This 1972 Corvette is special. It could probably be considered a lightweight project car because the LS5 454 cubic inch V8 engine is no longer under the hood. However, the seller has the numbers matching engine to go with it. The car is located in Las Vegas, Nevada and is listed for sale here on Craigslist. You might expect the seller to ask some crazy high number but the list price is only $4,999. Now, that is the good news. The rest of the story is that the car is going to need everything. The seller admits that it is a big project and there is some rust on the birdcage.
When it left the factory, the car was built with a 365 horsepower LS5 454 cubic inch V8 engine and automatic transmission. The LS5 version of the 454 cubic inch V8 engine is said to be one of the most streetable big blocks from back in the day. I had a car with the LS6 454 cubic inch V8 engine and the prior owner rebuilt it with concave pistons to lower the compression ratio. When I dyno’ed the engine, it came in right at 360 horsepower which was comparable to the LS5. The engine in this car is said to have been rebuilt before the current owner bought it. The owner states that he has no idea if the engine build was properly performed. It looks like it has been sitting awhile so there will be some issues.
The car was originally Ontario Orange with a tan interior but a new owner could paint it to their preference. As can be seen, the interior is worn but has the seats and console. The door panels appear missing and the carpet will need to be replaced along with just about every other soft surface. Hopefully, the rust mentioned in the description is not too bad.
Out of the 27,000 Corvettes built in 1972, less than 4,000 were equipped with the LS5 454 cubic inch V8 engine. This car would be incredible after it is restored and is pretty much a blank canvas at this point. It looks like it is riding on mismatched wheels and tires. I hope this one sees the road some day.
Now why would anyone detune an LS-6? I had one and it was a gas-guzzling but lovable beast.
Cost 20k to restore a 20k car…
You will be well under water restoring this even doing it yourself. Parts are $$$$ And a 72 454 is not all that valuable. The good part is the basic rust bucket car is cheap. Birdcage rust a major hassle to repair. I own a 73, which is better in every way than my 71 454 was 46 years ago.
Rust in the bird cage and frame is always scary, and it looks like the car may have been hit on the passenger side rear. But, this is a big block, chrome bumper car. Definitely worth a look for a knowledgeable and ambitious Corvette nut in the neighborhood.
First off 1971 had the LS5 365 454 not the 72 it was less hp i had 71 that had the LS5 cream beige interior Ontario orange it was cool ran 11:60 in quarter with 3:73 gears
Correct, for 1972 the horsepower was 270, which was a net number. In previous years the number was gross horsepower.
It is my understanding that despite the lower NET horsepower rating of a ’72, the real power is the same as a ’71. Both the ’71 and ’72 350s and 454s apparently had the same compression, cam lift and heads. I have heard this over the years from quite a few people, most of them Stingray specialists. Thus a ’72 454 LS-5 has 365 horsepower gross at the crank, and 270 net at the rear wheels. Someone really in-the-know feel free to correct this if wrong, as it would be a great service to potential ’71 and ’72 buyers, as well as sellers. If the numbers are different, what then are the true numbers and why?
The price is right for a hands on guy but why would you picture a motor and trans if it didn’t come with the car
I agree with you Auric, I have heard the same thing from several people as well. I own a 72 LS-5 that I bought new in late 1971, and while that doesn’t prove anything, 1/4 mile acceleration times and trap speeds between the 71 and 72 were the same in comparison tests run by two different magazines that I read before buying my 72. That’s good enough for me.