Chevelle fans who appreciate originality may want to take a close look at this 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Heavy Chevy, listed for sale by its owner in Visalia, California, you can see it here on craigslist. The seller describes it as an all-original, matching-numbers car with its factory Super Sport–inspired Heavy Chevy package. It’s said to be a California car from the start, which is always a plus when it comes to long-term preservation. Thanks for the tip Tony Primo!
Under the hood sits the factory 350 V8 with a two-barrel carburetor, paired with an automatic transmission. The seller notes that the car does run and drive, but it hasn’t been used as a daily driver in more than ten years. It’s currently on non-op status and comes with a clean title, so the next owner should be able to get it back on the road without dealing with back fees.
According to the seller, this Chevelle is all original and has never been painted. They do mention rust in the trunk, which is common in A-bodies of this era. The rest of the body’s condition isn’t detailed beyond the claim that it’s original. For a buyer who values factory finishes and unrestored cars, that could be appealing, gentle patina and all.
The seller also says the car comes with extra parts, collected with the plan of restoring it. Life priorities changed, and now it’s up for sale at $15,500. The seller adds that the Chevelle “has a lot of options” and that they have the build sheet. Highlights mentioned in the listing include a 12-bolt rear end, factory cowl hood, and hood pins—the kinds of features that make the Heavy Chevy a standout among 1972 models, even though it wasn’t a full SS.
With an odometer reading 60,000 miles, this looks like the kind of Chevelle you don’t see as often anymore: largely untouched, documented, and not yet turned into a clone or heavily modified. Someone could restore it to factory specs, preserve its survivor status, or do a mechanical refresh and drive it as-is.
A true survivor Heavy Chevy with documentation and original equipment rarely pops up—what would you do with this one: restore it, or leave the original character intact?
Too heavy man. Great find Primo!
Never did understand what made a 2BBL 350 a heavy; unless it was an acknowledgement that the car was too heavy for this powertrain…
It ain’t heavy; it’s mah Chevy…
The Heavy Chevy was basically an appearance package, you could add options like the 350 4bbl, 396/402, 4spd, tach/gauge dash if you wanted.
Steve R
The main reason why the Heavy Chevy was created, was to save the owners some money on insurance. The insurance companies classified it a notch or two lower than a true muscle car.
Like Rocco mentions, it was all for insurance savings. The Heavy Chevy Chevelle and the Rally Nova could be optioned almost to the level of an SS, but without the fire and brimstone insurance rates a SS car guaranteed you to have. Most folks would get the dealership to swap on a 4 barrel carb, and boom, you’ve got 70s “SS” performance for less money. In 73 GM broke the SS to performance motor requirement, so the insurance companies backed off swacking buyers and the SS packages became more about appearance packages than performance.
I knew a guy named Evert who bought one of these
brand new,same color too.
Probably long gone by now.
A clear title doesn’t mean no back fees,unless it’s currently registered,or is on a Non Op.
A buddy I went to HS with had one of these with a wide ratio 4 speed in it. I think rowing a boat had less effort in the strokes. Felt like I was going from the dash to the back seat shifting gears. Anyways he let me drive and I laid into it and about freaked him out and he thought I was going to blow it up but that didn’t happen. It did move pretty good and was a nice car when he got it but he ended up blowing up the tranny and put and automatic in it. He trashed all the nice cars he had including this one unfortunately.
Wide ratio has nothing to do with shifter throw…..prove me wrong.
Wide ratio has nothing to do with shifter throw…
A 12 bolt rear differential with a 350 2bbl. WHY?
Like the old saying; “Putting a silk hat on a pig” huh? lol
I see it has the rare D43 vinyl bench with cardboard/duck tape inserts. Less than 10 of these were built in Yellow with that seat.
If it wasn’t a California car which means hopefully most of the car is solid I’d say $15,000 is to much because it doesn’t have much else going for it.
No sireee, not 15K. Now I know that these are somewhat rare, but they weren’t then, and aren’t now, much of a car. Along with that goes the fact that this thing is a pig. I wouldn’t be inclined to buy one in good shape, and in my opinion, this junker might be worth $1500. I’m sure that there will be those that vehemently disagree with me, so I suppose that we will just have to agree to disagree.
rare to see 1 in the wild today. she is rough and will need about 30k+ to bring it back. i feel today’s market 7500 would be the right # for it. thanks god its not red
Rocco talking about insurance rates for young drivers of muscle cars back in the day got me remembering. Yeah f
Got it socked to me on my 1967 Mustang GT with the 390. Now I’m old, don’t drive a lot, have a clean record an impeccable credit rating and daily drive a twenty year old passenger sedan and a twenty seven year old pickup that probably doesn’t get five thousand miles each a year put on them anymore. But the insurance company is still socking it to me. Some things never change.
Sure Carbob, but I bet that those youngsters are still paying double what you are.
Tis one can be saved but asking price is more around 8-10k
There’s one of these same model Chevelles hiding somewhere near me. My neighbor Sid asked me to follow him to an old store warehouse and inside was one exactly like this only blue. He was selling it and last I heard it’s tucked away in another old building somewhere near me. Possibly an old school building. It’s a survivor, original paint, original everything last time I saw it. Probably not for sale or for sale to someone with a pile of money
I remember looking at these when they were new. Yes, you could order almost any drive train option. But to me, Just like the Pontiac T37. A base model car with a large option availability. And all the ones I saw, except 1 T37 had base V8s and automatic transmissions. “Low price car on the lot to attract any buyer”.We did get a T37 into the dealership for a warranty engine. 400 with 4 speed and a connecting rod broke. It was naturally over-revved. The old cast iron connecting rods are the first thing to let go when revved too high. This one was revving really high as it also took out the oil pump. Pontiac paid the engine bill, but the customer paid for a new clutch.
You’d think that seller could at least put the headlight in it’s bucket. Lazy seller.
That would require finding the screws AND a screwdriver! Too busy writing a sales blurb!
Too “Heavy” a price…..
Yes, overpriced like all Chevelles of every breed, lately.
Cool car but the asking price seems high. Cleaned up and useable I think would find a buyer easily, this vintage is going for big bucks these days
I bought my new Heavy Chevy in 1972 (Red w/White stripe)
Paid $3100
Wish I still had it, very rare now.