The ’72 Chevy Corvettes were largely indistinguishable from the ones from a year earlier. Most of the changes were under the hood, where engine selections and horsepower were reduced due to tightening emissions controls. This example apparently was a project when the seller bought it, and it remains one now. It looks rough and may be fairly complete, but the seller’s description is rather limited. Located in a storage unit in Skiatook, Oklahoma, this “opportunity” is available here on craigslist for $5,000. Hats off to Chuck Foster for continuing to bring tips like this our way.
Perhaps the most significant footnote for the 1972 model is that it was the last year of a C3 ‘Vette that had chrome bumpers on both ends. In 1973, the Chevy would receive a urethane snout, and a year later the sports car would lose its “Kamm” rear end in favor of something rubberized. Two versions of the 350 cubic-inch V8 were available (200 and 255 SAE net horsepower now). You could spring for a 454 V8 with some big bucks but only realize an additional 15 horses. Despite the fact the cars were less potent than before, sales would increase to 27,000 units with less than a quarter of those being convertibles.
From the photos provided, it appears the seller’s first experience was with the Corvette on a trailer as the front end doesn’t seem to wear the primer you see on it in the storage unit. You had 10 color choices in 1972 and it’s hard to tell what hue this Chevy wore when it was new. The glass has been removed and some of the interior components (like the passenger’s seat) have overspray on them from the application of primer.
We don’t know which engine is in the car, original or otherwise, but the seller does say it has an automatic transmission. As part of the sale, the buyer will receive a bunch of parts to help complete a restoration, which includes a new interior kit. Because the car is held captive in tight spaces, the “before” photos may be more helpful than some of the “after” pics to determine exactly what you’re facing with this project car.
5K might not be too bad for this box a chocolates.
I think the only “before and after” photos are of the car with the same nose, “before and after” washing the dirt off. That dark nose is a one piece, hand laid, aftermarket replacement nose, so the car was likely wrecked. Between the straps over the nose in the trailer picture, and the big gaps where the nose meets the doors and cowl, it doesn’t look like the nose is actually installed. This project likely stalled before the nose was hung, when the owner realized it was more than they could handle.
I also don’t think that’s overspray on the seats, but instead just more dust and dirt from being in storage for years. And I don’t know why someone would wrap and mask the windshield header/a-pillars, like they did on this car. I also can’t figure out why the inside of the left outer tail lamp opening has been glassed up?
This car’s rough, and will take a fair amount of money and talent, to put it back on the road. But with a $5000 asking, it’s probably worth taking a look at.
Looks like it was pulled from a scrap yard.
Is that a big block I see
Nope. 350. Possibly an LT1 but also possibly not.
Not a bad investment for someone with a bit of knowledge and a few extra dollars and lots of time. If it weren’t so far away from me, I’d be there with cash in hand.
The ’72s had the exact same power as the ’71s. In ’71 the power was advertised in gross hp. on the console decal. In ’72 it was advertised in net power at the rear wheels, which seemed a lot punier…but when you drive the same engine variant of an unmodified ’71 or ’72, there is no power difference. The net 200 horsepower of a base ’72 actually is identical to the 270 horsepower gross of the ’71. The 255 net of the ’72 LT1 is the same as the gross 330 of the ’71. The LS-5 big block’s 365 horsepower gross of a ’71 is identical to the 270 net of the ’72. The only small differences between the two years is that the ’72 got amber directionals in the front grille as opposed to transparent for the ’71, and ’72 was the very last year for fibre optics
Auric again: one small errata before a hundred people swoop in to say that ’71 was the final year for fibre optics!
It displays a big block/LT-1 style hood, for what that is worth. Need to check VIN to further define it’s birth.
I see an A/C compressor as well. If it is, indeed an LT-1, that would put it into 1 of 240 built.
My dad had a 72 Vette. Dark blue I remember going with him to pick it up. I was 11 years old. He sold it a few years later, just as my older brother was turning 16, before he got his driver’s license.