By the early 1970’s, the Ford Mustang had evolved from a small and nimble sports compact to a big, bloated road hog. For 1974, Ford wanted to get back to the Mustang’s roots, while appeasing new government emissions and fuel economy regulations. The result was the Mustang II, one of the most-reviled, and best-selling Mustangs of all time.

The 1974 Mustang is the first, and to date, only Mustang to not offer a V8 option. Instead, the only option was a 2.8 liter V6, enshrining the 1974 Mustang II was the worst Mustang ever (despite being named Motor Trend’s Car of the Year).

So what better thing to do with a ‘74 Mustang II than dropping it onto a truck frame, and popping a V8 under the hood? That’s what the owner of today’s Craigslist Find did, and it’s the best use of a Mustang II we’ve seen so far.

While it may seem like we’re picking on the Mustang II, it was a step backwards in both a good and bad way. It was smaller, lighter, and more economical, but the loss of a V8 option almost doomed the Mustang to the same fate suffered by cars like the Dodge Charger; becoming an uncompetitive compact.

This particular Mustang II sits on an International Scout chassis, and packs a 289 V8 backed by a C4 automatic transmission. You couldn’t ask for a more classic engine/transmission combo. The 4×4 reportedly works, and the interior looks pretty clean and comfortable. For less than $4,000, we ask…why not?