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1972 Chevrolet Corvette C3

Automobile manufacturers were facing increasing pressure from the insurance industry, government regulators, and safety advocates during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Corvette soldiered on with large displacement engines, with the standard unit being a 350 cubic-inch solid lifter, small block V8 with overhead valves, and a Rochester four-barrel carburetor. The big-block, 454 cubic-inch V8 was optional, with the 'LS5' (454 CID / 390 hp) accounting for a quarter of the cars in 1970. The LS7 (454 CID / 460 hp) was planned and appeared in Chevrolet literature (add $3000) but is not believed to have ever been delivered to retail customers. A mere twenty-five examples were fitted with the ZR1 special engine package and 1,287 with the LT-1 engine (350 CID / 370 hp). Sales dropped nearly 60% in 1970 to 17,316 units due to the short model year.

The 1971 Corvette was nearly identical to the 1970 Corvette, both inside and out, and was the final year for the M22 heavy-duty four-speed manual gearbox, the headlight washer system, and the fiber optics light monitoring system. Engine output was reduced due to lower compression ratios, with the base 350 CID V8 now developing 279 hp. The LT-1 produced 330 hp and the LS5 (454 CID) produced 365 hp. The LS6 option was the 454 cubic-inch big-block with aluminum heads and 425 horsepower, with 188 examples so equipped. Eight examples received the ZR1 engine package, twelve with the ZR2 special engine package, and six-hundred seventy-seven examples were convertibles with shoulder belts. 14,680 examples were sold as sport coupes and 7,121 were convertibles.

The 1972 Chevrolet Corvette
Beginning in 1972, horsepower ratings were net numbers, not just the power made at the flywheel. The SAE net rating system essentially measured output with all ancillary systems attached and operating, contributing to drastically lower numbers. Thus, in the case of the Corvette's optional LT1, the published rating was down from 340 horsepower in 1971 to 225 horsepower in 1972, even though the motor was the same in both years. In 1971, the compression was lowered to 9:1 from 11:1, but the torque was a respectable 360 ft-lbs in 1972 and could be run safely on modern fuel. The LT1 had a 6,500 RPM redline and of the 27,004 Corvettes produced for 1972, only 6 percent, or 1,741, were optioned with the $483.45 LT1 motor. During 1971 and 1972, the LT-1 option (discontinued after 1972) could not be ordered with air conditioning (allowed in 1972).

The only 454 cubic-inch engine was the LS5, whose rating dropped from 365 gross horsepower to 270 net (it was not available to California buyers). Chevrolet offered the ZR1 Special Purpose Engine Package for the last time, building 20 before its demise.

1972 Chevrolet Corvette C3 photo
Sport Coupe
The 1972 Chevrolet Corvette's styling was similar to the 1971 Corvette, and standard equipment included a positraction rear axle, tinted glass, outside rear-view mirror, flo-thru ventilation system, and disc brakes at all four corners. Also included were an electric clock, wheel trim rings, vinyl upholstery, and carpeting.

Body styles included a Sports Coupe and a Convertible. The top for the convertible could be ordered in white or black. Ten exterior colors were available for all body styles.

The base engine was an overhead-valve V8 engine that displaced 350 cubic inches and offered 200 horsepower. The engine had five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and a Rochester Type Quadra-jet 4-barrel carburetor. Other available engines included the LT1 350 CID with 255 horsepower, the ZR1 350 CID, and LS5 454 CID. Only 30 examples were equipped with the ZR1 motor. An automatic, 4-speed manual, or close-ratio four-speed manual transmission with floor shift was available. Nearly half of all Corvettes for 1972 were equipped with the four-speed manual gearbox.

1972 Chevrolet Corvette C3 photo
Sport Coupe
The 1972 Corvette models were the last to wear chromed front and rear bumpers, chromed egg-crate front grilles and front fender side vents and, in coupes, the removable rear window. The fiber optic monitoring system introduced with 1968 had been dropped following the 1971 model year, while the previously optional alarm system was made standard equipment in hopes of curving Corvette thefts.

For 1972, the popular body style was the Sport Coupe which saw 20,496 examples produced, with 6,508 being convertibles. Approximately 15,000 Corvettes were fitted with automatic transmissions. Buyers were still able to order the M21 close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission - a no-cost option.

Chevrolet proudly proclaimed the Corvette 'America's only true production sports car.' Car & Driver quoted 0–60 mph in 6.0 seconds, completion of the quarter-mile in 14.57 seconds, and a top speed of 137 mph from the four-speed-equipped Corvette they tested. The LT-1 engine option made its final appearance in 1972.


by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012

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1972 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1972 Corvette C3
$5,296-$37,935
1972 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Price Range: $5,245 - $5,296

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1972 Chevrolet Models
$2,058 - $2,283
$2,375 - $2,400
$2,700 - $3,258
$2,800 - $3,540
$3,370 - $4,165

Corvette C3

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 327.00 CID., 300.00hp
8 cyl., 427.00 CID., 390.00hp
8 cyl., 427.00 CID., 400.00hp
8 cyl., 427.00 CID., 430.00hp
8 cyl., 427.00 CID., 435.00hp
$4,350 - $4,661
38,762
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 300.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 350.00hp
8 cyl., 427.00 CID., 390.00hp
8 cyl., 427.00 CID., 400.00hp
8 cyl., 427.00 CID., 430.00hp
8 cyl., 427.00 CID., 435.00hp
$4,425 - $4,765
98.00 in.
$4,765 - $4,765
17,316
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 300.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 350.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 370.00hp
8 cyl., 454.00 CID., 390.00hp
8 cyl., 454.00 CID., 460.00hp
$5,130 - $5,470
98.00 in.
$5,130 - $17,000
21,801
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 270.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 350.00hp
8 cyl., 454.00 CID., 385.00hp
8 cyl., 454.00 CID., 425.00hp
$5,300 - $5,535
27,004
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 200.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 255.00hp
8 cyl., 454.00 CID., 270.00hp
$5,245 - $5,296
30,463
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 190.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 250.00hp
8 cyl., 454.00 CID., 275.00hp
$5,690 - $5,920
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 400.00hp
$13,990 - $13,990
37,501
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 195.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 250.00hp
8 cyl., 454.00 CID., 270.00hp
$6,155 - $6,375
38,665
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 165.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 205.00hp
$6,855 - $7,115
46,558
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 180.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 210.00hp
$7,600 - $7,600
49,213
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 180.00hp
8 cyl., 351.80 CID., 210.00hp
$8,650 - $8,650
46,776
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 170.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 185.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 220.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 350.00hp
$9,450 - $13,670
53,807
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 195.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 225.00hp
$10,220 - $10,220
40,614
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 305.00 CID., 180.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 190.00hp
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 230.00hp
$13,140 - $13,140
40,606
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 350.00 CID., 190.00hp
$15,300 - $15,300
40,606
98.00 in.
8 cyl., 349.97 CID., 450.00hp
$15,300 - $15,300

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