1972 Chevrolet Chevelle
The Chevelle was Chevrolet’s entry into the “intermediate” segment, and was manufactured from 1964 through 1977. The 1964-’65 cars were very similar, likewise with the 1966-’67 models. 1968-’72 Chevelles are close in size and shape, and many parts over this 5 model year run are interchangeable. Although some of the sheet metal and trim changed over the years, 1973-’77 Chevelles are typically grouped into one “generation”. The 1977 model year spelt the end of the Chevelle nameplate, and the mid-size Chevrolet would continue on as Malibu.
If you are a muscle car fan, then 1972 might just be your swan song year. Insurance rates and emission standards had forced the decline in market. GM now measured power in gross horsepower (at the wheels) instead of net (off the engine), so the numbers drastically declined, although performance was relatively the same. For example the single exhaust version of the 1970 402 with a gross hp of 330 was now rated at 210 net horsepower.
The 1972 Chevelle kept many of the same body styles of the 1971, with exception to the grill and marker lights. Still a popular car, the 1972 Chevelle qualified as America’s second best selling car.
On the interior, the accelerator pedal was changed from bottom hinged to a hanging type from under the dash. The SS package was still the same from the previous year with a black grill and domed hood with functional lock pins. The 454 could only be ordered with the SS package.
Chevrolet produced just over 450,000 Chevelles in 1972.
AVAILABLE MODELS:
1972 Chevelle Nomad Wagon
- Engine Options
- 250 cubic inch 145 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 307 cubic inch 130 horsepower V8 (base)
- 350 cubic inch 165 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 350 cubic inch 175 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 402 (396) cubic inch 240 horsepower V8 (optional)
1972 Chevelle
- Body Styles
- 2 Door Sport Coupe
- 4 Door Sedan
- 4 Door Wagon
- Engine Options
- 250 cubic inch 145 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 307 cubic inch 130 horsepower V8 (base)
- 350 cubic inch 165 horsepower V8 (base)
- 350 cubic inch 175 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 402 (396) cubic inch 240 horsepower V8 (optional)
1972 Chevelle Malibu
- Body Styles
- 4 Door Sedan
- 4 Door Sport Sedan
- 2 Door Sport Coupe
- 2 Door Convertible
- 4 Door Concours Wagon
- Engine Options
- 250 cubic inch 145 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 307 cubic inch 130 horsepower V8 (base)
- 350 cubic inch 165 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 350 cubic inch 175 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 402 (396) cubic inch 240 horsepower V8 (optional)
1972 Chevelle Malibu Concours Estate Wagon
- Engine Options
- 250 cubic inch 145 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 307 cubic inch 130 horsepower V8 (base)
- 350 cubic inch 165 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 350 cubic inch 175 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 402 (396) cubic inch 240 horsepower V8 (optional)
1972 Chevelle Heavy Chevy
- Engine Options
- 307 cubic inch 130 horsepower V8 (base)
- 350 cubic inch 165 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 350 cubic inch 175 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 402 (396) cubic inch 240 horsepower V8 (optional)
1972 Chevelle SS (Super Sport)
- Body Styles
- 2 door sport coupe
- 2 door convertible
- Engine Options
- 350 cubic inch 165 horsepower V8 (base)
- 350 cubic inch 175 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 402 (396) cubic inch 240 horsepower V8 (optional)
1972 Chevelle SS454 (Super Sport)
- Body Styles
- 2 door sport coupe
- 2 door convertible
- Engine Options
- 454 cubic inch 270 horsepower V8 (optional)
1972 Chevelle VIN Decoder:
First Character: Division of General Motors
Second Character: Series Designation *
- B ~ Nomad station wagon (131/132xx Fisher Body Style)
- C ~ Chevelle and Greenbrier station wagon (133/134xx Fisher Body Style)
- D ~ Malibu and Concours, (135/136xx Fisher Body Style)
- H ~ Concours Estate station wagon and Monte Carlo (138xx Fisher Body Style)
Third and Fourth Character: Body Style/Model
- 36 ~ 4-door station wagon, 2-seat
- 37 ~ 2-door sport coupe
- 39 ~ 4-door sport sedan
- 46 ~ 4-door station wagon, 3-seat
- 57 ~ Monte Carlo 2-door sport coupe
- 67 ~ 2-door convertible
- 69 ~ 4-door sedan
- 80 ~ 2-door sedan pickup
Fifth Character: Engine size/type
- D ~ 250cid L-6 1-bbl (L22)
- F ~ 307cid V8 2-bbl (L14)
- H ~ 350cid V8 2-bbl (L65)
- J ~ 350cid V8 4-bbl (L48)
- U ~ 402cid V8 4-bbl (LS3)
- W ~ 454cid V8 4-bbl (LS5)
Sixth Character: Year of Production
Seventh Character: Final Assembly Plant
- R ~ Arlington, Texas
- B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
- K ~ Kansas City, Missouri
- L ~ Van Nuys, California
- 1 ~ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Eighth through Thirteenth Characters: Sequential Production Number
The sequential starting number for the 1972 Chevelle was 500001 at all Chevelle assembly plants. Each assembly plant sequenced Chevelles of all series/models without regard to specific series/models. For example, if a series 13435 station wagon followed a 13667 Malibu convertible, the sequence number would be one unit higher for the wagon. It's also entirely possible to have the same sequence number from all four 1972 U.S. assembly plants (five if you include Oshawa, Ontario) with the only difference between the VINs being the plant code.
Production at the Arlington assembly plant exceeded 100,000 units in early June, the Baltimore plant exceeded 100,000 units in mid February, and the Kansas City plant exceeded 100,000 units sometime in late March, so the VIN sequence from those time frames to the end of production would be 6nnnnn for the Arlington, Baltimore, and Kansas City plants.
* The El Camino is not a separate series nameplate but rather a body style in both the base (33/34) and Malibu (35/36) series although it's often listed as such. The base (33/34) El Camino is a 2-dr sedan pickup body style with standard trim where the (35/36) El Camino Custom is a 2-dr sedan pickup body style with Malibu trim.
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