Ford Mustang Sprint 1972
Ford introduced the new third-generation Mustang in 1971. Wider, longer, and heavier than the original Mustang, it was a little short on performance (especially true after the Boss 351 option was dropped for 1972), but still high on style. In 1972, the Mustang could be had as a 2-door hardtop (with vinyl top on the Grande model), a SportsRoof fastback (available in Mach 1 trim), and as a convertible.
Introduced in 1972, the Sprint package for the Ford Mustang was a bold and patriotic cosmetic option that added roughly $170 to the price of a new Mustang, which started at $2729 for a base hardtop.
More than 9,000 buyers chose to get their Mustangs with the Sprint package, which was only officially offered on hardtops and fastbacks. However, in March 1972, Ford built a limited run of 50 identical Mustang Sprint convertibles for use in the Cherry Blossom Festival parade in Washington, DC, on April 8. The Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual event timed to coincide with the peak blooming season of the Japanese cherry trees planted around Washington's Tidal Basin. All 50 cars had Ford's 302 cubic inch V-8, automatic transmission, AM radio, deluxe interior, power steering, power disc brakes, and power convertible top with glass rear window. After the parade, the cars were sold by local Ford dealers at a price of $3272 or higher.
The 1972 Ford Mustang Sprint convertible pictured here was in attendance at the annual antique car show at Sully Plantation in Chantilly, Virginia, on June 17, 2007. The pictured newspaper article provides more detail about this particular car and its history.