71 has the split grill, the Demon fender emblems were all stickers and they had a rally dash like the 70 Dart Swinger.
72 has the one piece grill, the Demon fender emblems were chrome with yellow and red paint. The rally gauges were gone leaving a rectangle shaped speedometer surrounded with small gauges for oil, temp etc...
71 has the more desirable horse power and forged crank as well.
71 and 72 grilles are different enough that they require different front fender extensions. The difference is in the lip inside that carries the chrome metal trim (that trim is different too). The 72 is more shallow than the 71.
They have fender different extensions, but they don't require them. The headlight bezels/grill surrounds don't mount to the fender extensions, and for both years the headlight bezel/grill is out in front of the trim on the fender extensions. The lip on the fender extension is more shallow on the '72's, as is the metal trim piece, but it doesn't effect the grill in either case. There are plenty of folks running '71 grill's on their 72's, it's a bolt in swap.
Quite interessting, because everybody can identify the 72 model easily with the side markers.
For me I like the 72 grille better, because it makes the car 'wider' and more aggressive looking - from a visual point.
Nevertheless the 71s are the real deal as whole package - performancewise.
Could you get the Rallye dash in a 72?
Preaching to the choir Joe. I like the '71 front end so much I turned my '74 Duster into a '71 Demon tribute.
The entire front end is a "bolt on" swap. Just a lot more bolts. ;-) Tail panel takes some welding though. My grille isn't done in argent though, it's a charcoal metallic color.
Man that chin spoiler looks killer on your car!