SPRING GREEN CHEVELLE
I was driving through Clinton Hill recently in a U-Haul truck when I had to throw on the hazards and jump out because of this beauty:
A 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle 4-door in Spring Green Poly with a Medium Green vinyl roof! This is one of those great finds because it's on the bottom of the heap as far as collectors are concerned, so to see one in nice condition is a treat. Car shows are filled to the brim with Chevelles, but they are almost always 2-door models with huge engines. Those are followed in popularity by convertibles (which, while rare, are restored from almost any condition due to desirability) and station wagons (which have their own cult following). Nobody gives the lowly 4-door any love!
I happen to think this 4-door is a beautiful and balanced design, especially the hardtop models such as this one. Hardtop refers to the fact that with all 4 windows rolled down there is no post between the front and back door, allowing for a wide-open breezy ride. The signature Coke bottle styling so famous on the 2-door is present here as well where the body kicks up at the rear edge of the rear window.
It's worth pointing out that this is the mid-size offering from GM in 1972! The Caprice/Impala 4-door is huge compared to this sleek ride.
It's worth pointing out that this is the mid-size offering from GM in 1972! The Caprice/Impala 4-door is huge compared to this sleek ride.
This is the second year of the round taillights being integrated into the rear bumper. These are the same taillights as the Camaro though those were set into the body as opposed to the bumper. This car has only enough minor dings like the one in the middle of the chrome to let you know it gets used and isn't a restored trailer queen.
This Spring Green Poly color is particularly nice, and was new for '72.
This is the era just before crash safety standards for bumpers were introduced, and you can tell by the way they seem to be a part of the overall design as opposed to something just attached to a car. I think these side marker lights are pretty neat with their ladder motif.
Chevelle BY CHEVROLET is how all the Chevys had been badged since the late '60s. Something about the fact that it is presented as a specific offering from a certain company as opposed to just writing out the name makes it sound like Chevy was proud of it when it was released.
The green vinyl roof really sets off the body color.
Since this has no emblems announcing anything special I'm guessing it has the standard 307 V8 under the hood. You could order a 350 and even a 402 (badged as the 396 for insurance reasons) in the base Chevelle, but if you wanted the mighty 454 you had to get the SS package. The hubcaps are correct originals that say CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION in a circle around the middle.
Standard issue for 4-door cars; the back seat is immaculate! The matching green interior is in fantastic overall shape, with the carpet and door panels looking good. Certain parts such as door panels are usually impossible to find for an old 4-door, but the Chevelle was so popular that replacements are available for this car. Good luck restoring the interior of your 4-door AMC Ambassador though!
Well the front seat obviously sees some use as we have the home-repair trifecta: duct tape, non-matching fabric, and the Mexican blanket. I'm pleased that they elected to keep the frumpy stock AM radio in the dash and mount their newer system below.
It's hard to see clearly but I think we can see that this car was built without air conditioning as their would've been 2 chrome vents located just above the heater controls as opposed to the blank block-off plate that's here. Also, notice that there are 2 window cranks. The smaller one at the top cranks open the vent window.
It's hard to see clearly but I think we can see that this car was built without air conditioning as their would've been 2 chrome vents located just above the heater controls as opposed to the blank block-off plate that's here. Also, notice that there are 2 window cranks. The smaller one at the top cranks open the vent window.
The front bumper and hood have seen a little city action, most likely from careless folks parking by touch in newer rides.
The 4-door versions of the popular muscle cars were the grocery-getters that families would buy, use up, and toss out. This one somehow missed the crusher and looks to have been in a garage for most of its life. This is the sort of body style that all the heirs would ignore when the little old lady who owned it passed away, so it was probably bought cheap. Whoever has this beauty today is lucky to have such a cool triple-green cruiser on their hands.
The 4-door versions of the popular muscle cars were the grocery-getters that families would buy, use up, and toss out. This one somehow missed the crusher and looks to have been in a garage for most of its life. This is the sort of body style that all the heirs would ignore when the little old lady who owned it passed away, so it was probably bought cheap. Whoever has this beauty today is lucky to have such a cool triple-green cruiser on their hands.
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