[Columbo]

Hey guys,

A colleague of mine is looking at a 72 grande mach 1 look. It's is a coupe, with a vinyl roof part. I think the only Mach 1 item is the hood with the two scoops in it.

He's asked me to help him check it out. I know a lot about the 66's rust problems, but not a lot about those of the 72's.

Can you give me something to go by. Things to check out?

TIA

 

[Johnbear]

floor pan rust and check the trunk and near the gas tank most trunks i've seen have those little spaces on the side full of rust holes

 

[Guest]

1.The trunk in my 72 has alot of rust and the rest of my car had very little.( I think pre 70 the trunk floor was the top of the tank? In a 71-73 it is not.)Heres a pic. http://mywebpage.netscape.com/pecofjunkar/1.jpg
2. Make sure the honeycomb thing by the tail light are in tact. Replacements are expensive.
3. Check the dash pad, there expensive and easily crack.
4. The seats for these cars are weak. Check the seats and make sure they recline and go back and forward properly.
5. Grande replacent opholstry is the pricest of all mustang's, so try to get one that is in good shape.
6. Headliners suck on these cars, on a fastback, the window has to come out to install it properly.
7. Check weatherstriping, mine is all shot.
8. Check to see if it has the mach 1 or standard grill.
9. See how bubbly the roof(exterior)has gotten from the sun.
10. And most importantly.. Check the door tags and dont get on with an 8 inch and an fmx. It will be a big hassle later on.
11. Oh, also, the batterty tray on my car is pure rust too.
Thats all I can think of. Im only speaking from my experience. The suspension on my car was completely shot when I got it. I mean SHOT. And then there is the rust leaf spring bolts.....
good luck.

 

[Ray_Hillebrand]

Rust in rocker panels, rust in inner structure around hood hinges, rust in lower front part of doors, rust in quarter panels, rust in front structure under battery, rust at front bumper horns, rust in cowl. In other words, look in the same places as you would for a 65,66 or any other Mustang...
The rear tail panel around the tail lights like to rust and make sure there is no rust under the vinyl roof.....Remember, there are not a lot of reproduction parts available yet for these cars.

 

[Columbo]

Thanks, you've been a big help!

 

[TFOB]

Yah what they said!
It most likely is not a Mach 1 just a Granda with the NACA hood. so it will not have the honey comb panel around the tail lights.

 

[Damageln]

You guys forgot the most importantthing to look for!!!!!!!!!

Check that cowl, by all means check that cowl! every 71-73 ive run across, minus the fully restored ones, have nice holes in the passenger side cowl

Wayde

 

[Guest]

So far the only places I've found rust on mine is the tail light panel , both C-pilars (under the vinyl top) where the roof panel meets the quarter panel, the bottom half of the rear window channel and the right front fender apron (under the battery). Of course when I took out the headliner, most of the bare metal has surface rust, but nothing that has to be replaced, a good coat of POR-15 will fix it. Also inside the trunk, more like the inside quarter panels have surface rust from the bottom up to the top (C-pillars), it's all bare metal on the inside. From what I can tell my floorpans are ok, but that's just looking at them from under the car.

Jason