454/4-Speed: 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
Some classic cars have a story to tell, and I’m sure this 1972 Chevelle SS is no different. It has spent more than 20-years in storage, and it has only recently emerged into the light of day. Its drivetrain makes it a rare beast, and it appears that it would take little effort to transform this classic from head-turning to jaw-dropping. The Chevelle is located in Fieldale, Virginia, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN of $34,900, but he leaves the option for interested parties to make an offer.
Given little more than a quick passing glance, this Sequoia Green Chevelle seems to present well. However, it does have a few cosmetic issues that the buyer might want to address. Chief among these is the clear peeling from the hood and the top of the passenger side front fender. I find it strange that this has impacted adjoining panels and that the edges match nicely. It suggests that something may have been spilled on the panels to cause this problem. There is also rust around the door handle on the same side, but this seems to be about the only rust present in the entire vehicle. The photos are pretty dark, but there is nothing visible in the panels. The underside shots that the owner supplies show little more than the occasional dusting of surface corrosion, with the original floors and frame appearing to be structurally sound. There are a few other scrapes and blemishes around this Chevelle, so a repaint would return it to its best without costing an arm and a leg. The trim and chrome look presentable for a survivor-grade car, and I can’t spot any issues with the glass.
Lifting the hood reveals that this was as good as it got for Chevelle buyers in 1972. The engine bay is occupied by the numbers-matching LS5 454ci V8 that churned out 270hp. The original M22 4-speed manual transmission is bolted to this, while the drivetrain is rounded out by a 12-bolt Posi rear end, power steering, and power front disc brakes. With this sort of power on tap, the SS was no slouch when pointed at the ¼ mile. Floor the gas, and that journey would be over in an impressive 14.9 seconds. From a rarity perspective, this Chevelle scores reasonably well. I have confirmed that this is 1-of-1,513 Chevelles to roll off the line in ’72 with the LS5/M22 drivetrain combination. After 20-years of inactivity, the seller has worked through the process of returning the SS to a roadworthy state. The work involved flushing and replacing all of the fluids, while he also replaced the plugs, plug wires, and points. He says that the car runs and drives well, the brakes are strong, and the clutch is smooth. The only task that the buyer faces is to replace the tires, which are pretty old. That would be a wise move before attempting any open-road work.
The interior of this classic is one area that has me scratching my head. I can’t tell whether it is an issue with photo quality or whether the seats have some weird dirty marks or stains. It is one of those issues that potential buyers could confirm with an in-person inspection, and regular readers will know that I am a staunch advocate for that process. The carpet is faded near the shifter, but there’s no evidence of any heavy wear. The only other problem that is visible is a crack in the dash pad. That’s a shame because I think that it has progressed to the point where repair might not be viable. If the buyer is able to clean the seats successfully, a $300 dash pad and a $150 carpet set would have the interior presenting pretty nicely.
Many classic barn or shed finds have an interesting backstory, and this 1972 Chevelle SS 454 could be one of those vehicles. We don’t know why it was originally parked or why the seller recently revived it. Sometimes those stories can be as interesting as the cars themselves. We may never know the story here, but we know that someone may be days away from owning a solid and potent classic that will almost certainly appreciate in coming years. Would you like to be that person?
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Comments
Even with the cosmetic and interior issues, I don’t believe this ’72 Chevelle “SS” will last for long. It’s a shame about the build sheet. I understand the W in the VIN confirms the “454 SS,” and not that it matters just don’t see how the Seller can claim numbers matching without the Protect-O-Plate or build sheet? Did I miss something in the listing?
Technically the W in the VIN only references the engine as being a 454. This doesn’t mean the seller is incorrect. In 1972 the 454 could only be ordered with the SS package (RPO Z15).
You can verify matching numbers without a protect-o-plate or build sheet since engines are stamped with VIN numbers. They are sources of additional documentation, but aren’t necessary.
Steve R
What, you mean as simply as looking at the VIN stamping on the engine block and transmission case???
Jeez-O-Pete people! It’s not rocket science!!!
The interior…looks like it was all black, and somebody found tan seats, door panels and quarter panels to install. Maybe original seats will new skins? That seems to makes more sense. They left the original black head restraints off when they changed color (it also could have been white seat and door panels)
A picture of the cowl tag can confirm. If it has been in storage for 20, then let say it was painted/freshened up 30 years ago…
There were a LOT of Eddie Bauer Fords around with green and tan…that could have been an influence on the interior color choice. In was in vogue l. The wheel color is also incorrect, should be a darker gray. And, the spare would match, same rim and tire size.
Rear speaker grills in package shelf are factory, so that means a factory stereo. The slide bar is right in between am and fm, in the a(m) – (f)m position. That might be a problem.
The above would not keep me from buying it.
May have to find an off duty CSI team member to willing to help with the build sheet delema.
I have a blue 72 LS5/M22 car that came from the factory like this car,too bad the drivetrain was long gone when I bought it, the convertibles are super rare
Excellent deal on the best unrestored ’72 I’ve seen in a LOOOOOONG time.
Beautiful car. Late 1972 with early 72 front but otherwise looks perfect
I had a 70 Chevelle with a really well built 454 in it and a 4 speed I am guessing the engine made around 550 HP. I got the car when I caught an employee stealing from me it was a non matching numbers car and it took about 3 phone calls and it was gone, the engine went to a drag racer and the car to a collector.
Yes, the W in the VIN does indicate the car WAS a 454 but it doesn’t guarantee it IS a 454 now. It would have been nice to see the stampings on the ledge at the front of the block.
Also, I have never understood why people who are selling high-dollar cars won’t spend the extra few dollars necessary to get the correct-fitting spark plug wires for their application so they don’t end up with the spaghetti mess this car has.
That air cleaner is UBER rare and not re-popped. I’m amazed it’s still there. Shared with the even rarer 71-72 LS3 Camaro, the LS5 454 Heavy Chevy.
You are right on the air cleaner, they are rare, and expensive. Hopefully that’s a sign the original engine is still there. I can never understand why sellers of cars like this, where a significant portion of the value is linked to the claim of matching numbers don’t actually show a picture of the stamping. It’s easy to access and photograph.
I always thought the 454 was exclusive to the SS and the largest engine available in the Heavy Chevy was the 396/402.
Steve R
all these nice cars and no AC
Best looking factory wheels ever – and the Magnums are a close second.
Forget you could get Hillebrand’s on a Studebaker in 1964 – they are super rare to find.
Nice car – somebody make an offer !
Does anyone know if the 1972 Chevelle LS5 454 came with painted valve covers? In 1970 the Chevelles with the LS5 had chrome valve covers.
Did they have some problem with the center hump that caused the carpet to not be original.
The Muncie shifter for a M-22 with a 454 in 1970 has a very unique curved shifter and has a black knob The shifter plate for the 454 Muncie with M-22 also had a different screw pattern and looks different from this one.
The spare tires on a 1970 454 Chevelle were painted gray not black like this one.
Love it just the way it is except for the color of the wheels and the exhaust exits. Paint the wheels the correct color, put new tires on it along with a nice exhaust with the proper tips and drive it!!!
And don’t let that air cleaner out of your sight!!