While I'm sure there are many small differences, the only one I can think of are the front parking lights. They are horizontal in '71/72 and verticle for the 73.

 

Out front, the '73s have the larger 5 mph front bumper. Out back the '73s have Mustang in script writing off to the side where as '71 and '72 have individual block letters. And of course, always look at window vin to determine '71 vs. '72.

 

The 71 has block letters and 72-73 have script above the right tail light

 

Between 71/72 and 73, they are easy because the 73's have the parking lights horizontal in the front, that's if the mustang even has that type of grille.

Formost, the HUGE (ugly,really) 5mph bumper that sticks out and weighs about 3million pounds on the 73's.

Bewteen 71 and 72, it's really hard. Only way I can distinguish is that 72's have trunk deck emblem that says "Mustang" that 71's dont...if that emblem is still even on the car anymore, lol.

There are no real obvious body differences like 65-70 that you could tell going down the road. If i have to guess, i ususally say 71 because more of them were made than 72's, so my chances of being right are higher, haha.

Chaz

Chaz

 

I hate to disagree with you but Charlie 65 67 has it correct--The parking lights in the 73 are vertical--The 71-72 are horizontal--I have a 73 and 71-72's are hard for even me--But I can pick out a 73 every time--The stadard grill in a 73 is the "egg crate" style while a Mach 1 grill is the "honeycomb" style--And as was stated before the front bumper is a obvious giveaway--It was part of a federally mandated 5 MPH crash protection deal

Every 2 years Ford was changing the body style but with the onset of the '74 Mustang in the smaller body style,they decided not to introduce any major body changes--Hence, the '71,'72 and '73 are the same basic body style with no major differences other than trim

 

71-72 have chrome bumpers and chrome hood and fender extensions. 71Darkhorse's picture shows it clearly. 73's have the crash bumper mandated by the gov which is painted body color along with the hood and fender extensions. The grills are different for 71-72 from a 73, Mach 1's included, look in a parts catalog cause its several differences. The rear bumpers are different. The two vertical bumper gaurds on the rear bumper are mounter higher on 71-72 that on a 73. The 73's have have mustang in script on the trunk and the 71-72 have it in block letters. The 73 fenders are 73 only due to the changes made for the bumper. But you'd notice all the other differences long before that

 

ok here are a few ways to tell. 71 and 72

73 have different grills as everyone has stated above, and the 5mph front and rear bumpers with totally different bumper extensions. they stand out like a sore thumb.

another difference between 71/72 and 73 in 73 they stopped blacking out the tail lights surround and rear valance chrome. this is a good way to narrow down a rear taillight part if your tring to be correct.

in 73 they also changed the climate control fan text. in 71/72 the climate face has 4 dots that represent the fan off/low/med/high
in 73 ford changed this to read off/dot/dot/max

71, and 72 are hard to tell yes,, but there are some differences.

71 and early 72, had rear seat belts that do not retract, late 72 and 73 have retracting rear belts.
72s had slightly larger front brakes if the car was built with power discs in the front.

71 comfort weave material is different then comfort weave used in 72 and 73 on the front and rear seats.

the voltage regulator was slighty different between 71 and 72. one had silver text on blue the other black text on blue.

in the engine compartment the lines for the A/C , were moved onto the shock tower supports. from early 71 to 72.

a vin is a big help obviously. if your dealing with a choped car, no vin then you'll have to start looking up the ford part numbers written on everything. you'll be able to narrow the build date down that way.


hope this helps

 

Don't be confused with the 71-72 grilles without the sportlamps. The 73 used the same grille on all models if I remember correctly, but 71 and 72 had the sport lamp grille or the non-lamped "corral" grille. Another tell tale sign between 71's and 72's is the decal on the cowl. If you lift the hood and look on the passengers side of the cowl there is an orange sticker, approximately 3" x 3" that has timing and emmisions info that was new for 72 requirements. There is usually always some kind of sign that that was there unless the car has been totally stripped and repainted. The sticker faces toward the passenger's fender.

 

Can anyone confirm that the 73 did NOT come with the lower marker lights in the front valance. I've only ever seen them on 71-2.

 

73 had the front bumper redesigned with the mounting hardware. the bulk of the metal under the bumper forced ford to remove the lower marker Signal lights
on the 73 the vertical sport lights became the signal lights needed on the front of the car. Also the surrounds on the headlights changed in 73.
71/72 are black, 73 is a square shape with chrome highlights.
you can really see the switch over to 74 design with the 73 grill.

 

IF original, a coupe/convertible/sportsroof (non-Mach)from the rear:

• 71 - Individual MUSTANG letters on deck lid & blacked out tail light surround
• '72 - Mustang script on decklid & blacked out surround on tail lights
• '73 - Mustang script on decklid & bright surround on tail lights

From the front has been mentioned:

• '71/'72 - driving lights in valance under the bumper
• '73 - vertical driving lights in the grill above bumper

Inside dash:

• '71 - if equipped with seatbelt reminder, round light on driver's side by headlight switch
• '72/'73 - rectangular seatbelt warning light on passenger side above glove box (not sure if all '72's were so-mandated)

 

Inside dash:
* '72/'73 - rectangular seatbelt warning light on passenger side above glove box (not sure if all '72's were so-mandated)



late 72s were mandated early 72 don't have the warning light. i have an early 72.

 

There were two grilles offered in 1973 - the standard grille and the "Mach 1" grille. The Mach 1 grille was offered on all 73 Mustangs as part of the (exterior) Decor Group and included blacked out headlight trim and a much smaller Mustang emblem in the grille center.

In order to get the Boss 351 stripes in 1973 (any Mustang besides a Mach 1) the Decor Group was a mandatory option.

 

IF original, a coupe/convertible/sportsroof (non-Mach)from the rear:

• 71 - Individual MUSTANG letters on deck lid & blacked out tail light surround
• '72 - Mustang script on decklid & blacked out surround on tail lights
• '73 - Mustang script on decklid & bright surround on tail lights

71 sportsroofs had a black or argent vinyl trunk stripe with the block lettering "MUSTANG" cut out. Only the coupe and vert had the chrome block letters.

From the front has been mentioned:

• '71/'72 - driving lights in valance under the bumper
• '73 - vertical driving lights in the grill above bumper

71-2 had turn signals/parking lights under the bumper. Only the Mach 1, Boss 351, Sports Hardtop, Sprint and decor group cars had the sport lamps in the grille, which were horizontal.

73, the lights in the grille served the same function as the lights under the bumper in 71-2, parking/turn signals.

71-2 base cars came standard with chrome fender & hood moldings, and a chrome front bumper.

71-2 Mach 1, sports hardtop, sprint and decor group cars got the urethane front bumper and painted fender/hood moldings, in addition to the otehr items (sport lamp grille, lower body contrasting paint with bright trim, etc).

73, all cars regardless of model got the urethane impact bumper and painted hood/fender moldings. I call that bumper the "Willis lip"....

73 Decor group was essentially the same as 71-2, just with the 73 grille and blacked out headlamp doors.

73 also had the extended rear bumper brackets. There are fillers between the body and bumper to take up the gap.

 

also note the hockey stick decal on the sides of the mach1 were only availible for 71/72, they changed it for 73.

 

I either ask the owner, or look at the fender apron and notice the first digit of the VIN.

 

also note the hockey stick decal on the sides of the mach1 were only availible for 71/72, they changed it for 73.

Right, but the stripes were still available for any Mustang but the Mach 1.

 

Thanks HemiK, I was wondering how long it would take you to chime in. Always the best with the details on those years 71-3.

 

Speaking of early 70’s models…I am building a 72 Sprint clone using a 71 convertible…I am looking for the 72 urethane bumper. They don’t appear to be reproduced in aftermarket, anyone know of a Mustang graveyard specialist that might have one? See sample pic below…

 

Speaking of early 70’s models…I am building a 72 Sprint clone using a 71 convertible…I am looking for the 72 urethane bumper. They don’t appear to be reproduced in aftermarket, anyone know of a Mustang graveyard specialist that might have one? See sample pic below…

Considering this thread is from 2006, you should start a new one.

 

Boss 351's had the Chrome front bumper.