1972 Ford Mustang: Specifications, Equipment & Factory Sources

Ford Knowledge Base / Mustang / 1972

Explore the 1972 Ford Mustang through original Ford publications, specifications, equipment listings and archive photographs.

Read the model year, market and edition. This reference covers the U.S. Mustang range. Canadian and export specifications remain separate. Listings describe published availability; they do not establish equipment fitted to an individual car. Regional emissions requirements and publication revisions can affect engine and transmission combinations.

Specifications and equipment

Each entry is corroborated in three distinct original Ford publication families: A, B and C, identified below. These share Ford's corporate origin. Duplicate scans and revisions count once. References give PDF positions including covers; printed page numbers appear in parentheses where useful.

Body styles
The regular range includes Hardtop, SportsRoof and Convertible bodies.Sources (PDF positions): A: 10; B: 70 (C-2); C: 3 (printed 1).
Mach 1 body
Mach 1 uses the SportsRoof/fastback body.Sources (PDF positions): A: 5, 10; B: 70 (C-2); C: 3 (printed 1).
Grande body
Grande uses the Hardtop body.Sources (PDF positions): A: 8, 10; B: 70 (C-2); C: 3 (printed 1).
Regular-range standard engine
A 250-cu.-in. one-barrel Six is listed as standard for Hardtop, SportsRoof, Convertible and Grande.Sources (PDF positions): A: 10; B: 88–89 (C-20–21); C: 4, 7 (printed 1A, 4).
Optional 302 V-8
A 302-cu.-in. two-barrel V-8 is listed as an option for the regular range.Sources (PDF positions): A: 10; B: 88–89 (C-20–21); C: 4, 7 (printed 1A, 4).
Mach 1 standard engine
Mach 1 is listed with a 302-cu.-in. two-barrel V-8 as standard.Sources (PDF positions): A: 5, 10; B: 88–89 (C-20–21); C: 4, 7 (printed 1A, 4).
Optional 351 two-barrel V-8
A 351-cu.-in. two-barrel V-8 is listed among the engine choices.Sources (PDF positions): A: 10; B: 88–89 (C-20–21); C: 4, 7 (printed 1A, 4).
Optional 351 four-barrel V-8
A 351-cu.-in. four-barrel V-8 is listed among the engine choices.Sources (PDF positions): A: 9–10; B: 88–89 (C-20–21); C: 4, 7 (printed 1A, 4).
Wheelbase
109 inches.Sources (PDF positions): A: 5; B: 90 (C-22); C: 5 (printed 2).
Overall length
189.5 inches.Sources (PDF positions): A: 5; B: 90 (C-22); C: 5 (printed 2).
Overall width
74.1 inches.Sources (PDF positions): A: 5; B: 90 (C-22); C: 5 (printed 2).
Front and rear track
61.5 inches front; 61.0 inches rear in the inspected references.Sources (PDF positions): A: 5; B: 90 (C-22); C: 5 (printed 2).
Automatic transmission
SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic is listed among the choices. Engine, regional and production restrictions apply.Sources (PDF positions): A: 9–10; B: 88–89 (C-20–21); C: 7 (printed 4).
351 four-barrel manual choice
A four-speed manual is listed with the 351 four-barrel V-8.Sources (PDF positions): A: 9–10; B: 88–89 (C-20–21); C: 7 (printed 4).
AM radio
AM radio is listed as optional equipment.Sources (PDF positions): A: 9; B: 87 (C-19); C: 41 (printed 24).
AM/FM stereo radio
AM/FM stereo radio is listed among the options.Sources (PDF positions): A: 9; B: 87 (C-19); C: 41 (printed 24).
Radio and tape system
An AM radio with stereophonic tape system is listed as an option.Sources (PDF positions): A: 9; B: 87 (C-19); C: 41 (printed 24).
Air conditioning
SelectAire air conditioning is listed as optional. The inspected references exclude the 250 Six with three-speed manual combination.Sources (PDF positions): A: 9; B: 87 (C-19); C: 41 (printed 24).
Tilt steering wheel
An optional tilt steering wheel is listed; associated equipment requirements should be checked.Sources (PDF positions): A: 8–9; B: 87 (C-19); C: 41 (printed 24).
Power side windows
Power-operated side windows are listed among the options.Sources (PDF positions): A: 9; B: 87 (C-19); C: 41 (printed 24).
Locking steering column
A locking steering column appears in the standard-equipment descriptions.Sources (PDF positions): A: 9; B: 73 (C-5); C: 40 (printed 23).
Mach 1 suspension
Competition suspension is listed as standard on Mach 1.Sources (PDF positions): A: 5; B: 85 (C-17); C: 39 (printed 22A).

Why publication differences matter

The August 1971 catalog, sales facts book and AMA sheets describe publication stages and contain regional or future-availability qualifications. The V-8/three-speed manual combinations carry California restrictions. The precise complete regional power-team matrix is withheld until those qualifications are reconciled.

Gross and net horsepower are different rating bases. Numerical power and torque ratings are excluded from this common list until each has three matching period references with the rating basis preserved. Special 351 H.O. availability and Sprint package details require separate documentation; the ordinary engine chart must not be treated as proof of every offering throughout the model year.

Convertible rear-window construction requires separate corroboration and is not specified here. Fuel capacity, weights, paint/trim codes and production totals remain outside this verified list.

Explore related archive photographs

Two archive views show a Hardtop identified as 1972 in the catalog records. These photographs support visual comparison, not conclusions about engine, paint code, production date or original option fitment.

1972 Ford Mustang coupe neg 153506 83 0144-11931972 Ford Mustang coupe neg 153506 83 0144-1193View image and print options 1972 Ford Mustang coupe neg 153506 84 0144-11941972 Ford Mustang coupe neg 153506 84 0144-1194View image and print options

Read the original Ford publications

  1. A. U.S. Ford Mustang catalog 5305, August 1971 (PDF). Ten PDF positions, lithographed in U.S.A. Mach 1: 5; Grande: 8; options: 9; engine/transmission charts: 10.
  2. B. 1972 Ford Car Facts Book / full-line sales data (PDF). 157 PDF positions. Introductory pages marked revised October 1971; individual pages and availability footnotes govern. Mustang section begins at PDF 69 (C-1); lineup: 70 (C-2); equipment/options: 73, 85–87; performance and specifications: 88–90 (C-20–22).
  3. C. Ford Mustang AMA specifications, issued September 1971 (PDF). 44 PDF positions. Bodies: 3; engines: 4; dimensions: 5; power teams: 7; suspension: 39; body/equipment: 40–41. Check each sheet for revisions.
  4. 1972 Ford full-line booklet (PDF). Additional context; Mustang: PDF position 4. It is not needed to meet the three-publication check for the entries above.

1970 Mustang · 1971 Mustang · All model references

Reviewed October 28, 2026.