1972 Chevrolet Chevelle

Description

It's a Chevelle. It's got a great-running small block and a cool color combination. Need we say more? If you're looking for a slick piece of muscle that's both affordable and nicely finished, this '72 SS might be your best choice. Not perfect, but a great car with incredible potential, all for a reasonable price.

The horsepower wars were all but over in 1972, but the Chevelle still looked the part of a street brawler. Thanks to the vast interchangeability of the parts, there's still plenty of horsepower to be had and you can give it a genuine SS paint job to complete the illusion. This one started out as a clean southern car anyway, so making it straight was easy. Cream Yellow with black stripes and a black vinyl top is how this one came from the factory, so that's how they finished it when it was time to start spraying paint. It's two-stage urethane, so a quick color sand and buff will make it look incredible, but even as-is, this car has presence. A lot of A-body enthusiasts like the later single-headlight look for its cleaner lines, and combined with the blacked-out SS grille, reproduction SS badging, and flashy chrome bumpers, this is one heck of a good-looking car. There's also a functional cowl-induction hood, which is practically mandatory if you want to build a high-performance Bowtie muscle car.

The interior remains fairly stock, and with black bench seats it has a purposeful look that serves the Chevelle quite well. The seat covers are new as is the dash pad, so it looks and feels fresh when you slide behind the wheel. The door panels and perhaps even the carpets are new, too, so everything has just the right look with nothing looking too old or too new. Note that this is a factory A/C car, which is always nice, and it features round gauges with a tachometer, strongly suggesting that it's a real-deal SS. There is no radio, but that only means that you can install the sound system of your choice without having to undo a bunch of someone else's work, or even just install a block-off plate and go the hardcore route. The trunk is remarkably clean, showing correct spatter-finish paint, a reproduction mat, and a full-sized spare tire with jack assembly.

GM was still doing their best to deliver horsepower in 1972 and offered a wide variety of engines in the mid-sized Chevelle. A smooth 350 cubic inch V8 was how this one came from the factory and this is the original, numbers-matching engine. It's painted Chevy Orange, and topped with a 4-barrel intake manifold and carburetor to help build horsepower. It looks quite correct, especially with that cowl induction air cleaner, and there's lots of recent equipment, including the alternator and brake master cylinder. A snarky dual exhaust system gives the big block a baritone rumble and with a TH350 3-speed automatic and a 10-bolt rear end, you don't have to worry about breakage if you get on the loud pedal now and then. The chassis is fairly original and quite solid with no rust issues to speak of, and it sits right with a bit of rake for a hot-rod attitude. Classic charcoal-colored 15-inch SS wheels wear fat 225/70/15 white-letter radials.

A big, bad Chevelle for not a lot of money, this is your opportunity to get into an attractive and nicely sorted piece of muscle that's ready to enjoy. Call today!