Regardless of their reputation, the “big” 1971 Mustang just wasn’t that big. At 189.5″ inches long, it was only 7.9″ longer than the original ’65 Mustang and a mere 1.5″ longer than a 1971 Camaro. Maybe its aggressive styling exaggerated its size, but the ’71 Mustang in particular was one of those cars that, if you liked it, looked good in almost any color. And there were a lot of them.
This car, my dad’s Grabber Lime Mach 1, is most likely the reason I like ’71 Mustangs, the reason why I had my childhood bedroom painted lime green, and the reason why I daily drive a Sublime Challenger. This picture of him was probably taken in December of 1972; Dad brags that he bought the car as a bank repossession for $1600 and sold it a couple years later for $1600. He’s always been smart with a buck, but I wish he would have kept the car; I only know it from pictures.
Grabber Lime was only one of many vibrant (and maybe a few not so vibrant) colors Ford offered in its 1971 pony’s palette, and I’ve been able to find good pictures for all the standard colors on Ford’s chart. I used two sources for color names and codes, my Mustang Recognition Guide 1965-1973 and CJ Pony Parts’ informative website that also includes production totals for colors.
Code A or 9A: Raven Black (2,662 cars)
Although I’m not a particular fan of 1960s or 1970s cars in black (with a few exceptions, such as a ’62 Bel Air), Raven Black looks good on a “flatback” Mach 1, even if it was the second least-popular color in 1971. This one sold through Mecum Auctions in 2020 and is a 429 Super Cobra Jet Drag Pack car with a four speed. With silver stripes breaking up the flanks and the silver painted lower body accents making it look even lower, a black ’71 looks mean, especially from this angle.
Code B or 2B: Maroon Metallic (2,600 built)
I’m not quite sure the same can be said for a Sportsroof in Maroon Metallic, although it certainly is purposeful. Maroon was the least popular color in 1971, and the basic Sportsroof was outsold by the Mach 1 in 1971 (36,499 to 23,956). This example, which was clearly built for straight-line fun, sold through Mecum Auctions in 2018, and it’s another 429 SCJ Drag Pack car with a four speed; you’d be forgiven for thinking these 429 cars grew on trees, but they certainly did not. This one almost cries out for the Mach 1’s stripes to break up its bulky quarter panel, but this might be the purest example of the design. Although I drive a burgundy ’65 Mustang, this wouldn’t be my first choice on a ’71.
Code C or 6C: Dark Ivy Green Metallic or Dark Green Metallic (12,719 built)
I would be happy to drive a Dark Green example, however, and this one was sold by Mecum Auctions in 2014. Breaking the trend, it’s an M-Code 351 Cleveland four-speed car with Magnum 500 wheels and silver accents. I almost had my dad conned into buying a Dark Green ’72 that was very similar to this one when I was in high school, albeit not as nice, but someone had dropped a 429 in it and he simply didn’t trust me not to hurt myself.
Code D or 3D: Grabber Yellow (9,546 built)
Much more special than a “garden-variety” Mach 1 with a Cleveland was, of course, the Boss 351. With a 330-horsepower solid-lifter version of the big-port 351, it was the fastest of the ’71 Mustangs according to period road tests, clocking quarter-mile times in the 14-seconds-flat range at over 100 miles per hour. Ford’s range of “Grabber” colors were akin to Chrysler’s “High Impact” hues, and of course, they all looked great on muscle Mustangs, but Grabber Yellow was the most popular. Boss 351s had a different hood treatment than Mach 1s, as almost the entire hood was blacked out (or silvered out, if you chose that stripe package, depending on your color choice). Ford only built 1,806 Boss 351s in all, and this one sold through Mecum Auctions in 2022.
Code E or 4E: Medium Yellow Gold or Prairie Gold (9,000 built)
Selling on Bring a Trailer in September 25 for $108,000, this Medium Yellow Gold Boss 351 was listed as a 16,000-mile survivor, and it was the model for an Auto World 1:64 scale diecast that I happen to own (in addition to a host of other ’71-’73 Auto World Sportsroofs).
Code I: Grabber Lime (6,632 built)
As I already mentioned, Grabber Lime is my choice on a ’71, and this Boss was sold by Mecum Auctions in 2016. I know, I know—lime green is a polarizing color, but if you like it, there’s nothing like it: A guy driving a Jeep Gladiator took one look at my Challenger at the gas station recently and said, “That’s inconspicuous.” In the case of the Boss 351, if you’re going to own a car with a nearly flat rear window and racing stripes, there’s really not any reason to hold back in your color choice. This particular Boss was apparently one of eight with this color and trim combination (the interior is green).
Code J, 3J, or J9: Grabber Blue (6,153 built)
Unfortunately, 1971 was the final year for all the Grabber colors save one, Grabber Blue, which was also offered in 1972. (OK, they were offered again years later, but that doesn’t count.)
This M-Code Mach 1 was a no-sale on Bring a Trailer in 2018. While the stripes do break up the bodysides, I also appreciate a Mach 1 with standard hub caps and trim rings, whitewall tires, and no stripes. It’s a more elegant look, or at least as elegant as a Grabber Blue ’71 Mustang can be.
Code M or 5M: Wimbledon White (9,538 built)
White may be the most popular color on today’s cars, but it’s not that common on collector cars. But Ford’s classic Wimbledon White, making its final appearance on the first-generation Mustang in 1971 after an unbroken streak dating back to 1965, looks pretty good on this Boss, which sold on Bring a Trailer in 2021.
Code N or 4N: Pastel Blue (4,581 built)
Now we get into a couple colors that I rarely see on Mustangs today, but were ordered more often than you’d think. This was the only really good example I could find online, and it’s unsurprising that it’s on a convertible. Without having Kevin Marti’s log in front of me, I’d imagine that few Boss 351s or Mach 1’s were ordered in this color; it looks great on a ’50s car, but a ’71 Mustang? Not my choice. This nice droptop sold on Bring a Trailer in 2022.
Code P or 4P: Medium Green Metallic (9,957 built)
This Sportsroof that’s been restored as a Mach 1 is a 302-powered example sold by Coyote Classics, a dealer in Iowa. It’s obviously had some significant modifications, but it looks great in Medium Green with black stripes and accents. Considering how few I’ve seen online or in person, this color was a decent seller.
Code V: Light Pewter Metallic (17,513 built)
But Light Pewter Metallic was the biggest seller of them all, and I think I prefer it without stripes, as on this example that sold on Bring a Trailer in 2025. This one is an M-Code 351 with air conditioning, a nice combination.
Code Z or Z9: Grabber Green (5,196 built)
Surprisingly, the rarest of the Grabber colors was Grabber Green, although it seems that a fair number of them survive. This one was a no-sale on Bring a Trailer in 2021, just another 429 SCJ car with a 4.11:1 Detroit Locker; they’re everywhere, you know. I like Grabber Green but there’s no world in which I’d choose it over Grabber Lime, and for once I’m in the majority based on sales.
Code 3 or 3B: Bright Red (17,136 built)
The second most commonly ordered color in 1971? Bright Red. I’m surprised, too. Although this color immediately makes me think of the hero Mach 1 in the James Bond movie Diamonds are Forever, that one had no stripes, whitewalls, and standard wheel covers. This sharp car has a 351 four-barrel with Ram Air hood and a four-speed, and it sold on Bring a Trailer in 2025. It should have exhaust cutouts in the rear valance, but a lot can happen in 54 years.
Code 5 or 5A: Medium Brown Metallic or Medium Ginger (15,165 built)
The fourth-most-common color on ’71 Mustangs was this one, and it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise in the earth-tone ’70s. Our own Jim Grey captured it back in 2013, and the Grandé was certainly the right place for it; the brochure example looked a lot like the car pictured here.
Code 6 or 6E: Silver Blue Metallic (15,813 built)
Coming in third in sales was Silver Blue Metallic, or Bright Silver Blue. This example with silver stripes sold at Mecum Auctions in 2017, and it too was, you guessed it, a 429 SCJ car with a four-speed. It looks great with silver stripes, base hubcaps with trim rings, and Firestone Wide Oval tires. I think I prefer the Sportsroof models without the rear deck spoiler; the rear end looks tall enough as is, especially in profile. But I’d take one either way, and I can excuse anyone who ordered Silver Blue for not choosing a Grabber color: this is a nice one.
Code 8: Light Gold (4,997 built)
Wrapping up the standard color chart for 1971 was Light Gold, and I think the less we say about it the better. Gold looks great on ’66 Toronados, ’70s Rockford Firebirds, and any number of cars, but it’s not very exciting on a ’71 Mustang. But it was more popular than Maroon Metallic.
So, what are the big takeaways here? First, we already know that the ’71 Mustang is more polarizing than any other first-generation Mustang, but what’s not discussed too often is that it’s one of the rare cars where the color doesn’t seem to make that much of a difference. If you like the styling, there are at least a half-dozen colors that you would certainly be happy with on the 1971 Ford color wheel. I was surprised at the popularity of Light Pewter Metallic and Bright Red considering the prevailing winds of the ’70s, but they do look great on Sportsroof models, so it can’t come as too much of a shock. Finally, I think we all are a little nostalgic for the cars our parents drove, so I can’t apologize for being a little crazy about these not-so-big “Big” Mustangs. Are they as pretty as a ’71 Camaro, or a ’71 Firebird, or even a ’71 Challenger? Probably not, but they are certainly not derivative of anything obvious (Ferrari “Breadvan”?), and there’s no reason to be brand loyal—why not like them all?
Related CC Reading
Curbside Classic: 1971 Mustang Grande – Como Se Dice Brougham?
Curbside Find: 1973 Ford Mustang RustRoof Flatback – I Ride An Old Paint
Curbside Musings: 1971 Ford Mustang Convertible – Bananas For Bulk
Curbside Classic: 1973 Ford Mustang – No Apologies Necessary
Cool article! 71-73 is my least favorite 1st gen Mustang, but I still like them. And you’re right, they look good it lots of colors.
That said, Light Pewter Metallic is the quintessential 71 Mustang color to my eye. That suits it especially well, IMO. Second place would be Medium Yellow Gold.
Thanks…I love both of those colors. When I was a kid, dreaming of the Boss 351 I was sure to have, I tossed those colors around, especially Pewter. I think I’d prefer Medium Yellow Gold today though.
I loved reading about some love for the ’71 Mustang today at CC courtesy of this great article. That picture of your dad with his ’71 is great, and I love that you had your bedroom walls painted to match. I would have been salty when that car went bye-bye, unless it had been replaced with something as cool. Which I’m guessing it wasn’t.
As far as my personal pick from this color palette, it’s either the bright yellow (like the original ’73 Eleanor!) or Medium Green Metallic.
I too am very keen on the Medium Green Metallic.
Thanks Joe. Yes, Mom and Dad brought me home from the hospital in 1977 in the car they traded the Mach 1 for: a brown 1974 Gran Torino Elite. In step with the times, yes. In step with how I would have preferred things, no. 🙂
Dad was sure smart with the Buck… He paid half price for a year old Mach 1 . RRP before options was 3268 Dollers new!,
Yep, and his car had a 351 four-barrel and C6, so it was at least a few hundred dollars more expensive than that when it was new. I want to say that it was being sold by a credit union or something and he put in a bid; it’s been a while since he’s mentioned it.
Very nice article! That Medium Gold looks really interesting with the Boss black trim.
I am particularly fond of matching interior and exterior colors, and find fascinating the amount of customization and choice offered to buyers. Grabber lime with green interior sounds crazy, but I think it actually works well
Going against current here but I find the ’71s pleasing, at least the Sportsroof. The new hood and concealed wipers give it a “going fast even when standing still” look
The 2025 Mustang has 11 color choices vs. around 18+/- for the 71-73 model. They used to say an unpopular color can result in less resale value. The color choices of today’s vehicles are limited and bland.
I’ve observed most newer cars offered about 10 choices (it seems to range from 8 to 12, with 12 or more being very unusual).
More choices used to be the rule. The 76 Eldorado I recently wrote about had 21 colors!
I know technically these Mustangs are still part of the first generation style of Mustangs, but the length, looks, style and substance is so radically different from the 64 and 1/2 that I personally consider them second generation models.
One friend of mine has a Mach I that came from the factory in black. It now wears Grabber Yellow which has always been my most preferred color for the 71-73 Mustangs.
Another friend has a Medium Metallic Brown coupe identical to the photo posted above credited to Jim Grey. It’s nice and all, but hardly exciting.
The basic floor pan is shared from ’64 through ’73; the growth is all on the ends and added bulges on the side. That’s why the interior is no more roomy, but feels even smaller due to the smaller windows.
I have a question: one shade I don’t see here is a metallic gold that was quite yellow – I always thought that was medium yellow gold. Paintref.com also lists a medium bright yellow, which I remember looking more like the color of the car you ID as medium yellow gold.
Ford’s color names of this period make it really hard to find good photos, and I think a lot of photos online are mis identified.
Also, a good friend had a Mach 1 in the dark green, and it was a good looking car. Loved this piece!
Thanks, JP…Yep, I just went with prevailing winds based on my materials, but there’s a possibility that there’s some disagreement out there. Even the names of colors based on the same codes sometimes disagree.
I’ve come to appreciate these as colorful period pieces, but at the time I was utterly smitten with the new Camaro. It made these look a bit obsolete and amateurish from day one.
Speaking of colorful, my wife and I were discussing this the other day; GM never seemed to buy into the Grabber/High-Impact thing. Not that they didn’t have bright colors available, it just never became an “image.”
GM was kind of the conservative one, especially when it came to muscle cars. It took until 1970 for them to lift their 400c.i. rule for midsize cars, they banned triple carbs after 1967 and they never did any wild homologation specials like Mopar or Ford. “The Judge” GTO is the most creative marketing that comes to mind.
Funny how Ford offered more shades of green for this car as many modern rides offer shades of non-greyscale colors in total.
If only that were still the case!
AARON65, you wrote a previous curbside about the
72 Sprint special edition, which I had. The patriotic white, blue, and red. I’m probably about the same age as your Dad and was lucky enough to get mine new. It was a fun car that got a lot of comments with the wide ovals and sport rims. I never found the flat (ish) rear window to be any impediment. I think it’s hyped. Here’s my 2024 write-up: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/cars-of-a-lifetime/coal-1972-ford-mustang-sprint-special-edition-whats-red-white-and-blue-and-brand-new-from-ford/
I am sure that Ford had a target market in mind when the 1971 design was approved, and I expect that they had had numerous focus groups telling them what they would like in the next Mustang. Maybe the decision was made by a committee. However it happened the car sure lost its “Mustangness”. (How about that for a word.)
Does anyone have sketches, photos, renderings, etc. for other design proposals for the 1971? Surely there were better options to pick from.
It would be interesting to see some early design proposal of the 1971 Mustang. I think it was designed during the time when Lee Iaccoca and Bunkie Knudsen was in conflict and it might have played a role in during the development of the 1971 Mustang.
On a off-topic sidenote, at SEMA 2025, the Ringbrothers unleashed the “Kingpin” Mustang.
https://www.hotrod.com/events/ringbrothers-kingpin-1969-mustang-sema-2025
Now imagine a “Kingpin” Mustang based on the 1971-73 Mustang. 😉
Ivy Green metallic for the win, in my eyes. The car also looked really good in black, though that’s not seen very much nowadays. The styling of this car has always been controversial. The flat fastback roof was supposedly inspired by the racing GT40. I find that the front end was influenced by the ’69 and ’70 Shelby variants. Those had a flat hood with a similar grille and headlamps. This is a ’70 Shelby.
There’s no doubt that the front end was influenced by the Shelby; here’s a picture of a 1968 styling study that looks even more like the ’69 and ’70 GT350 and GT500. It’s interesting that these wheels made it into production with few visual changes as an option in 1970.
You know, I can see the similarity with the roofline of the Mark IV, so maybe that’s why they went with the flat roof. If they started designing the car in early 1968, that would have been no more than seven or eight months after the big LeMans win with Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt. The car would have certainly been in enthusiasts’ minds at the time. Hmmmm.
It seemed like Ford implemented previous Shelby elements into each restyle. The 69 with its more exaggerated front end and 4 headlights and integrated ductail spoiler is pretty clearly inspired by the 67 GT/350/GT500
Good point. Since there was no 71-73 Shelby, I guess that’s why we got the Mustang II, the Un-Shelbyest Mustang ever!
Medium yellow gold/prairie gold is one of my favorite Ford colors of the period, looks right at home with the styling language of the period whether it’s on Mustangs, Torinos, pintos or Mavericks. I always called it burnt yellow not really knowing the actual name. Silver Blue metallic with the silver Mach/Boss stripes though I think looks stunning. I had a 1:64 model in that color and it is what I credit for me appreciating this largely unloved bodystyle
The point at the beginning is very true, these really aren’t that big. I long since switched computers where I had this picture handy but a 71-73 is absolutely dwarfed in size by modern Mustangs. The styling is almost remarkable with the illusion of mass
I’m liking the Ivy Green Metallic, but I sure wish Ford had continued the 1969 Black Jade color onto the new restyled 71. It’s a fantastic dark green, almost black in certain lighting conditions.
Nice writeup about a Mustang that finally is getting the love it deserves!
Neighbors , a bit up the hill, had the “grabber yellow, Mach I”. Replaced a “69” Fastback. ((“metallic green”))
In Nacogdoches, Texas, doing a photo walk I saw this Mustang and talked to the young man who was the owner, he said it had a 351 Cleveland.
Every time I see one of these Mach I Mustangs, I think of “Diamonds are Forever”.
Jill St John made a lasting impression on a 14 year old kid!!
If only I had the finances to buy this one on Bring a Trailer: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-ford-mustang-mach-1-22/?utm_source=dm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2025-11-11
If I wanted my ’71 Mustang in Parnelli Jones/George Follmer 1970 Trans-Am champion yellow -would it be Medium Yellow Gold or Medium Bright Yellow?
From what I remember reading, CJ, the Bud Moore Mustangs in 1970 were painted a generic “School Bus Yellow,” nothing from the Ford color chart.