Seriel #1 for 71-73

[bkdunha]

Just noticed this Article on Mustang 360. Good history for the group to have:

No. 1 For '71-'73 Yields A Few New Surprises-Fifth In A Multipart Series

For months now, we've been telling you about 100001 from each model year beginning with 1967. Thanks to Kevin Marti of Marti Auto Works and Ford Motor Company's longtime support and help toward Kevin's efforts, we now know a lot of information about '67-'73 Mustang production than was never known.

This month, we're going to look at 100001 for 1971-'73. With the information Kevin has provided us, one thing is clear: Elgin Motors Ford in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, apparently had a lot of clout with Ford. All 100001 units from 1971-'72 were delivered north of the border to Elgin Motors. In 1971 when there were two Mustang plants online (Dearborn and Metuchen), both 100001 units went to the same dealer: Elgin Motors.

The year 1971 would result in an odd year for Mustang production. The folks at Ford would build Mustangs at Metuchen during the fall of '70, while they were ramping up to build the all-new Pinto at the East Coast plant. Mustang production ended in December 1970 at Metuchen, as a result. Dearborn would be the only Mustang assembly plant until 1974 when San Jose would come online again until 1982.

In a rare moment of celluloid capturing, the Mustang I prototype is hot-lapped around Waterford Hills Race Course in July 1963. Bill Wells was there to witness it with his girlfriend, Sue-now his wife of 35 years.

Ironically, 100001 for 1971 at Dearborn was a convertible planned for delivery to Elgin Motors Ford. It was equipped with the 351 2V engine, a white power top, an AM radio, power steering and disc brakes, a console, the Decor Group, and full wheel covers.

As you can see from the chart at right, there's nothing extraordinary about 1F03H100001. It's a garden-variety '71 Mustang convertible with 351 2V power. Does anyone know where this one is today?

When Dearborn was bucking 1F03H100001 for its 27-hour journey down the line, hundreds of miles away in northern New Jersey, the Metuchen plant was doing the same thing with 1T04H100101. You might be tempted to ask us about the typo, 100101, but it's not a typo. Mustang production at Metuchen didn't begin until 100101. The first 100 orders that year for Metuchen were identically equipped Yellow Pintos. And no wonder, the Pinto was a spirited sport/economy car at a time when America needed one most.

Metuchen's first '71 Mustang was a Grand hardtop that was also shipped to Elgin Motors Ford in Toronto. It was equipped with a brown vinyl top, power steering and disc brakes, an AM radio, a console, and tinted glass.

Dearborn was the only plant producing Mustangs in 1972. The first order for Dear-born that year was a Mach 1 scheduled for delivery to Elgin Motors Ford in Toronto. It was a nicely appointed Mach clad in Bright Lime with green interior. Elgin Motors ordered this one with a rear deck spoiler, power steering and disc brakes, an AM radio, a console, and the knitted vinyl Sports Interior.

We wrap up our series of 100001 cars with 3F02H100001, a 1973 Mustang convertible ordered by George Busby Ford in Nashville. This was a striking SportsRoof clad in Bright Red with black interior, power disc brakes, Deluxe bumper group, and an AM radio.

When you sum up 100001 from 1971-'73, it's certainly ironic how much these cars have in common. They're all 351 2V engines with FMX transmissions, all have vanilla 2.75:1 conventional axles, and none were generously appointed.

So what does all of this 100001 mean? For Ford Motor Company and its dealers, it means very little. Though we enthusiasts get excited about low serial numbers, for Ford it was just an order number and nothing more. Next month, we're going to look at the last units produced from 1967-'73.

We're always interested in your Mustang finds. Please write to us at In Search of Mustangs, Dept. MM, P.O. Box 883, Annandale, VA 22003 or e-mail [email protected]

1F03H100001 Dearborn

Body code 76D Convertible

Color code 6 Bright Blue Metallic

Trim code CB Blue Clarion knit with corinthian vinyl

Date code 08/70 August 1970

DSO code B1 Central Canada

Axle code 2 2.75:1 Conventional

Transmission

code X FMX

1T04H100101 Metuchen

Body code 65F Grand coupe

Color code E Medium Yellow Gold

Trim code AF Ginger lambeth cloth with corinthian vinyl

Date code 08/70 August 1970

DSO code B1 Central Canada

Axle code 2 2.75:1 Conventional

Transmission

code X FMX

2F05H100001 Dearborn

Body code 63R Mach 1

Color code 4E Bright Lime

Trim code GR Green {{{Sebring}}} knit with corinthian vinyl

Date code 08/71 August 1971

DSO code B1 Central Canada

Axle code 2 2.75:1 Conventional

Transmission

code X FMX

3F02H100001 Dearborn

Body code 63D SportsRoof

Color code 2B Bright Red

Trim code AA Black Ruffino with corinthian vinyl

Date code 07/72 July 1972

DSO code 28 Louisville

Axle code 2 2.75:1 Conventional

Transmission

code X FMX

 

[Pastel Blue]

Interesting that the first '71 Mustang was sent to my hometown, Toronto and more interesting that it was not sent somewhere in the USA... This dealer was located in the financial district of Toronto. It (the car) probably perished in the rust buildup and salty roads that followed from the then; harsh winters we used to have back in the day...

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

Serial # 1 of the 1973 sold on ebay last year. I posted the link to the forum I am sure.

If any of you ever got to go to the Harrah's car museum before it was sold he use to search out the low serial numbers from Ford and others. Was an amazing collection back in the 70's.