1972 wasn’t exactly a pinnacle year for the Ford Mustang, as the car’s size had recently increased while performance potential and sales were decreasing. Consumer tastes were beginning to shift towards smaller vehicles, with some likely would-be Mustang buyers favoring a Maverick or a Pinto instead. However, others continued to embrace Ford’s pony car, and for those who wanted more than a base model, adding the Mach 1 package was the way to go. This 1972 Mustang Mach 1 here on Craigslist has been with the same family since new, but the seller is now hoping someone will rescue and restore this one and get it back on the road. Priced at $10,000, this late first-generation Mustang is located near Austin, Texas, and we’d like to thank reader Barney for sending in the tip here!
This one looks like it’s been sitting in an outbuilding for quite some time without moving, and the seller says the Mach 1 has been stored for about 10 years. That’s plenty of time for a coat of garage grime to develop on the exterior, but looking beneath this film, there appears to be mostly strong sheet metal to work with here. A small section of minor rust is visible on the left quarter, and the panel above the rear bumper also appears lightly corroded, but this one seems a whole lot better outside than many unrestored projects of this age.
For 1972, the entry-level engine in the Mach 1 was a 302, but there’s good news under the hood here: this one features an optional 351 Cleveland. It’s the H-Code variant with a 2-barrel carburetor on top, being assigned a horsepower rating of 177, which had just switched from gross to net. The V8 was reportedly rebuilt at 77k miles, and while it’s not currently functional, the seller says it will run with a new battery and some fuel. A transmission code of “X” appears on the door tag, indicating this one is equipped with an FMX 3-speed automatic, with the 63R designation confirming it’s a legitimate Sportsroof Mach 1.
The interior could use some sprucing up as well, but it’s good to see that this one is a factory A/C car. An aftermarket Sony stereo was installed decades ago, back when cassettes were the preferred way to listen to music, but most of the other components in here appear to be stock. From a performance standpoint, this 1972 Mach 1 isn’t from the most desirable era, but it’s still a cool Mustang from a time when extreme muscle cars were becoming hard to find. What are your thoughts on this one?
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