish.

The listed size refers to the overall paper dimensions. The image is printed proportionally within the selected paper size. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

ChromaLuxe prints use a state-of-the-art coating process that infuses the image directly onto sheets of alloy metal. The result is photography with an exceptional combination of vibrancy, clarity, and durability.

Each print arrives ready to hang. An alloy subframe on the back allows the artwork to float away from the wall for a sleek, modern appearance. This is the finest-quality print we offer. Made in the USA.

All images are digitally restored before printing. Production location varies by product and destination. Shipping is calculated at checkout.