What You Need To Watch Out For When Before Buying A 1972 Chevelle

What You Need To Watch Out For When Before Buying A 1972 Chevelle

Following a significant redesign for the 1971 model year, the Chevrolet Chevelle remained largely unchanged for 1972. Minor updates included a tweaked grille, and the parking lights no longer featured a divider bar. Chevy offered a wide variety of body styles, including sedan, convertible, and wagon. The El Camino pickup was also based on the Chevelle muscle car.

All 1972 cars were impacted by California regulations obliging manufacturers to provide ‘net’ horsepower figures rather than ‘gross’ metrics. ‘Net’ horsepower was the amount of grunt an engine produced when operated in real-life conditions, which was lower than the ‘gross’ horsepower metric generated in optimized conditions. Despite featuring V-8s that made less than 200 horsepower, the last second-gen Chevelle model was still popular. Here’s an in-depth guide for potential 1972 Chevelle customers.

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Maintenance And Repairs

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Individual stats for the 1972 Chevelle are unavailable on CarEdge. However, the outlet states that the aggregate annual maintenance cost for Chevrolet models is $963, or around $9,625 every ten years. YourMechanic provides a much lower figure, stating that the average maintenance and repair cost for the Chevelle is a little under $300.

Most Common 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Problems Reported

• Fuel pump replacement
• Brake caliper replacement
• Car door mirror replacement
• Wheel bearing replacement
• CV Axle/Shaft replacement
• Strut assembly replacement

The Chevelle, generally a well-built and hardy car, will suffer from occasional failures caused by age. To give you an idea of how old the 1972 Chevelle is, President Nixon was in office during the car’s entire production period.

Repairs And Pricing Info

Repair

Pricing

Front ball joint replacement

$443 – $581

Wheel bearing replacement

$730 – $1,113

Brake shoe replacement

$398 – $515

Window motor replacement

$884 – $1,350

Control arm assembly replacement

$602 – $908

Chevrolet built hundreds of thousands of 1972 Chevelles, so getting affordable replacement parts isn’t difficult. If you fail to get an OEM part, you can rely on companies like Dynacorn, which reproduces Chevelle spares.

Recalls And Safety Investigations

The NHTSA didn’t recall the ‘72 Chevrolet Chevelle. You can, therefore, purchase the ‘72 Chevelle knowing it left the factory without any defects or faults warranting a recall.

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Reliability, Running Costs, And Expected Mileage

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The reviewers on Carsurvey.org praised the 1972 Chevelle’s build quality and reliability while slamming the car’s thirsty engines. One owner even described the car as his first love.

Reliability Rating: 8.25/10

The four reviewers on CarSurvey.com gave the 1972 Chevelle an average reliability score of 8.25/10:

Owner Review Date

Score

02/19/2011

8/10

12/11/2004

5/10

03/08/2004

10/10

05/27/2002

10/10

The ‘72 Chevelle is very dependable, per the vehicle’s owners. Two of them were so impressed that they gave it a perfect 10/10 rating. They praised the muscle car’s transmission, carburetors, and engine, saying they required little maintenance. The parts they replaced include the exhaust manifold, power steering pump, and master cylinder.

Running Costs: 4.7/10

Three reviewers on Carsurvey.com gave the 1972 Chevelle a mean running costs rating of 4.7/10:

Owner Review Date

Score

02/19/2011

8/10

12/11/2004

1/10

05/27/2002

5/10

As per the owners of the 1972 Chevelle, the model’s high-displacement mills are highly uneconomical. This affects not just the Chevelle but also most classic muscle cars. One disgruntled owner said that the one thing he hated about driving his Chevelle was the constant refueling it needed.

Highest Miles Reported: 145,000 Miles

The average number of miles reported by three reviewers on Carsurvey.com was 119,967 miles:

Owner Review Date

Miles Reported

02/19/2011

116,000

12/11/2004

98,900

05/27/2002

145,000

145,000 miles isn’t much for a car that’s been around for the best part of a half-century. The owners probably don’t drive them much due to the profligate nature of their engines. However, they enjoyed driving the car, with one owner stating that it never left him stranded, no matter the conditions.

Pricing And Values

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Valuation Highlights

Model

Concours

Base

Malibu

#1 Concours Condition

$22,200

$20,000

$47,000

#2 Excellent Condition

$19,600

$17,000

$38,400

#3 Good Condition

$16,100

$13,800

$31,000

#4 Fair Condition

$11,200

$9,600

$22,200

Original Base MSRP

$3,245

$2,747

$2,947

MSRP Adjusted For Inflation

$24,219

$20,502

$21,995

Production Numbers

34,266 units

49,352 units

285,155 units

The ‘72 Chevelle is quite affordable, with the base model in fair condition valued at under $10,000, Hagerty’s valuation tool reveals. Classic.com backs up Hagerty’s valuation, revealing that the starting price for a ‘72 Chevelle is $8,200. The average price of a 1972 Chevy Chevelle, per the platform, is around $46,000.

What To Look For Before Buying

Chevrolet built and sold a vast number of 1972 Chevelles, so you shouldn’t struggle to find examples on the used car market. However, optimized images on the web may mislead you into purchasing a substandard unit. Therefore, consider the following before you purchase one.

Clone Cars Exist

An adverse effect of the high value of Chevrolet Chevelles is the infiltration of clone cars into the market. Clone cars are significantly less valuable than original examples. Therefore, before buying a ‘72 Chevelle, investigate whether the advertised car is genuine. A Malibu with the right gear and light modifications can easily pass as an SS. The car’s VIN can help you identify a genuine Chevy from a fake one. To be completely sure, ask a Chevelle expert for their opinion on the car.

Rust Is Your Enemy

Rust is one of the Chevelle’s mortal enemies. It plagues the undersides of the muscle car, especially those driven in humid conditions and on salty roads. The vehicle’s design also makes it susceptible to rust: Water collects at the bottom of the back window, bringing about rust. Moisture then seeps through the corroded sheet metal into the trunk, causing the spread of rust. After buying your car, consider protecting it from the scourge of corrosion.

Ensure That Repairs Were Carried Out Correctly

A car that’s over 50 years old has definitely undergone repairs. You should ensure that the repair and maintenance jobs were done properly and on time. Service records are your best friend when investigating a vehicle’s maintenance history. Also, look for evidence of shoddy rust repair: a car that looks good on the ground might hide nasty issues under its skin.

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Is It Worth Buying A 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle?

The 1972 Chevelle, along with the 1968 Chevelle, are the least desirable second-gen models. That isn’t necessarily bad; low demand for the model drives prices down. It is, therefore, the one to go for if you are on a tight budget. Though impacted by horsepower regulations, the 1972 Chevelle still featured capable power units. If you are unsatisfied with the stock mill in your example, swap it out with a more potent or more frugal mill.

There are many second-gen Chevelles out there, a testament to the nameplate’s longevity. Therefore, go wild with your car if you want it to draw attention. You could also convert your ‘72 Chevelle into a drag-racing beast. Whatever you choose to do with your car, make sure you install disc brakes: the stock drum brakes are woefully inadequate, per reviewers on Carsurvey.org.