Ford Knowledge Base / Mustang / 1973
Explore the 1973 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: 4, 11; B: 4; C: 3 (printed 1).
- Mach 1 body
- Mach 1 uses the SportsRoof/fastback body.Sources (PDF positions): A: 5, 11; B: 4; C: 3 (printed 1).
- Grande body
- Grande uses the Hardtop body.Sources (PDF positions): A: 6, 11; B: 4; 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: 4, 6; B: 4; 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: 4; 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; B: 4; C: 4, 7 (printed 1A, 4).
- Optional 351 two-barrel V-8
- A 351-cu.-in. two-barrel V-8 appears among the engine choices.Sources (PDF positions): A: 10; B: 4; C: 4, 7 (printed 1A, 4).
- Optional 351 four-barrel V-8
- A 351-cu.-in. four-barrel V-8 appears among the engine choices.Sources (PDF positions): A: 10; B: 4; C: 4, 7 (printed 1A, 4).
- Six-cylinder manual
- The 250 Six is listed with a three-speed manual transmission.Sources (PDF positions): A: 4; B: 4; C: 7 (printed 4).
- Automatic transmission choice
- SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic is listed among the transmission choices, subject to powertrain and availability restrictions.Sources (PDF positions): A: 8; B: 4; 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: 10; B: 4; C: 7 (printed 4).
- Wheelbase
- 109 inches.Sources (PDF positions): A: 4–5; B: 4; C: 5 (printed 2).
- Overall length
- 193.8 inches.Sources (PDF positions): A: 4–5; B: 4; C: 5 (printed 2).
- Overall width
- 74.1 inches.Sources (PDF positions): A: 4–5; B: 4; C: 5 (printed 2).
- Mach 1 suspension
- Competition suspension is listed as standard on Mach 1.Sources (PDF positions): A: 5; B: 4; C: 33 (printed 22A).
Why publication differences matter
The August 1972 catalog and the engineering compilation include different publication stages; the power-team sheet in the inspected AMA compilation is revised December 1972. Availability must therefore be checked against the individual sheet and applicable market, not inferred from the model year alone.
The catalog and AMA sheet give different track dimensions. Those figures are withheld pending reconciliation. Numerical horsepower, torque and compression figures also remain outside the common list until three matching period references and their rating bases are established.
NASA-style hood appearance does not establish functional Ram Air. Hood choices, functional induction packages and particular engine combinations require separate treatment. Precise changeover dates, production totals, paint/trim codes, weights and the full regional engine/transmission matrix require further corroboration. The 1974 Mustang II belongs in a separate reference.
Explore related archive photographs
The catalog records identify a 1973 convertible and a 1973 Mach 1. These photographs support visual comparison, not conclusions about engine, paint code, production date or original option fitment.
1973 Ford Mustang convertible 0144-1226View image and print options
1973 Ford Mustang Mach I 0401-2326View image and print options
Read the original Ford publications
- A. U.S. Ford Mustang catalog 5405, August 1972 (PDF). Eleven PDF positions, lithographed in U.S.A. Basic models and dimensions: 4 (printed 4–5); Mach 1: 5 (6–7); Grande: 6 (8–9); options: 8–10 (11–13); printing identification: 11.
- B. 1973 Ford Better Ideas full-line publication (PDF). Seven PDF positions. Mustang model lineup, power teams and dimensions: PDF position 4, printed page 4. A precise printing date has not been established from the inspected Mustang spread.
- C. Ford Mustang AMA specifications, issued September 1972 (PDF). 42 PDF positions. Bodies: 3; engine availability: 4; dimensions: 5; power teams: 7 (revised December 1972); suspension: 33; body/equipment: 34–35. Individual sheet dates govern.
- Alternate/revised 1973 Mustang catalog scan (PDF). Same catalog family as A; not an additional corroborating publication. Its edition and market require separate comparison before its figures are merged.
1970 Mustang · 1971 Mustang · All model references
Reviewed October 28, 2026.