1972 Mustang - the Classic Mustang Era Comes to an End
The 1972 Mustang lost more power with the elimination of the Boss 351. This left the Mach 1 as the Mustang’s only performance vehicle. This marked the end of the classic Mustang era.
In an effort to reduce emissions and comply with Federal regulations, the compression ratios were lowered. The 429s were gone along with the Boss 351.
Except for the changes in lowering performance, the Mustang did not undergo any real changes. For the first time in the Mustang’s history, the front grille went unchanged. As a testament to the changing times and the shift from performance muscle car to more of a luxury vehicle, the standard hardtop was the best selling model for the year. The top option in engines was the 351 Cleveland, sporting 275 bhp.
As the once sleek, sporty little Mustang moved into the new era, sales began to slump. In 1972, sales were at their lowest since the Mustang’s unveiling slumping at 111,015.
