1971 72 Ford Mustang 0001-4662

This official archive image documents the 1971-72 Ford Mustang, the final and largest body of the first generation. Longer, wider and heavier than any Mustang before it, the SportsRoof version carried a near-horizontal rear window that remains one of the boldest shapes Ford ever put into production. The 429 Cobra Jet was available for 1971 only.

Why Did the Mustang Get So Big?

The 1971 Mustang was designed under Bunkie Knudsen with big-block engines in mind. The engine bay was sized for the 429 cubic inch V8, and the body grew accordingly — roughly eight inches longer and several hundred pounds heavier than the 1965 car.

The timing was poor. By the time the car reached showrooms the market and the regulatory environment were turning against large-engined performance cars, and rising insurance costs were pushing buyers away.

What Defines the 1971-72 Body?

Characteristics of the final first-generation Mustang:

• Near-horizontal SportsRoof backlight, almost flush with the rear deck
• Flat bonnet with optional NASA-style twin scoops
• Wide track and flush-mounted door handles
• 429 Cobra Jet available in 1971 only
• Mach 1, Grande and Boss 351 offered in the range

How Is This Generation Viewed Today?

For years the 1971-73 cars were the least fashionable Mustangs, criticised for their size and for arriving as the muscle car era ended. That view has shifted substantially.

Collectors now recognise the SportsRoof as one of the most distinctive American designs of the period, and the Boss 351 and 429 Cobra Jet cars have become genuinely valuable. Ford's own decision to shrink the car radically for 1974 is what makes this generation a one-off.

Who Is This Print For?

This 1971-72 Mustang print suits Mustang owners, SportsRoof and Boss 351 enthusiasts, Ford collectors, restoration shops, offices and garages. As vintage Ford wall art the flat-backlight profile is unlike anything else in the marque's history. Choose framed, canvas, metal or Giclée formats for a home office, study, museum display or Ford wall decor programme.

Photograph Details

• Subject: Ford Mustang
• Model years: 1971 to 1972
• Notable: Final and largest body of the first generation
• Body style: SportsRoof with near-horizontal rear window
• Engine: 429 Cobra Jet available for 1971 only
• Archive reference: 0001-4662

This archival photograph is made available through Fordimages.com, the official Ford archive imagery licensee operated by Richard Weedn LLC. Each image is digitally restored before printing and handcrafted to order.

Available as:

• Framed Print — museum-quality paper, archival inks, Acrylite glazing, hanging hardware included
• Stretched Canvas — hand-stretched over 1.25-inch pine bars, heavy cotton poly matte finish
• ChromaLuxe Metal Print — image infused directly onto sheets of alloy metal for maximum vibrancy and durability
• Giclée Art Print — 260gsm satin finish paper, finest archival inks, white border

Made in the USA or Europe depending on your location.

About the Artwork

Artwork in this collection comes from the Ford Motor Company Archives, The Henry Ford Museum, the Carroll Shelby Archives, and the collections of acclaimed photographers and painters from around the world. Reproduction rights are reserved by the respective copyright owners.

Our framed prints feature a black, hand-stained solid wood frame with a white mat, museum-quality paper, archival inks, Acrylite glazing, and hanging hardware. The frame features a slim 0.8-inch face and projects 1.3 inches from the wall, creating a clean, contemporary shadow-box effect. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

Our stretched canvas prints are produced on acid-free, pH-neutral, and fade-resistant canvas. Each canvas is hand-glued to solid wood stretcher bars and stretched over 1.25-inch-thick pine bars. Mounting brackets are included. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

Our Giclée prints are produced using premium 200gsm semi-gloss paper and high-quality archival inks. Each print includes a white border around the perimeter.

For the 40 x 60 size, we use 250gsm museum-quality archival paper with an off-white, uncoated finish.

The listed size refers to the overall paper dimensions. The image is printed proportionally within the selected paper size. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

ChromaLuxe prints use a state-of-the-art coating process that infuses the image directly onto sheets of alloy metal. The result is photography with an exceptional combination of vibrancy, clarity, and durability.

Each print arrives ready to hang. An alloy subframe on the back allows the artwork to float away from the wall for a sleek, modern appearance. This is the finest-quality print we offer. Made in the USA.

All images are digitally restored before printing. Production location varies by product and destination. Shipping is calculated at checkout.