72 Mach 1 registry list

[Michael O’Harran]

All,
I have a 72 Mach 1 and as those who do know, there is only 336 of them. I asked Marty from the Marty report and they said they don’t have the ability to research and tell me which one of the 336 mine is? Also trying to restore these rare cars, the 1972 351C RCode HO are equally as rare if not more so because of motors being blown and swapped out. For only 336, such a small number, seems possible to try to register that group and attempt to track and identify as many as possible into a registry. And in doing so we could start to track the surviving motors. Any one know of anyone who has done this or started this? Not being able to find a 1972 351C RCode HO original motor has had me puzzling of these questions.

 

[midlife]

There was more than 27,000 Mach 1's in 1972. Your number must be for a particular engine designation.

 

[Michael O’Harran]

Yes but the 336 were the R Code 351C HOs as I understand it. And though my VIN says which number mustang it is out of all 27,000, I am looking to drill down that same knowledge to that 336. I know mine was built on April 13 but is that the 178th of 336 or 100th? I haven’t been able to find a place to know the order of which those Mach 1s were produced, how many a month etc.

 

[Tnfastbk]

Mustangs were not necessarily in chronological order. Ford numbered each car as it came down the line. Be it a mustang or whatever was coming down the line.

 

[Bobby]

All,
I have a 72 Mach 1 and as those who do know, there is only 336 of them. I asked Marty from the Marty report and they said they don’t have the ability to research and tell me which one of the 336 mine is? Also trying to restore these rare cars, the 1972 351C RCode HO are equally as rare if not more so because of motors being blown and swapped out. For only 336, such a small number, seems possible to try to register that group and attempt to track and identify as many as possible into a registry. And in doing so we could start to track the surviving motors. Any one know of anyone who has done this or started this? Not being able to find a 1972 351C RCode HO original motor has had me puzzling of these questions.

I just read a Motortrend article that states “the Numbers book, production included 13 convertibles, 19 hardtops, and 366 SportsRoofs for a total of 398 Mustangs with the H.O. drivetrain. Of the 366 fastbacks, 336 were Mach 1s.”

 

[Bobby]

The object of this Motortrend article (Eric Petosa) has a registry for the 72 H.O. Mustangs. [email protected]

 

[Michael O’Harran]

Mustangs were not necessarily in chronological order. Ford numbered each car as it came down the line. Be it a mustang or whatever was coming down the line.

But being numbered as they came down the line, wouldn’t that be numbering them in chronological order? I don’t see how it would end up being anything but.

 

[midlife]

Cars were assigned numbers as the orders came in and assigned for bucking. The order in which they were built depended upon factors such as availability of parts, paint colors, etc. Two consecutive VIN cars were not necessarily sequential along the assembly line.

 

[69 Rustang]

They weren’t necessarily built in perfect chronological order and some assembly lines built more than 1 model of vehicle. For example, Cougars and Torino’s could have share the same assembly line as Mustangs and the consecutive unit number (Last part of VIN) is of all cars not just Mustangs.

 

[Michael O’Harran]

Cars were assigned numbers as the orders came in and assigned for bucking. The order in which they were built depended upon factors such as availability of parts, paint colors, etc. Two consecutive VIN cars were not necessarily sequential along the assembly line.

Did not know this. Okay, so if some started a registry, by owners registering we would be able to learn the build dates to learn the sequential order right? Were all RCode Mach 1s built at the same plant or different ones? To own one of 336 in a community like this seems like an equal curiosity others would like to know as well?

 

[midlife]

Unlikely that all R Code Mach1's were built in the same factory. Build dates as per door VIN cards were scheduled build dates, not the true date. For the true date, you have to access the Marti database.

 

[Michael O’Harran]

Unlikely that all R Code Mach1's were built in the same factory. Build dates as per door VIN cards were scheduled build dates, not the true date. For the true date, you have to access the Marti database.

Just came across this. “All 351 HO cars were manufactured in Dearborn, MI.”https://www.mustangspecs.com/1972-ford-mustang/

 

[secluff]

Micheal,
I see you've already found the answer for the assembly plant location for your '72. San Jose ended Mustang production after the '70 model year, and Metuchen built '71s through late December '70. That left Dearborn as the sole Mustang assembly plant until 2005 production shifted to Flat Rock. So your '72 R code is definitely a Dearborn "2F" Mustang.
As already posted, a Vin was assigned not long after the dealer submitted the order to Ford. That way, the dealer code, Vin, and order number help identify the vehicle, and steps are taken to source whatever is needed from Ford vendors and Ford sub-assembly plants. Keep in mind that Mustangs, Cougars, Mavericks, and Comets were being built at Dearborn during this time, so was very little chance of any actual numerical sequence of assembly. Retail orders had priority over dealer stock orders. Special order paint and any non-RPO items would result in the vehicle being removed from the assembly line. Some DSO orders would require a sublet to an outside vendor or extra time at the paint or body shop.
Attrition from blown engines, cars totaled in accidents, and some just thrown away when rusted or just used up years before these cars were considered collectible, has probably lowered the 398 built substantially.
At one time, Steve73QMach1 was compiling production numbers from the posted Marti reports here but may have run into some problems. Hopefully, he will be able to continue that work as he was doing a great job.
I have some of my Mustang Vins registered at a site https://www.isomustangs.org/Registry.aspx
At this time, they have 15 '72 R code Mustangs registered and 59 71s.

 

[Michael O’Harran]

Micheal,
I see you've already found the answer for the assembly plant location for your '72. San Jose ended Mustang production after the '70 model year, and Metuchen built '71s through late December '70. That left Dearborn as the sole Mustang assembly plant until '94 production shifted to Flat Rock. So your '72 R code is definitely a Dearborn "2F" Mustang.
As already posted, a Vin was assigned not long after the dealer submitted the order to Ford. That way, the dealer code, Vin, and order number help identify the vehicle, and steps are taken to source whatever is needed from Ford vendors and Ford sub-assembly plants. Keep in mind that Mustangs, Cougars, Mavericks, and Comets were being built at Dearborn during this time, so was very little chance of any actual numerical sequence of assembly. Retail orders had priority over dealer stock orders. Special order paint and any non-RPO items would result in the vehicle being removed from the assembly line. Some DSO orders would require a sublet to an outside vendor or extra time at the paint or body shop.
Attrition from blown engines, cars totaled in accidents, and some just thrown away when rusted or just used up years before these cars were considered collectible, has probably lowered the 398 built substantially.
At one time, Steve73QMach1 was compiling production numbers from the posted Marti reports here but may have run into some problems. Hopefully, he will be able to continue that work as he was doing a great job.
I have some of my Mustang Vins registered at a site https://www.isomustangs.org/Registry.aspx
At this time, they have 15 '72 R code Mustangs registered and 59 71s.

No this was very informative. Thank you.