Vehicle Description
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 that's
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, it's 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, it's
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 we've 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 you'll
note that the LT-1 uses a 6500 RPM redline tachometer. Even the
clock ticks away like it should. There's an optional AM/FM radio in
the center of the dash, but if you're using that instead of
listening to the melodious small block under the hood, you've
bought the wrong car. The 4-speed is linked to a Muncie M21
close-ratio 4-speed, and it's 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 people's 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 can't 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 thanks to a hydraulic cam yet pulls the
Corvette around with real vigor. It's a joy to run it through the
gears just to hear the exhaust note, and you may find that it's
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 owner's manual, window sticker, the factory order
form, NCRS judging sheets and paperwork, restoration receipts, and
various restoration, assembly, and service manuals. Don't 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 driver's car. This car also offers an outstanding pedigree,
it's beautifully finished, and comes with a ton of extra paperwork.
In the Corvette world, that's 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.
