The Mark IV carried over most styling motifs from the successful Mark III, including the tall Rolls-Royce-style grille (even taller on the Mark IV), the fashionable long-hood short-deck style, covered headlamps, a "spare tire hump" in the trunk, and the taller, knife-edged fender line.

The car was both longer and wider than the Mark III, and was slightly more rounded in shape, the fender line losing some of its straightness and sharpness. The wheel openings on the Mark III wear somewhat tear-dropped at the trailing edge, but the Mark IV's were symmetrical front to rear in the Oldsmobile Toronado-inspired style then popular.

For 1972, close-fitting bumpers dipped in front to allow a longer grille. At the rear, the bumper followed the rounded "spare-tire hump", continuing its lines further down. Both of these styling touches were lost in subsequent years because of Federal 5 mph (8 km/h) bumper mandates; the front in 1973, the rear in 1974.

All Mark IVs were equipped with a vinyl roof. The Mark IV introduced the opera window to the Mark series, a feature that would become a Mark trademark until 1984. In 1972, it was an option, but it was almost universally specified, and from 1973 onward it was a standard feature. 

All Mark IVs were equipped with the 460 in (7.5 L) Ford 385 series V8 engine. 1972 Mark IV's were rated at 365 bhp, the engine being a direct carry-over from the previous Mark III. In 1973 compression-ratio was lowered considerably due to new changing EPA requirements, and Ford adopted a new SAE method of measuring horsepower, resulting in 212 SAE net hp (158 kW). The performance-gap between the 1972 and its later-year brethren was significant. All model years drove through a C6 3-speed automatic transmission.

05102011