Driver With the Right Options: 1972 Chevrolet Corvette

Have you ever ordered a sandwich from a real deli?  The kind of deli we are referring to is one with a checklist where you mark what type of bread, meat, cheese, condiments, and toppings you want to make your perfect sandwich.  Well, for Corvette buyers in the sixties and seventies, the option sheet you filled out at the dealer was a similar experience.  You had your choice of mild to wild engines, a convertible or coupe, manual or automatic transmission, and a huge list of options to suit your needs or desires.  This allowed you to outfit your new Corvette exactly how you wanted it.  Whoever purchased this 1972 Chevrolet Corvette coupe was an individual who knew just how to order a Corvette.  With a strong engine, a four-speed transmission, air conditioning, a gorgeous shade of blue, and several other options, the Corvette you see is the perfect example of how nice a chrome bumper C3 Corvette could be.

The seller of this Corvette didn’t waste any words in the ad.  Concise and to the point, we are advised that this Corvette is one of the most original cars that they have had the pleasure of owning.  Originally a car from Arizona and Nevada, the dry climate in these areas has helped to keep corrosion at bay.  Before you point out that Corvettes are fiberglass cars, remember that the frame, birdcage, and a few other select parts are made of steel and still susceptible to rusting out.  While the birdcage, which is the metal frame surrounding the cockpit that gives the car more structural rigidity and a place for panels to be attached, is not expressly mentioned, the dry climate reference assures us that it is still intact.

Some other advantages of this car are that 1972 was the last year for the delicate but gorgeous chrome front and rear bumpers were both in place.  It is a matching number car that the seller states has been well-maintained over its lifetime.  The car has also been repainted in its original Bryar Blue Metallic paint.  While there are a few areas around the headlights that look to have some wax embedded in the edges, the rest of the car shines up beautifully.

Looking inside, we see many of the options that this Corvette left the factory with.  The list includes a four-speed transmission, power windows, a tilt steering wheel, and leather seating.  We can see from the engine picture that the car was also equipped with power brakes and power steering, and that the often-discarded ignition shielding is still with the car.

In maintaining the car, new tires have been installed and a fresh tune-up has taken place.  The cooling system has benefitted from a new water pump and hoses.  This is important because the Corvettes of this era had a reputation for getting hot if they weren’t properly cared for.  Air-conditioned cars placed more stress on the engine, so they relied on a properly maintained cooling system most of all.  A new master cylinder has also been installed recently to help slow the car down with a bit more gusto.  On the bad news side, the new owner will have to recharge the air conditioning system and decide if a small oil leak from the rear of the oil pan on this 350 cubic inch small block Chevrolet V-8 packing 360 horsepower will merit changing out the seal.  They may want to install a proper set of valve covers while they are at it.

If you are looking for an early C3 Corvette with a lot of options that are in driver condition, then check out this 1972 Chevrolet Corvette coupe for sale on eBay in Temecula, California.  This beautiful Corvette will need a few things, but with the bidding sitting currently at $18,000, this auction may be worth watching.