Documented LT-1/4-speed. Numbers on engine and transmission match VIN. Beautiful Steel Cities Gray with black interior. Runs and drives very well. Build sheet and window sticker included. A handsome, fun-to-drive Corvette with a fantastic pedigree!
Finished in lovely Steel Cities Gray, this 1972 Corvette LT-1 might just represent the last of the great early Corvettes. Things would change in the years to follow and not even the mighty Corvette could escape the general malaise that would fall over the entire industry throughout the late 70s and early 80s. Perhaps thats why the LT-1 is so prized by collectors: a high-winding small block that punches way above its weight class. When you see the LT-1 callout on the hood, its obvious that this Corvette is something special. Restored several years ago, it neatly dodges the general funkiness of the era and the Steel Cities Gray paint is a big reason why. With just a hint of green in the finish, its sophisticated without looking dated and gives the Corvette a grown-up look that we find immensely appealing. The restoration was finished perhaps 10 years ago, but has been expertly maintained and still looks fantastic today. There might be a few signs of age to it, but nothing that detracts from the high-quality look. Correct white pinstripes were added to the hood, and all the chrome and brightwork was refinished. Gaps are excellent and weve never heard a C3 whose doors close as solidly as this one. This is a really nice car.
The black interior is standard Corvette fare, with comfortable high-back buckets and a great driving position. The upholstery was restored at the same time as the rest of the car, so the seat covers, door panels, and carpets are all correct reproductions that are still in excellent condition. Big, bright gauges are easy to read and all of them are functional, and youll note that the LT-1 uses a 6500 RPM redline tachometer. Even the clock ticks away like it should. Theres an optional AM/FM radio in the center of the dash, but if youre using that instead of listening to the melodious small block under the hood, youve bought the wrong car. The 4-speed is linked to a Muncie M21 close-ratio 4-speed, and its just a joy to rip it through the gears-the faster you go, the better it works! Other cool C3 details include the pockets on the dash in place of a glove box, the little plaque behind the shifter that advertises 360 lb-ft. of torque and a 9.0:1 compression ratio for the 350 cubic inch LT-1, and a set of T-tops that makes it a great open-air cruiser. The cargo bay is nicely carpeted and provides enough room for two peoples gear.
The 350 cubic inch LT1 engine features a stamping pad with both a matching partial VIN and a CKY suffix code, which is correct for a 255 horsepower 350 cubic inch V8 (AKA LT1) with a manual transmission. The LT1 (no hyphen when talking about the engine itself) was identical to the 1971 version which was rated at 270 horsepower, but due to revised testing methods, the 1972 cars have less power on paper. On the street, however, it still loves to rev and has an awesome cackle from the exhaust that the base models just cant match. Nicely restored and correctly finished, it wears Chevy Orange paint on the block and heads, correct ignition shields, and even the factory AIR pump is still in place. It starts easily and idles nicely yet pulls the Corvette around with real vigor. Its a joy to run it through the gears just to hear the exhaust note, and you may find that its quite a bit faster than expected. The aforementioned Muncie M21 4-speed also carries a matching partial VIN, and according to the original window sticker that accompanies the car, there are 4.11 gears out back, making this car especially ferocious around town. The undercarriage shows well, but the car has been driven, so it is no longer a competitor at the highest levels, but there are no issues in either the birdcage area nor in the kick-ups ahead of the rear wheels. The exhaust features correct rectangular tips and delivers a fantastic engine note, and it sits on 215/70/15 radials with correct narrow whitewalls.
Documentation is extensive. We have the original owners manual, window sticker, the factory order form, NCRS survey sheets and paperwork, restoration receipts, and various restoration, assembly, and service manuals.
Dont let the numbers game that GM and the feds were playing fool you-this is a fast, fun, entertaining car to drive. The lightweight small block makes it a fantastic handler compared to its big block siblings, and when combined with the close-ratio 4-speed, it becomes a serious drivers car. This car also offers an outstanding pedigree, its beautifully finished, and comes with a ton of extra paperwork. In the Corvette world, thats checking pretty much all the boxes. Call today!
Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
