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Rarest Color: 1972 Chevrolet Corvette

Sometimes a classic car doesn’t need to be a firebreathing monster to be classed as desirable. This 1972 Corvette demonstrates this fact thanks to its rare paint color and host of optional extras. It is a tidy and original survivor with a claimed 56,000 miles on its odometer. It needs a new home, so the seller listed it here on eBay in Collierville, Tennessee. Bidding has raced to $20,100 but is yet to reach the reserve.

Chevrolet produced 27,004 Corvettes for 1972, offering buyers a choice of ten paint colors. The rarest of these is Pewter Silver which graces the panels of our feature car. It was selected by a mere 1,372 buyers, representing a take-up rate of 5%. While that doesn’t make it the rarest shade in Corvette history, it is a shade not often seen on many in the current market. The paint holds an impressive shine for its age, although it isn’t perfect. The photos reveal chips and marks, but nothing that significantly detracts from its appearance or would demand a repaint. This model year was the last for the chrome bumpers at either end and these, along with the remaining trim, present well for a survivor. The glass looks flawless, while the original Rally wheels retain their spotless trim rings and center caps.

The original owner enjoyed their comfort and convenience features, ticking a few boxes beside optional extras on their Order Form. They equipped this classic with air conditioning, power windows, a tilt/telescopic wheel, and an AM/FM radio. A CD player occupies the spot reserved for the factory unit, but the seller includes the original radio for those intending to preserve this classic. The seats wear their original Black leather that is free from visible damage or major wear. The remaining trim is excellent, including the damage-prone console. The dash is spotless, and this interior needs nothing.

Buyers in 1972 could choose from three engines to power their new Corvette, and this car’s original owner selected the entry-level ZQ3 unit producing 200hp. They mated this with a four-speed manual transmission before adding power assistance for the steering and brakes for comfort. The ZQ3 could propel the ‘Vette through the ¼ mile in 15.9 seconds. That figure seems underwhelming and indicates the changes occurring in the automotive landscape, thanks to manufacturers working to comply with new emission requirements. This Corvette is numbers-matching, with the seller claiming it has a genuine 56,000 miles on the clock. They don’t mention verifying evidence, so taking it with a pinch of salt is best. An in-person inspection might help confirm the claim and is a strategy I always recommend before potential buyers part with their hard-earned cash for the classic of their dreams. The listing supplies no information on how this beauty runs or drives, but the overall presentation and the seller’s statement that it would be a pleasure to own suggest the news is positive.

This 1972 Corvette has the “wow” factor, but it is a tidy survivor that is meant to be driven and enjoyed. A cosmetic refresh would improve its presentation, but that would compromise its survivor status. I believe that readers will probably fall into two camps when they examine the photos. Some will opt for a repaint, but others won’t change a thing. The level of interest is impressive, with forty-one bids already submitted with time remaining on the auction. If the successful bidder is one of our Barn Finders, I would be fascinated to learn their plans.

Comments

  1. Avatar bobhess Member

    Wow! is certainly the best way to describe this beauty.

    Like 10
  2. Avatar alphasud Member

    This is a color I would like to see in person. On my display it looks to have some green in the color. I would say this is a color that was ahead of its time. Certainly not popular with color trends of 1972 which is why it’s rare. I certainly like it though. Car was nicely appointed to be a comfortable cruiser. They all can’t be fire breathing monsters

    Like 13
    • Avatar wuzjeepnowsaab

      Same on both my monitors…seems to have a green-gray “mist” hue in the paint. Cool color. Not a fan of the black though

      Like 4
    • Avatar GTiDave

      It does have a green tint. My father in law had this same color on his ‘72. Exact duplicate to this one.

      Like 4
  3. Avatar Wayne

    Beautiful paint color. I prefer it on the 72 Chevelles tho……and I like the light-ish Green tint this paint has in it. I’m considering repainting my 72 Chevelle big block 402 factory SS this paint color…changing it from factory Gold to Pewter Silver….we’ll see tho.

    Like 2
  4. Avatar RMac

    Is the black rear stock I don’t recall seeing that before?
    Love this car options and color just not sure about that back end

    Like 4
    • Avatar Poppy

      Not sure I like the black on the back side either, but it sort of balances out the black hood bulge.

      Like 3
    • Avatar Ike Onick

      Nope. Added by one of the owners. Kind of a half-a$$ “tribute” to Joel Rosen’s Motion Performance shop on Long Island, NY. Or “Lawng Island, Noo Yawk” if you are fluent.

      Like 8
    • Avatar Cadmanls Member

      Nice looking car, other than the paint is kind of plain. Base small block, auto and air. Business mans Vette. 72 is a good looking C3, front fender vents and square exhaust tips and last year for the chrome bumpers. Nice driver that someone will surely enjoy.

      Like 5
      • Avatar Jack

        How can you say this is an auto? It is clearly a 4 speed

        Like 6
  5. Avatar wmotor

    Thinking of selling my 50th Anniversary Automatic convertible to buy this one.
    What would you do?

    Like 4
  6. Avatar doug

    Steel Cities Grey was used in both ’71 and ’72. It does show a green tint in certain light, one of my favorite colors. The air conditioning compressor is aftermarket. The black tail and hood are not factory. Very nice car.

    Like 6
    • Avatar gbvette62

      This is not a factory AC car. That’s not just an aftermarket compressor, it’s a complete Vintage Air (or Old Car Air) aftermarket AC system. This is not a bad thing, as long as the next owner knows what they’re getting.

      Figure in the faux Motion Performance paint stripe, the Custom Interior wood grain that’s been replaced with some of the wrong color, an aftermarket radio, along with some odds and ends under the hood, and it’s hard to call it a “survivor”. Contrary to the writer’s claims, there’s no way to know if the “damage-prone console” is good or not, since there’s an aftermarket armrest on top of it.

      It could be a decent car for someone, if there are no frame or birdcage issues, and they understand that it’s had some changes made to it.

      Like 10
  7. Avatar Geoff

    I thought it was Steel Cities Grey too (I keep looking at the photos and I still think it is), but the paint code is 924 which is Pewter Silver and can look a lot like SCG in the right light.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Dennis

      I’d say it’s been repainted by a shop that couldn’t bother matching the Pewter exactly. The black paint imo is attributable to a quick repaint many years ago. Jmo

      Like 1
  8. Avatar Cadmanls Member

    Nice looking car, other than the paint is kind of plain. Base small block, auto and air. Business mans Vette. 72 is a good looking C3, front fender vents and square exhaust tips and last year for the chrome bumpers. Nice driver that someone will surely enjoy. My bad 4 speed.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar Mitch

    Beautiful. Since the ’70-73 was for me the best looking of
    all first gen C3 the chrome bumpers and squared front
    indicators fit very well to the C3 body language.

    I had painted its rear only in matte black – the owner who
    let made this maybe had a Ferrari of this decade in mind.
    Or some american ‘muscle’ like a mopar. Finally a nice car.

    My estimate is 35’000$ with the lame engine. The plug wires
    need a better routling they’re too close to the exhaust
    manifold. The seats deserve some hide care and sealing paste.

    Mates SAAB had a similar colour and its a mix of silver
    and light green metallic. The colour changes slightly how
    you look at the car. Have a look here: http://saabarchive.net/images/colors/og93_273.jpg

    Like 2
  10. Avatar Desert Rat

    Great looking Vette love the black around the tail end. Cool color on an old classic, makes it look elegant.

    Like 4
  11. Avatar Jay McCarthy

    It’s a good looking car and I like that color a lot, but the black out on the rear makes me wonder if it’s hiding something

    Like 1
  12. Avatar Dwcisme

    7 years ago, I was looking for a Vette of this vintage, equipment and condition (good but driver quality). Everything was either in need of a tear down restoration or the seller was trying for a lottery win. Big blocks were hitting BJ and Mecum with 6 figure hammer prices and some sellers thought those sale prices applied to every C3 regardless of condition. It’s not original but that doesn’t matter unless that’s how you present it. Most owners had done some modifications on these when new.

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Tort Member

    Beautiful car as well as the color. Plenty of horsepower for a car that would not go to the track or street race at this stage of its life. If there was one thing I would do if I were to buy it the black paint would be history.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar pete

    Some one in our town ordered a late70’s Vette without UPGRADING to a 350. so that one is really rare.

    Like 1
  15. Avatar George Mattar

    GM was way ahead of the curve with this color. Almost every new ugly SUV is a shade similar to this. Why do you writers constantly report quarter mile times in slow boats like this? No one drag races a 200 hp 1972 Corvette. I have a 73 coupe with a 190 hp L48 4 speed 3.36 rear. It is basically the same car, only better due to radial tires, better body mounts, no stupid vacuum wiper door. The 73 L48 is basically the same engine as the 200 hp 72 engine except for the EGR valve, which debuted in 73. Even Larry Shinoda said the 73 was his favorite because it most closely resembles the original Mako Shark design.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Desert Rat

      Sorry George but you and Larry might just be the only two car guys that would pick the styling of a 73 corvette over any chrome bumper c3, just saying.

      Like 1
  16. Avatar PRA4SNW

    That is a great paint color, completely ruined by that black paint.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Don Leblanc

    I see 3 pedals there …

    Like 0

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