1976 Ford Mustang ll Cobra ll 0001-4666

This official archive image documents the 1976 Ford Mustang II Cobra II, introduced that year as an appearance package styled to evoke the Shelby Mustangs of the previous decade. It added full-length racing stripes, a front air dam, a rear deck spoiler, a non-functional bonnet scoop, window louvres and prominent Cobra snake badging over the Mustang II fastback.

What Was the Cobra II?

The Cobra II was developed for Ford by Jim Wangers' Motortown Corporation, the marketing operation behind several period appearance packages. It was applied to the Mustang II fastback and available in white with blue stripes, blue with white stripes and black with gold.

Everything about it was visual. The bonnet scoop did not feed air to the engine, and the package made no change to output — but it gave a compact 1970s Ford a silhouette that read as a performance car at a glance.

Why Does the Cobra II Still Matter?

It is the most recognisable Mustang II by a wide margin, in part because of extensive television exposure in the late 1970s that fixed the white-and-blue striped car in popular memory.

It also documents a genuine moment in American car history. In the mid-1970s emissions and fuel economy regulation had cut engine outputs dramatically, and manufacturers competed on appearance because they could no longer compete on power.

What Did the Cobra II Include?

Package contents for 1976:

• Full-length racing stripes over the roof, bonnet and deck
• Front air dam and rear deck spoiler
• Non-functional bonnet scoop
• Rear quarter window louvres and blacked-out grille
• Cobra snake badging and identification on the wings and dashboard

Who Is This Print For?

This 1976 Cobra II print suits Mustang II owners, Cobra II collectors, 1970s car enthusiasts, restoration shops, offices and garages. As vintage Ford wall art the striped Cobra II is a nostalgia piece with immediate recognition for anyone who grew up in the period. 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 Cobra II
• Model year: 1976
• Body style: Fastback
• Package: Full-length racing stripes, front air dam, rear deck spoiler, non-functional bonnet scoop, window louvres, Cobra badging
• Notable: First year of the package
• Archive reference: 0001-4666

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.