INDIANAPOLIS, IN – For the second time in its eight-year history, the national Mustang II Reunion was held in conjunction with an MCA National Show, and it again turned out to be a big success. This time, the host event was the Mustang Club of Indianapolis’ “Race to Indy” Mustang Club of America (MCA) National Show, held at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds in nearby Danville, Indiana. Just how successful? Well, it was sold out! The MCA show itself had sold out of all participant spaces for its portion of the event, and that limited the spaces available for attendees of the Mustang II reunion to 45 cars of the 53 that had registered – which was still a great turnout in the wake of some pretty hot July weather. 

The Indy club kicked off its MCA show weekend with a Thursday track day at Putnam Park Road Course. The Second-gen Mustang participants started things off Friday after a day on the show field, where they hosted their traditional Mustang II Reunion Pizza Party held in an air-conditioned meeting room at the modern fairgrounds facility. There, some 90 attendees picked up their commemorative window clings and some Reunion VIII swag, as well as a few handouts from reunion sponsor Ford Performance, which opened the party with a remarks before turning the emcee duties over to owner-turned-author Robert Kennedy, who again served as Reunion chairman. Kennedy presented the 3rd Annual George Ftikas’ Unbridled Spirit Award, this year given to the family of the late Tim Stetser, who had been a popular figure in the Mustang II community before losing a battle with cancer. The show also marked the debut of Kennedy’s own just-released Mustang history book, “Unbridled,” which began its national sales tour during the event.

Saturday’s MCA show field included a separate space for the Mustang II Reunion, this year marking the 45th anniversary of the 1978 “Billboard” Cobra II – and several great examples of those had graced the II display area. Ford Performance handed out several “Recognition Award” window clings, and even some bottles of “Farrah Fawcett” brand soda for a few select Cobra II’s. Also making an appearance at the Ford Performance Meet & Greet tent was Emeline King, who was the first black female designer in Ford’s history. She was hosting her own book signing for her softbound, “What Do You Mean A Black Girl Can’t Design Cars? Emeline King – She Did It!” Emeline was Saturday night’s event banquet speaker at the nearby Dallara Indy Car Factory. Her inspirational and emotional talk was the hit of the evening.

After the MCA awards ceremony on Sunday, the Mustang II Reunion VIII was officially in the books as yet another fun-filled showing of these beloved second-generation Mustangs. In the proper context of history, the multitude of II owners and fans feel all the regurgitated and shopworn urban legends about the 1974-1978 Mustang II and subsequent disparaging views on these great little cars is undeserved. For II fans, the joy of Mustang ownership has been tainted by certain members of the automotive hobby who still hold a personal disdain for all things related to the 1974-1978 Mustang II. The II Reunions were created to help owners and fans celebrate these great-looking, fun-to-drive Second-Gen ‘Stangs together, and steer the non-believers away from the overwhelming tide of misinformation which totally ignores the context of the era in which Mustang II's proved to be such a smashing sales success.

To that end, Reunion IV is already being planned to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Mustang II in 2024, and it’s set to return to the venue that had launched the first-ever National Mustang II Reunion in Dearborn back in 2016. It will again be part of MOCSEM’s big Mustang Memories show at Ford World Headquarters on the third Sunday in August next year. Stay tuned to the “What’s Happening” section on FordPerformance.com for upcoming details on next year’s anniversary reunion. In the meantime, check out our photos from this summer’s Reunion VIII in our gallery below:

FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS / COURTESY JOHN M. CLOR