Starting A New 72 Mach 1 Project

Flatback72 said:

When replacing that rear quarter sheet metal be aware also that the 71-72 sheet-metal around the bumper area is also different to a 73.

One day at a work car show somebody looked at my 72 and said "Is that large gap around the end of the bumper from factory?"
I'd had the car about 10 years and hadn't actually noticed, but the gap at the bumper on the drivers side was substantially bigger than the one on the passenger side. I had always known that my car had been repaired on the drivers quarter, but it was only at that point that I realized that the donor metal had come from a 73.

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ib4stangs said:

Not true... Rear quarters are all the same from 71-73 except between body styles. The difference is 73 bumper mounts, end caps and a filler panel between body and bumper for a NHTSA mandated 2-1/2 MPH impact rear.
If you measure both brackets. You might have a 71-72 bumper mount on one side and a 73 mount on the other....

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ib4stangs said:

Nope, they are the same to match bumper contour. Good chance someone did bodywork to it. Measure distance from marker light to curve edge on both. The right side looks wider than left. Then look inside trunk for signs of repairs. Don't forget to check both brackets distance from body to bumper...

Only real difference is later NOS D3ZZ replacement quarter panels had 2 drilled holes for corner spacers in recess.

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ib4stangs said:

Nope, they are the same to match bumper contour. Good chance someone did bodywork to it. Measure distance from marker light to curve edge on both. The right side looks wider than left. Then look inside trunk for signs of repairs. Don't forget to check both brackets distance from body to bumper...

Only real difference is later NOS D3ZZ replacement quarter panels had 2 drilled holes for corner spacers in recess.

Click to expand...