Vehicle Description
1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo #3356
The 1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was billed as "America's most
attainable luxury car." The personal-luxury Monte Carlo flaunted a
cleaner front-end appearance with parking lights flanking a fresh
wide-mesh grille. Rear ends stuck with tall vertical taillights but
added a horizontal bright trim strip above the bumper. Top engine
was the 270-horsepower 454-cubic-inch V-8, followed by a
240-horsepower 402-cubic-inch V-8 - still called a "396". The 454
V-8 cost an extra $261, while the 402 added $142 to a Monte's
sticker. Californians had to be content with a 165 or
175-horsepower 350-cubic-inch V8 because the larger engines failed
to meet that state's emissions standards. "Owning a Monte Carlo is
kind of like having your cake and driving it too," Chevrolet
insisted, blending the best virtues of the luxury car and the
sporty car. Base-priced at $3,362, the Monte Carlo could be fitted
with a long list of luxury conveniences to suit its owner.
Years back, long before the cookie cutter way of ordering a new
vehicle as we know it today, one could check the boxes and build
the car of their dreams. Be it mild or wild, just about any
combination could be made to happen if you checked the right boxes.
For consignment, a car whose boxes were checked very early in the
1972 model year, before production began to be exact. Don Sherwood
of Sherwood Chevrolet recalls how he ordered 4 1972 Monte Carlos
under a special GM promotion with one of them being the car you see
here. This car's Protect-O-Plate was struck on 8/9/71 indicating
that the car went into some kind of internal hold before being
produced. Unfortunately GM killed the SS option for the 1972 Monte
Carlo on 8/17/71 as per the factory assembly manual. This car would
then be built after submitting the order to the Baltimore, MD
production facility again with some insider information from the
Baltimore plant. Its birthday is 9/29/71 which is one of the
earliest W code Monte Carlos found. The car was delivered new with
the SS454 rocker molding, and the original owner took delivery on
10/2/71. Amassing a mere 32,787 miles from the time it was new
until 2009 when it went to Colorado Springs, Colorado. But the
story doesn't end there...read on to learn more about this anomaly
of a car that technically doesn't exist.
Exterior
Factory applied Midnight Bronze paint covers the all original
exterior body panels which are straight and true with only the rear
quarter panels and decklid being stripped and repainted in October
of 2010 @ 32,787 miles. No rust was found during this process. A
black vinyl top covers the expansive roof, and its surrounding trim
was repainted during the October 2010 paint work. All original
badging and trim is seen as well as the new for 1972 front wide
mesh grille with the only hood spear insert emblem being replaced.
Original bumpers appear in very nice condition, as well as original
brite work. Chrome drip moldings (roof and body) are in good
condition straight and true. A stainless rocker molding is present
and looks also in good condition. We need to note that at one point
the rocker moldings were removed and the holes for the SS454
emblems are punched and not drilled, an excellent indicator that
backs up the story of the car being delivered new with said
moldings. The build sheet corroborates this with the option of C01
marked BODY EMB VAR 2. The P02 wheel covers are original to the car
and are wrapped in thin redline rubber. A matching original spare
sits within the trunk with its original label and a matching P02
wheel cover. The trunk mat under the carpeting is factory original
also. Speaking of the trunk, it still has its original, as
delivered 1971 trunk emblem.
Interior
A swing of the large door reveals a vertical stitched textured and
buttoned black vinyl over some lower quarter black carpeting.
Stretching between these two panels are wonderfully preserved firm
but supple excellent original condition black vinyl buckets seats,
which flank a center console that houses the locking
glovebox/armrest, jet throttle like automatic 2 posted with center
horizontal bar shifter, then some burl which covers a hidden
ashtray and lighter. The console narrows as it goes under the dash
then dies into the carpet as it reaches the firewall. Speaking of
the dash, beautiful burl and black vinyl house a gauge package, the
factory installed AM 8 Track radio, and all correct gauges to keep
you up to date during your cruise. Fronting the dash is an NK2
steering wheel that utilizes power steering to assist with the
cornering. Original carpeting covers the floors and is protected by
the original rubber floor mats and the original black headliner
hangs proudly above. They're only original once and this interior
is as original as they come and can be used for others performing
restorations on their own cars.
Drivetrain
For all you technical guru's when it comes to factory correct
prepare to achieve nirvana by lifting the hood. Lifting the long
Midnight Bronze hood we are met with things just about as factory
correct as they can get. Between the inner plastic fender liners,
which were replaced when the engine was out for a freshening in
February of 2010, is a glistening numbers matching 454ci LS5 V8.
Rated at 270hp and fed by its original 4bbl Quadrajet carburetor
this engine can really spin the tires. A quick rundown of original
parts in this engine bay include: the radiator, water pump (early
1971 date code), voltage regulator, alternator, distributor, smog
pump, and A/C compressor. All this originality is topped with a
1970 454 LS6 air cleaner assembly, but don't fret, the original air
cleaner is included. Also, the starter was replaced but the
original is included which needs a solenoid repair. Bolted to this
muscle mill is a numbers matching, date code correct TH400 3-speed
automatic that sends power back to the original and date coded 3.31
Positraction geared 12-bolt axle. We also note the use of the
Cadillac sharp nose canister for the G67 level ride system, not the
blunt nose version used for the 1970 and 1971 model years.
Undercarriage
The never any rust mantra holds here and only minor surface rust on
some panels, frame, suspension and rockers. Up front we see power
disc brakes and independent front suspension as well as the correct
original engine cross member decal. On the rear are power drum
brakes along with a 4 link and coil spring suspension. The original
compressor and original date coded Super Lift rear shocks are
present and function fine and dandy. Dual exhaust and stock style
mufflers help the exhale of this luxury muscle car.
Drive-Ability
A quick turn of the key and the big V8 came to life. After a brief
warm up period, I slipped the Jet handle shifter into D and was off
to prowl for some unexpecting prey. The 454 cuber has endless power
and the exhaust is music to any car lover's ears. Handling was
great for a car of this size and braking was very good. I tested
the level ride system by having my partner in crime and crack
decoder ride in the trunk and it works like a charm. With the
luxury appointments in this interior, I almost forgot I was at the
helm of a big block muscle car, pure bliss. I only had 2 frowns on
my drive, one was the AC was blowing warm and the 2nd was that I
had to keep my trip short so as not to log too many clicks on this
low mileage example's odometer.
Possibly one of the earliest built W code Monte Carlo's and most
correct car still existing. If you compare the options code of a
1970/1971 Z20 SS car to this one you'll see t...for more
information please contact the seller.