Ford Mustela II

The Ford Mustela II was a concept car designed by Ghia after the Italian coachbuilder was acquired by Ford in 1973. Following the acquisition, Ghia became the European styling and prototype division for Ford’s global operations, quickly producing a series of innovative concept cars based on Ford’s existing models. These concepts included the Mustela (which served as an alternative to the Ford Capri), the Tuareg (an off-road variant of the Fiesta), and the Microsport (a sporty, truncated version of the Fiesta). Among these, the Ford Mustela II stood out as an evolution of the original Mustela concept, showcasing Ford’s vision for the future of European compact cars. The Ford Mustela II was a reworking of a design initially presented by Tom Tjaarda in 1970. As with many concept cars of the era, the Mustela II was a bold expression of what the next generation of compact cars could look like. However, the Mustela II incorporated several styling cues that would later appear on the production version of the 1974 Ford Capri II, signaling Ford’s intention to bring some of the concept’s aesthetics to a more mass-market audience. One of the key features of the Mustela II was its sleek, aerodynamic body. It featured sharp, angular lines and a streamlined profile, contributing to both its modern look and its enhanced performance capabilities. These stylistic elements were ahead of their time, and many of them were later refined and incorporated into the production designs of various Ford models. Although the Ford Mustela II never reached production, it played a significant role in shaping the design language of Ford vehicles in the 1970s. The concept’s influence can be seen in the design of the Capri II and other Ford models, illustrating the importance of Ghia’s collaboration with Ford in shaping the brand’s European identity. The Mustela II remains an example of the innovative spirit and forward-thinking design that defined Ford’s concept cars during that period.