The pre-1973 examples remain the most desirable of Chevrolet’s C3 Corvette range. They retained chrome bumpers at both ends and represent the badge’s styling in its purest form. This 1972 ‘Vette is a restoration project requiring plenty of work. However, it is said to be structurally sound, and it retains its numbers-matching drivetrain. The seller has listed the C3 here on eBay in Reisterstown, Maryland, with an asking price of $6,500 OBO.
The 1972 model year marked the end of an era for the C3 Corvette. It was the last of the chrome-bumper vehicles, and the sometimes troublesome vacuum-operated door and the Coupe variant’s removable rear window would disappear at the year’s end. The history of this partially dismantled project car is unclear, and it is also a mystery machine from another perspective. The seller provides a slightly blurred image of the Trim Tag in their listing, which shows a Paint Code of either 988 or 989. Those Codes equate to Steel Cities Gray or War Bonnet Yellow, confirming a color change at some point. Although it is in pieces and requires plenty of work, there is good news for potential buyers. The seller assures us that the frame and birdcage are both solid, suggesting that the car is structurally sound. However, in its current state, I believe the new owner will likely take a frame-off approach to the restoration to minimize potential long-term problems. The hood is missing, but this Corvette is otherwise complete.
The seller pulled the motor during the restoration, but confirms that the car retains its numbers-matching drivetrain. It is unclear which version of the 350ci V8 this is, but it sent its power to the road via a four-speed manual transmission. The first owner also splurged on power steering and power brakes. There is good news for potential buyers, because the seller has recently installed some new parts. The tires, shocks, brake calipers, discs, and brake hoses are all new. Fitting these items while the car has so many other needs before it is roadworthy is a strange choice, but the buyer will no doubt welcome those components.
Considering the state of the rest of the car, finding this Corvette’s interior in pieces will probably surprise exactly nobody. Trimmed in Black vinyl, it appears that the first owner limited the factory options to air conditioning and an AM/FM radio. On a positive note, the listing images suggest that the removed items are intact. However, the new owner faces a long cleaning process to determine what parts need replacing. Honestly, I’m glad that it is them and not me who will be bolting this interior back together!
If I were a betting man, I would wager that this 1972 Chevrolet Corvette will divide readers’ opinions. Some will see its potential, while others might think it needs more work than they’d be willing to tackle. The listing statistics are among the best that I have seen, with Listing View and Watch List tallies of 806 and 121, respectively. Whether that translates into sales success, only time will tell. However, with this C3 looking quite affordable and 24 days remaining on the listing, anything is possible.
The 5th character in the VIN is K which corresponds to the base engine.
It’s a mess got the asking price and will likely be a hard sell.
Steve R