When the owner makes a bold claim about the rarity of a classic car, it is easy to look at such claims with cynicism. However, it appears that the claim that this owner makes for this 1972 Mustang Mach 1 has some validity. It features a relatively rare engine, and it seems that it would be a strong candidate for restoration. He includes some additional parts to help the new owner down the pathway of returning this Mach 1 to its former glory. The Mustang is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and has been listed for sale here on Facebook. The owner has set a sale price of $15,000 for this classic pony car.
The owner’s photos of this Mustang are of pretty poor quality, so it isn’t easy to get an accurate picture of its overall condition. It rolled off the line wearing Wimbledon White paint, and this remains the case. The panels look like they may be relatively straight, and refreshingly, the owner does admit that this car has rust. It isn’t clear how extensive this is, but he does include a collection of parts that are a welcome addition. These include a trunk lid, a NOS hood, a pair of doors, a grille, and numerous other parts. He doesn’t indicate the state of the floors, rails, or torque boxes, so we’re flying blind on that front. However, we’ve seen some pretty sad Mustangs brought back from the brink, so things would need to be bad for this one to be beyond help. As is often the case with vehicles like this, I would always advise an in-person inspection to verify that this car is a viable restoration project. From what is visible in the limited photos, it does look promising.
When we lift the hood of this Mustang, we find what defines its rarity. The engine bay is occupied by a 351ci “HO” V8 that should be producing 275hp. This is the R-Code version of the Cleveland V8, and Kevin Marti’s book “Mustang…by The Numbers” indicates that a mere 336 examples of the 1972 Mach 1 rolled off the line equipped with this motor. With a four-speed manual transmission bolted to the back of that V8, this Mustang would have been capable of storming the ¼ mile in 14.6 seconds in its heyday. Those days are well behind it, and it appears that this classic has been sitting for some years. It isn’t clear whether the motor turns freely, but the car is numbers-matching. It also looks complete, and the owner includes an original Ram Air setup in the sale.
Venturing inside this classic, we find an interior that appears essentially complete. Before I spent a dime inside this Mustang, I would treat everything to a deep clean. The upholstered surfaces look pretty respectable, and they may respond favorably to this type of treatment. Even the carpet looks like it might be saved if the next owner is seeking a driver quality restoration. The buyer will need to add a headliner to their shopping list because the existing one is badly torn. The seller includes more parts for the interior in the sale, including gauge clusters and numerous other odds and ends. The original radio has disappeared, but the rimblow wheel is present. If the upholstered surfaces respond positively to a clean, returning this interior to its best may require more time than money. In a case like this, that is always a bonus.
By 1972, the First Generation Ford Mustang was larger and heavier than at any time in its history. However, with the right engine under the hood, it was still capable of impressive performance figures. That should be the case with this 72 Mustang Mach 1. Its “HO” V8 makes it a rare and attractive proposition, and fully restored, it would have the muscle to match its good looks. Once the restoration is complete, there is no reason why this car couldn’t command a value of $35,000, but if the buyer achieves perfection, that figure could balloon to $60,000. If an in-person inspection reveals that this car is essentially structurally sound, it could make a fantastic restoration project. Are you tempted to follow this one further?
Interesting air cleaner.
Very rare! There were 13 ragtop HOs, 19 coupes, 30 standard fastback and 336 mach1s with the 351 High Output engine package. I have one of the standard fastback HOs undergoing a rotisserie restoration.
This mach1 looks to be very complete but also looks to be very rusty. Subframes, floors probably gone.
I forgot to add…..
These R codes never came with ram air. If the owner has a set up for it, it’s not original.
Still, would love to have this one
Very rare! There were 13 ragtop HOs, 19 coupes, 30 standard fastback and 336 machismo built with the High Output engine package. I have one of the standard fastbacks undergoing a rotisserie restoration.
This one looks fairly complete. R code parts are extremely hard to find.
This one looks to have a lot of rust. Subframes and floors probably gone. Would love to see some better pictures.
The slack angle of that roof line makes the rear window viewing area like a mail slot, especially with a spoiler on the deck lid.
Yes…my MOM couldn’t see when backing up and made my Dad get rid of a 1971 Blue 4 SPEED Mach 1. Sad but true. Ohhh the memories.
1969 and 1970 Mach 1 Mustangs are definitely more desirable years than this one, but this 72 isn’t one to sneeze at. May be a little pricey for its year and condition, but would make an entry level collector very happy if its in close to running status.
At that asking price would be nice to see the marty report see if everything jives just saying?
Posted 5 days ago, better photos would hurt the deal.
Allentown = PA Rust Belt.
My buddy Scott’s high school cruising car…that HO Cleveland hauled ass…nothing in the rear view mirror but a tiny slit of light..could hold its own on Forest Lane in Dallas
I had one with the 351C auto same color as this with Ram Air Hood when I lived in Detroit back around 1981
Try seeing anything out that back window if it snowed!
A Pennsylvania car with rust already showing has more that’s not. If the owner already has that much replacement metal, You Can Bet It Needs More. I’d be careful putting it up in the air, It might fall off the lift.
The car looks like it has been repainted. The shine through the dirt does not seem correct.
sold!
Of course it sold. It came with a new gas cap!
Mustangs came off the assembly line already rusting and given its been in Allentown PA it can’t have helped along with all the parts it was coming with. Front rails, rear rails along with rockers torque boxes and floorpans will be a real headache to replace and I bet the buyer paid full price without inspecting it. Good luck to him and just maybe it’s not that far gone.
I always liked the body style, driving one in traffic or backing up tries your patience. 351C with a 4 speed would be fun!
The 351C HO was basically a Boss 351 with open chamber heads. This was last Mustang and Ford product produced with a mechanical flat tappet cam. Cam timing was changed from the Boss 351 with slightly less duration, but higher lift if I recall correctly. In ’72 they were using SAE net power rating hence the significant drop in Hp coupled with the 2 point reduction in compression. The result was 275 Hp net vs. 330 Hp for the Boss 351. When comparing both at net ratings really resulted in a about a 20 Hp drop due to the compression ratio reduction. But if you compare the output of similar high-performance engines like Chevy LT-1 and 360 Mopar you were at least 20 Hp higher. This engine / power train combo was king for ’72. All were equipped with a wide ratio 4 spd. and 3.91 gears. The fact that only a handful were produced makes this a very collectible car. So, it is no wonder that this sold quickly.