Which V8 engine returned to the Mustang II for the 1975 model year?

The V8 engine that returned to the Mustang II for the 1975 model year was the 302 Windsor V8.

Ford initially omitted a V8 from the 1974 Mustang II because the smaller, fuel-conscious car arrived during the 1973 oil crisis. Customer demand for more performance soon persuaded Ford to re-engineer the engine bay and bring back a V8 for 1975.

The engine was Ford’s 302-cubic-inch Windsor small-block, marketed in metric form as a 5.0-liter V8 even though its actual displacement was about 4.9 liters. It used a two-barrel carburetor and was available only with the C4 automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes.

A common mix-up is with the 351 Cleveland, another Ford V8 family used in earlier Mustangs. The 289 Windsor was also associated with first-generation Mustangs, but it was not the engine reintroduced for the 1975 Mustang II.