1971-72 Mach 1 vs 73

[classicsguy]

On a facebook ad of a 1973 Mach 1 for sale ;a buyer considering the purchase of the 

car said he preferred 71-72 over 73 because 71-72 were styled a little bit better

I wonder what he meant by that since the 3 years are basically the same. What do you guys think he meant by better styling of the 71-72 Mach’s?

 

[72MustangSprint]

I suspect he was talking about the front grill and the bumpers.

 

[1sostatic]

In order then... 

• the first 1971 "02" body sportsroof front (colour key bumper - base model)
  
• the 1971/72 "05" body Mach1 front (Chrome option - with hood locks)
  
• the 1971/72 with colour keyed bumper
  
• and the 1973 front styling
  

71/72



72 with colour key



73



Now...I'm not averse to having a 73... I do prefer the 1st one - the Sportsroof grille and I can only think because it has styling cues still present from the old 1966/67/68's

the sportsfront- 1971/72 grille is very much the typical 

the 73 however, they managed to make it a bit bullnosed by removing that cranked feature breaking up the lines across the front bumper.

Go to the mirror and stick your bottom lip out .... yup ...you look miserable ...like someone just pissed on your strawberry patch 

 

[kcmash]

Not sure if that is totally accurate.

I believe the 05 bodycode Mach 1 had the color keyed bumper as a default.  The Standard 02 Fastback would have the default chrome bumper with the non-sportlamp grille.

The Boss 351 had the chrome bumper with the sportlamps.  I don't think the chrome was an option for the Mach 1 package from the facotry.

1973 was hit with regulations on new collision requirements including 5MPH impact bumpers.  The bumpers got bigger, heavier and had the spring loaded mounts to try and meet these requirements.  

My opinion is that I have seen a lot of awesome looking Mach 1's in my day.  Make yours the one you want and have fun!

kcmash

 

[1sostatic]

I need teaching then because I've seen plenty of "05" body 71 and 72's with chrome noses - now if I'm not mistaken ... our Über admin Mister 4x4 has an 05 with a chrome snout - with a gorgeous silver sheen.

Now I believe the 351 Boss 1971 was an 02 body - which had the option of either?

the options lists for either "02" and "05" are real messy to me -- because if you were in the showroom and you said ".. i'm not going to buy it unless you stick a chrome konk" on a 429 CJ - would they refuse? ....nah! ... they'd bend over backwards to get the sale.

 

[kcmash]

Well I don't know everything you could be right , but I do know that the 71-72 urethane is not being reproduced so a lot of people who restore put a chrome bumper on instead that's why we see so many today.

Kcmash

 

[1sostatic]

Well I don't know everything you could be right , but I do know that the 71-72 urethane is not being reproduced so a lot of people who restore put a chrome bumper on instead that's why we see so many today.

Kcmash

But  :goodpost: -- you and I are building to a good historical point -- and I wonder if the "godlike" specialists in here can figure it out...

How liquid does an options list become, in sales oriented USA, when Mr. & Mrs. Joe. Customer says "I WANT THIS " or no sale ????

and then us historians go by the documentation and it doesn't fit the vehicle Standard Options 

 

[1sostatic]

lollerz

Mister 4x4 now informs me he nailed a chrome hooter to his 05 body whilst he fixed his battered urethane version. 

My name has been besmirched ... I demand satisfaction ... Like Gentlemen ... its pistols at dawn, on the village heath at ten paces.  :huh:



.... I'm dead.  :bravo: lollerz

 

[Mister 4x4]

I need teaching then because I've seen plenty of "05" body 71 and 72's with chrome noses - now if I'm not mistaken ... our Über admin Mister 4x4 has an 05 with a chrome snout - with a gorgeous silver sheen.

Now I believe the 351 Boss 1971 was an 02 body - which had the option of either?

the options lists for either "02" and "05" are real messy to me -- because if you were in the showroom and you said ".. i'm not going to buy it unless you stick a chrome konk"  on a 429 CJ  - would they refuse? ....nah! ... they'd bend over backwards to get the sale.

Actually, my bumper's chrome because my painter couldn't figure out how to apply primer to the urethane without it cracking (and I needed a bumper ASAP for a car show - so I went that way).  I also don't have the lower bright trim on mine, as it was originally a no-stripe/no spoiler car.  I had originally thought I wanted the stripes and spoilers, so I removed the bright trim - pieces were missing anyway - and went with the hockey stripe treatment for the rockers.  After seeing just about every car our there with stripes and spoilers (whether they came that way or not), I decided to keep mine as originally ordered, but have been too chicken to install the lower bright trim (gotta punch some holes in the sheet metal to do it).

OK, so:

Urethane bumpers were standard for '71-'72 "05" (Mach 1) and optional for others.  Some special packages came with urethane bumpers (Spring Specials and Sprints, for instance).  Chrome bumpers were standard for all except Mach 1s and the special packages, as equipped. 

Even Boss 351s had chrome bumpers, but then again, they are "02" bodies, after all.

The '73s were kind of 'stuck' with the Federally mandated 5-mph bumper, which did change the look of the nose, somewhat.  The grille changed to relocate the signal lamps from under the bumper, since they were basically invisible with the bigger chunk of urethane bumper.  There were only subtle differences between the Mach 1 and standard grilles (Tri-bar pony for Mach 1, pony and corral for standard). 

The fenders for '73s are different than '71-'72s as a result of the different shaped bumper.

The taillights were a subtle difference as well - the '71-'72s had black paint to trim out the light bezels, whereas the '73s were left unpainted.

Rear bumpers were tucked in a little closer on '71-'72s, while '73s were spaced away about an inch along with some filler pieces for the quarter extensions.

Stripe kits were different as well.  '71-'72s could have the optional hockey stripes (that were standard for the '71 Boss 351s, originally).  Deluxe trim for the Mach 1s had bright trim strips dividing the body color and rocker colors - no stripes, though (you could get the car with the no stripe/bright trim, or stripes with no bright trim... unlike a lot of cars you see these days with both).  '73s had the single, straight, wide stripes starting at the front marker and terminating just ahead of the rear wheel openings.  The hockey stripes were optional items for all years, I believe, and I'm pretty sure there was no lower bright trim option available for the '73s.

Hood locks and TuTone hood application were primarily for Ram Air equipped cars, but could be ordered as an optional item as well (they were "together", I believe).

There were a few minor things (seat belt light on the passenger side of the dash for '73s, for instance), but otherwise - most everything else is pretty much the same from '71 thru '73.

I know I'm missing something...

 

[Mister 4x4]

lollerz

Mister 4x4 now informs me he nailed a chrome hooter to his 05 body whilst he fixed his battered urethane version. 

My name has been besmirched ... I demand satisfaction ... Like Gentlemen ... its pistols at dawn, on the village heath at ten paces.  :huh:



.... I'm dead.  :bravo: lollerz

Sorry to have left ya hangin' there - I read the other thread before this one.  Your honor Sir, it still intact due to a procedural error on my part.  It is I, who shall depart in shame.   rofl

 

[IA Rider]

That 73 in the picture would look a lot better if the trim was not missing on the grill.

 

[secluff]

1sostatic,

The which bumper is supposed to be on my 71-72 appears here regularly.  With the 71-72's approaching the 50 year old mark and many non original owners here, it's a legitimate question.

All 71-72 Mach 1's (Body code 05) had a urethane front bumper as standard equipment.  All other Mustangs had the chrome front bumper standard  with no factory option for the urethane  bumper.  There wasn't a lot of exclusive items  on the Mach 1 to differentiate it from the 02 standard sportsroof, but the urethane front bumper was one of the few items. There was a 71 Spring Sprint special that had the Mach 1 grill and urethane bumper, NASA hood with color keyed hood and fender mouldings, color keyed racing mirrors and Boss style side stripes. The Sprint Special is something Ford had been doing starting with the 65-66 Mustangs. There were a few special orders Ford would allow the Dealer access to  such as power seats and moonroof since they were available on the Cougar which was built on the same line as the Mustang. Most of the special orders on the car line were non production colors for that particular car line. Ford didn't normally allow anything that would decontent a vehicle model such as removing the urethane front bumper on a Mach 1. With the Endura front bumpers and covers on the  GTO's and Firebirds so widely accepted, the front bumper on the Mach 1 just made us part of the "Group".

The problem with the 71-72 urethane bumper is just that. A two year utilization with limited use on other models such as the 71 Spring Special, 72 Red White and blue Sprint cars and a Decor Group option only available on the base coupe and vert.

The company that manufactured the bumpers for Ford changed hands a couple of times and eventually went out of business and disappeared from the landscape.  No one seems to be able the find the original blueprints for the  bumper at Ford and with the manufacturing company no longer in existence, another dead end!!

So as others have posted, with insane prices on rare NOS and no damage used bumpers, most are forced to use the chrome standard bumper.  Since this gives the Boss 351 look with the painted hood and fender mouldings, it still makes for a good looking car.

Just look at Eric's beautiful pewter Mach 1. He calls it "Just a Lowly H Code" but it's a perfect example of how good these cars can be made to look. The chrome front bumper and Cragars look like something that was time machine transported from 1971.

The 73 Mustang sported the federally mandated 5 MPH crash bumper on all models, so there was no other bumper choice. A one year only bumper since the 74 Mustang was a totally new model with no parts interchange. Finding a good 73 bumper can also be a challenge.  

As far as what the dealer would do to make a sell....ANYTHING!! If you wanted a toaster oven and a revolving Disco ball in your pride and joy, consider it done.

Hope this has helped to answer some of your questions and not confused the issues more.    

 

[1sostatic]

Steve - that really clears it up -- in fact the whole thread helped me learn a bit more  ... many thanks  ::thumb::

 

[1sostatic]

lollerz

Mister 4x4 now informs me he nailed a chrome hooter to his 05 body whilst he fixed his battered urethane version. 

My name has been besmirched ... I demand satisfaction ... Like Gentlemen ... its pistols at dawn, on the village heath at ten paces.  :huh:



.... I'm dead.  :bravo: lollerz

Sorry to have left ya hangin' there - I read the other thread before this one.  Your honor Sir, it still intact due to a procedural error on my part.  It is I, who shall depart in shame.   rofl

Hehe  lollerz  this was fun ... All the best to you and your gorgeous car  ::thumb::

 

[mustangandy]

Was it just the 'cosmetics' that the FB poster was concerned with? I presume they know the emissions,hence power, restrictions that came in from '72 onwards.

 

[1sostatic]

Well I don't know everything you could be right , but I do know that the 71-72 urethane is not being reproduced so a lot of people who restore put a chrome bumper on instead that's why we see so many today.

Kcmash

Hi KC 

It's such a mix of who optioned what in the show room - and/or what changes someone may have made part way through a car's life. I've been grappling with the oddities in the official options lists for some time - thanks for helping straighten me out. :shootself:

But, You know what ? - I know it's personal taste... Out of this discussion I've come to a realization that some colors, the Chrome option really makes the front of the car pop more and balances with the chrome on the rear in good proportion like Eric's car. 

But back to the beginning of this thread... my buying eye is still tuned more to the 71  and 72 styling wise.

 

[1sostatic]

Was it just the 'cosmetics' that the FB poster was concerned with? I presume they know the emissions,hence power, restrictions that came in from '72 onwards.

That's interesting, ...was the power restricted in 73 for emissions reasons ? ... I don't know -- there was a point Chevrolet cranked the power down on all their Corvettes for this;  making them lame through the mid 1970's

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

Just saw this one this morning and will toss the one other type build into the pot.

If you did order a Mach 1 with a non factory color, Special Order Paint & Trim, you got a chrome front bumper in 71 & 72 due to the fact that Ford did not have the matching non factory color paint with the flex agent in it. 

In 1973 cars with non factory Special Order Paint & Trim got Argent front bumpers.

If you have the build sheet for either the bottom half has any special instructions that is where it tells the assembly line to install the Chrome bumper on 71 & 72 or the Argent bumper on the 73.

Since the picture of the 73 did not have the stainless trim here is a  complete one. Also a pic of an Argent front bumper on a std. grill 73 vert. Decor Group car is yellow one that got the Mach 1 grill as part of the DG.

 

[MustangNJ]

pic of my 73 Mex Mach 1. spoiler is missing, but I have a replacement. the underside of the car has plenty of holes drilled, but none of them line up with the holes in the after market spoiler I got....



blue d&d dice