1972 Ford Mustang Mach 1

Description

The good folks at Ford Motor Company would like to remind you that performance remained alive and well in 1972, as this handsome Mustang Mach 1 fastback so ably demonstrates. No, it's not a tire-shredding Boss 429, but it is a strong-running and very handsome pony car that packs a long list of creature comforts that make it a more civilized kind of performance that we think you'll appreciate.

We have to admit that we really dig the Pewter Metallic paint. Combined with the overtly aggressive Mach 1 stripes and blacked-out hood, it provides a kind of cognitive dissonance that works rather well. This is a fast car, a bold car, but also an elegant car that seems to want to be grown-up rather than boy-racer-ish. Showing just 24,940 original miles, you know the bodywork is in excellent condition and thanks to a quality repaint about five years ago, it has an awesome shine. It's just the right color, although the use of modern urethane paints means that the sheen is deep and clear. They also used that time to neaten up the gaps and then a full set of reproduction decals were installed. Up front, the bumpers was painted to match the body, which was how they did it in 1972, and there are satin black spoilers front and rear. A correct honeycomb insert between the taillights identifies it as a Mach 1 (as if all the decals and call-outs didn't) and the rear bumper was re-chromed to offer a brilliant finish.

With so few miles, you shouldn't be surprised to learn that the interior is nicely preserved. The high-back buckets with their tri-tone upholstery give the Mach 1 a very racy attitude that's also kind of funky, and they're in excellent condition, having been reupholstered a few years ago. The door panels and dashboard haven't been baked by the sun and the seat belts look great. Even the carpets, which are protected by a set of heavy-duty floor mats, are original-issue. A full set of gauges was part of the Mach 1 package, along with a clock down by the shifter on the console. This car offers factory A/C that's fully functional thanks to an R134a refrigerant upgrade, and even the original AM/tape player works correctly. The center console is in excellent condition, the chrome on the shifter glitters, and with a fold-down rear seat, this is actually a practical muscle car. The trunk itself is neatly finished with a correct mat and a full-sized spare tire.

The H-code 351 cubic inch V8 engine was the most popular Mach 1 powerplant in 1972, offering good torque and reasonable efficiency in a time when fuel prices were skyrocketing. It runs beautifully and thanks to a rather thorough detailing a few years ago, it looks very correct under the hood. The big A/C compressor takes up a lot of the space, but there's also a correct air cleaner with reproduction decals, Ford Blue engine enamel, and even reproduction hoses and clamps to make it look exactly right. A true dual exhaust system gives it a mellow rumble that's quite appropriate to a Mustang but probably a bit more efficient than the original setup. There's also a fresh timing chain, a new water pump and radiator, and the carburetor was rebuilt, so it runs and drives like it should. The 3-speed automatic clicks through the gears unobtrusively and with highway-friendly gears out back, it's a nice cruiser. Recent Magnum 500 wheels and BFG rubber round out an awesome-looking Mustang.

Fully documented with a reproduction window sticker, Marti Report, restoration receipts, and photos, this is a beautifully rendered high-quality Mustang. It's affordable today, but these cars are catching on, so make this the time you take a good one home. Call now!