This 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle appears to have either begun life as an ordinary Malibu or as a Chevelle Super Sport that came with a 350 cubic inch V8. That engine was replaced early in the car’s life with a rebuilt 402 and has been in temperature-controlled storage for 45 years. Needing new blue paint and a revisit to the upholstery, this SS 396 clone is available here on eBay and in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, where the current bid of $9,850 does not exceed the seller’s reserve.
You may recall that Chevrolet’s 396 V8 was modified slightly in 1970 to displace 402 cubic inches. Yet the car was still marketed as an SS 396. As muscle car mania had waned by 1972, you could get a Super Sport with a 350, which would appease the insurance underwriters. But the 396/402 and 454 were still very much in the mix. The seller’s car was born with a 350 and a 10-inch rear end. We’re told the 350 was swapped for a 402 early in the car’s life, but apparently, a 12-inch rear end wasn’t substituted.
The seller has owned this car since 1981, and it has spent much of the last four decades under wrap. Though the engine is not original (but period correct), the Chevy does have a Muncie 4-speed manual transmission. The odometer reflects 87,000 miles, and much of that is attributed to the rebuilt powerplant. Two other people owned the car between 1972 and 1981. Much of the blue paint has been replaced by red primer, so the body has been partially prepped for a new finish.
Regarding the interior, the front bucket seats have been redone in rather plain vinyl, which does not match what appears to be the original rear seat. So, at some point, the buyer will probably want to have them correctly made over. We’re told the car has a “long, well-documented history,” which I would want to see as a buyer. Despite its appearance and storage, the seller says the Chevelle runs and drives well.
The VIN is incorrect as it should start with a 13. The third digit is a 3 indicating the car was delivered with the 250 CID engine. Somewhere in the past this Chevelle Sport Coupe was misrepresented.
I read it as (1)Chevrolet, (D)Chevelle, (37)2dr coupe, (H) 350 2bbl. If so it could be an SS, but definitely not the same as the seller represents it.
Steve R
Rather than go by memory I checked the GM documents. You are correct except for the D which included the Malibu. The Chevelle would have been a C. Thank you for the correction.
According to the VIN, the 5th digit is an “H”, which was the L65 350 2bbl. In 1972, the SS option could be had with any OPTIONAL engine. The standard engine was the 307 and the L65 was an optional engine, so yes, this could be a SS. The L65 350-2bbl engine came standard with a 10-bolt rear end and only equipped with a 12-bolt rear end when the trailer option (RPO YD1) was ordered. The other 3 optional V8 engines (L48, LS3, and LS5) were outfitted with 12-bolt rear ends so when one of those engines was ordered along with the SS Equipment option a 12-bolt rear end was used. It does have the round gauge pods, which were only in the SS.