Here’s an interesting find, it’s a generic 1972 Ford Mustang fastback, and that’s about it, nothing special beyond that. The seller states, “Clock shows 35K miles” (I wonder what the odometer shows – just kidding…). Anyway, let’s look it over and see what redeeming qualities this pony car has and try to run down the 35K mileage clock reading. This Ford is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $12,000, twenty-four bids tendered as of this writing.
The seller states that this Mustang is an older repaint, having originally been finished in brown, but it still shows well. I’d say that’s true, though bronze/tan is not a shade that one usually associates with a car like a Mustang fastback. Nevertheless, the hue works and looks good. Same for the chrome and trim, there’s nothing obviously wrong there either. The side “bump strip” is a non-OEM add-on, it’s OK and was designed with a purpose in mind but the lines of the car would probably show better without it. There is an issue with the passenger side door where primer has been applied and the seller advises that there is rust in the bottom of the doors from mice urine – that’s a first for me.
Under this Mustang’s hood is a 141 net HP, 302 CI V8 engine, modified with headers and dual exhaust. Its underhood appearance shows as stock and original but not like it has only experienced 35K miles. Clearly, this Mustang is A/C equipped but it’s unfortunately, non-operational. The starter solenoid looks to be a recent replacement but there is really nothing else noteworthy to observe. The seller adds, “The car runs and drives good” and further advises that the C-4, three-speed automatic transmission has recently been rebuilt.
Moving inside we find a pretty tidy cabin. The seat upholstery, door cards, and carpet look great but the steering wheel, not so much so. There is also something misaligned with the instrument panel around the driver’s side air vent, it looks like a piece of trim or something is missing. It has also been rattle canned as there is some black overspray on the passenger side door jamb. The dash pad appears to be newish, it’s too nice to be original though the passenger side is scraped a bit. But all in all, it’s a sound and pleasant environment.
The car is listed as an original Georgia car – I’m not sure that’s a substantial selling feature as there are plenty of life-long rusty cars in the Peach State. Sure, it’s not the snowbelt with attendant road salt, but Georgia is not without its weather issues either. So, the answer… I think this Mustang has seen quite a bit more than just 35K miles, it just has that used-quite-a-bit look about it. It’s a nice, ordinary ’72 Mustang and I’ll admit, I greatly prefer this fastback body style over the notchback on these “Big” ’71 to ’73 ponies. What surprises me is the bidding action, seems pretty robust for a generic ’72 Mustang, wouldn’t you say?
Man these are FUGLY !! 👎🏼
Looks like an older restoration with perhaps mediocre rust repairs to me. And definitely 135k. Just my humble opinion.
135k for sure, at that price he’s dreaming…plainest mustang I’ve ever seen…
At that price? It’s an auction that is bid to $12k so you’re looking at the market price.
The overspray on the inside of the passenger door is from where the glovebox lid and its surrounding plastic were painted. I guess it now matches the plastic surrounding the gauge cluster, but I have never seen this ” two-toning ” effect.
If ” mouse urine ” was a factor in the door rust, you have to wonder where the rest of the damage might be.
So yeah, at $12K, this car is at the top of its value curve.
This is just kind of depressing for me. This is a cool car with a lot of potential, but arent we looking at 5-6k of work to get this thing right? That would put it at 17-18k. Thats what i paid for my 2015 EB premium performance pack. 310 hp and 31.5 mpg. I guess i just need to garner more disposable income.
I guess this fits into the affordable turn key muscle car category so you have to give it that. It looks ready to go. The fit and finish is low on this car, not sure if that’s a sign of the build quality at that point in time or a low budget resto.
Muscle car? Not with an EGR-choked two-barrel 302 pulling 3500 lbs…
Ever hear of a 4brl carb and intake swap? Cam and heads? Headers, gears?…pretty basic bolt in stuff you can buy used if you need to. It will sound like a muscle car at least
Putting performance parts in a car wont make it a muscle car , though Mustangs are classed as Pony cars anyway
A Mustang with a V8 is always a muscle car. A lot of people may not like this body style, myself included but some do. You can’t deny that the 351 HO, Boss 351, or Boss 429 of these years weren’t muscle cars.
If there was enough mouse urine to rust out the doors….?
What else rusted out?
What do the floors look like under the carpet?
Did they chew on the wiring?
Might be a nice car again but not for the price the seller is asking?
Seller isnt “asking” for 12.5K, that is what it has bid to.
Agreed that is stout money for a plain jane fastback.
I forgot to add that i have a 72 fastback in this exact trim, gold glow with ginger interior, the exeption here is mine is a 1 of 30 with the R code 351 HO. This gives me an idea of how it will look, color wise. I like it!
This or the Mustang II ??? I’d take this but half of the current bid at best. Lots of unseen here.
I’ll be real honest, I thought there was something nasty hiding under the hood…in a good way. It has all the dressing of a modern day sleeper: humble color paint and interior, the wheels and tires….all of it. Of course it really is sleepy with that choked 302, darnit. Picture it as it sits with a stroker small Ford or even more than that. Anything will fit in there really.
I see that the hood gaps are not right. The hood looks bowed. Leads me to believe that the car may have been been jumped. I also don’t believe the mice urine story. If the car has 35K miles on it, it has been a hard 35k miles. I would pass on this one unless the owner allows you to have a body shop take a look at a few key points, like if the frame is straight.
Perhaps it might say something about the quality of work on this car, the upper radiator mounting brackets are incorrectly installed.
Weird that it is now showing a high bit of $8100, with 27 bids, and reserve not met.I think that installing the hubcaps, or better yet some nice wheels would greatly improve the look of this car.
No critique. My first cat was a red 72 Mustang with a 302. Back end was “standard”. Best car I ever had
Man, this is when the mustang started to get Fugggly 👎🏼🤮 No Thx!!