1972 Corvette

1968	1969	1970	1971	1972
1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
1978	1979	1980	1981	1982

The 1972 model year saw very few changes from 1971. The 1972 would be the last year for the chrome front bumper, bright egg-crate gills on the front fencers and a removable rear window for the coupe. The Muncie M22 H.D. 4-speed transmission was discontinued as was the LT1 and ZR1 performance packages even though GM still lists the ZR1 engine. Horsepower was now rated as net, instead of gross as in previous years, with all accessories and exhaust connected. The vehicle identification number (VIN) format was also changed with the second character now being the letter "Z" for Corvette and the 4th character being a letter to denote the engine size in cubic inches.

This was the only year the LT1 engine could be ordered with air conditioning. The number built is believed to be 240. Previous restrictions were based on the possibility of air conditioning belts being spun off at higher engine rpm permitted by solid valve lifters. To discourage higher rpms, LT1s with air conditioning had the base engine's 5600 rpm redline tachometer instead of the 6500 rpm redline unit used with non-air conditioned LT1s. All 454 engines have orange painted rocker arm covers.

The ZR1 option included the LT1 engine, heavy-duty close-ratio 4-speed transmission, heavy-duty power brakes, transistor ignition, special aluminum radiator, and special springs, shocks, and front and rear stabilizer bars although some ZR1s have been found without rear stabilizers.

The ZR1s did not have fan shrouds, RPOs A31, C50, C60, N40, P02, U69, and U79 was not available with the ZR1 option. The M40 automatic transmission was no cost with the base 350-cid 200hp engine, but cost $97 with the LS5 and was not available with the LT1 or ZR1 options.

The 1972 model year did not have the fiber-optics light-monitoring system used previously but added the anti-theft alarm system as standard equipment.

1972 total Corvettes built - 27,004
1972 Coupes - 20,496
1976 Convertibles - 6,508

Serial Numbers
Corvette	1Zx7y2S500001-1Zx7y2S527004
Coupe is body style 37 and convertible is body style 67 in "x" position. Engine code is either "K" for the base 350-cid engine, "L" for the LT1, or "W" for 454-cid engine in "y" position.

Engine Identification

Position	Character(s)	Description
1	V or T	Flint, MI. or Tonawanda, N.Y. engine assembly plant
2 to 5	1025	Engine assembly date (month/day)
6 and 7	Code	CDH - 350-cid 200-hp, manual transmission, A.I.R. CDJ - 350-cid 200-hp, automatic transmission, A.I.R. CKW - 350-cid 200-hp, manual transmission CKX - 350-cid 200-hp, automatic transmission CKY - 350-cid 255-hp, manual transmission CGZ - 350-cid 255-hp, manual transmission (ZR1) CRS - 350-cid 255-hp, automatic transmission * CRT - 350-cid 255-hp, manual transmission, A.I.R. * CPH - 454-cid 270-hp, manual transmission CPJ - 454-cid 270-hp, automatic transmission * CSR - 454-cid 270-hp, manual transmission 4-bbl carburetor, A.I.R. CSS - 454-cid 270-hp, automatic transmission 4-bbl carburetor, A.I.R.
A.I.R.	Air Injection Reactor
* Uncertain Usage to use GM's term. All engines were equipped with a single 4-bbl carburetor. Data are from GM's own Information Kit and some engines may or may not have made production.

Engine Specifications - 350 engines

Item	Base	RPO LT1
Displacement	350 cid	350 cid
Bore & Stroke	4.00" x 3.48"	4.00" x 3.48"
Compression Ratio	8.5:1	9.0:1
Advertised Horsepower *	200 hp @ 4400 rpm	255 hp @ 5600
Torque *	300 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm	280 Lb-ft @ 4000
Valve lifter type	Hydraulic	Mechanical
Fuel system	Rochester 4-bbl 7042903 - Manual 7042902 - Automatic	Holley 4-bbl 3999263 - Manual
* Advertised hp is net rating

Engine Specifications - 454 engine

Item	RPO LS5
Displacement	454 cid
Bore & Stroke	4.251" x 4.00"
Compression Ratio	8.5:1
Advertised Horsepower *	270 hp @ 4000 rpm
Torque	390 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm
Valve lifter type	Hydraulic
Fuel System	Rochester 4-bbl 7042205 - Manual 7042204 - Automatic
* Advertised hp is net rating The LS5 not available in California

Regular Production Options

RPO	Description	Cost	Units	% ⁽¹⁾
19437	Coupe	$5,533.00	20,496	75.9
19467	Convertible	$5,296.00	6,508	24.1
420	Leather seats	$158.00	8,709	32.3
AV3	Three point seat belts	n/a	17,693	65.5
A31	Power windows	$85.35	9,495	35.2
A85	Custom shoulder belts (standard with the coupe) ⁽¹⁾	$42.15	749	11.5
C07	Auxiliary hardtop (convertible only) ⁽¹⁾	$273.85	2,646	41.7
C08	Soft trim roof cover for auxiliary hardtop ⁽¹⁾	$158.00	811	12.5
C50	Rear window defroster	$42.15	2,211	8.2
C60	Air conditioning	$464.50	17,011	63.0
---	Optional rear axle	$12.65	1,986	7.4
J50	Power brakes	$47.40	18,770	69.5
K19	Air Injection Reactor	n/a	3,912	14.5
LS5	454-cid, 270-hp	$294.90	3,913	14.5
LT1	350-cid, 255-hp	$483.45	1,741	6.4
M21	Close ratio 4-speed transmission ⁽²⁾	$0.00	1,638	6.1
M40	Turbo Hydra-Matic 3-speed automatic transmission ⁽²⁾	$0.00	14,543	53.9
N37	Tilt-telescopic steering column	$84.30	8,130	37.3
N40	Power steering	$115.90	23,794	88.1
P02	Wheel covers	$63.20	3,593	13.3
PT7	F70 x 15 white stripe tires	$30.35	6,666	24.7
PU9	F70 x 15 white letter tires	$43.65	16,623	61.6
T60	Heavy duty battery (standard with LS5 engine)	$15.80	2,969	12.9
U69	AM/FM radio	$178.00	19,480	72.1
U79	AM/FM stereo radio	$283.35	7,189	26.6
YF5	California emission test	$15.80	1,967	7.3
Z49	Canadian base equipment package	n/a	n/a	n/a
ZR1	Special purpose LT1 engine package	$1,010.05	20	0.1
⁽¹⁾ Percentages are calculated on the number of options sold vs. the number possible. For example, C08 was only available on the Auxiliary Hardtop so the 11.7% reflects the number of Auxiliary Hardtops ordered with the C08 option. Only 16,181 optional transmissions are shown, about 60% of the 27,004 Corvettes sold. ⁽²⁾ The M40 was no cost with the base 350-cid, 200-hp engine but $97 with LS5 and was not available with LT1 or ZR1. It is assumed the remainder were equipped with the base M20 wide ratio 4-speed so no numbers are listed for options. >> RPO C08 was only available in black. >> Convertible folding tops were limited to choices of black or white. >> Interesting to note that many of the MSRP for options were in even dollars for the first time with few exceptions.

1972 Exterior/Interior Colors

Paint Code	Color (Quantity)	Interior Color Choices *
912	Sunflower Yellow (1,543)	Black - Saddle
924	Pewter Silver (1,372)	Black - Blue - Red - Saddle
945	Bryar Blue (1,617)	Black
946	Elkhardt Green (4,200)	Black - Saddle
972	Classic White (2,763)	Black - Saddle
973	Mille Miglia Red (2,478)	Black - Red - Saddle
979	Targa Blue (3,198)	Black - Blue
987	Ontario Orange (4,891)	Black - Saddle
988	Steel Cities Gray (2,346)	Black - Red - Saddle
989	War Bonnet Yellow (2,550)	Black - Saddle
Black was not a standard color choice for 1972 although it could be special ordered via the Fleet & Special Order (F&SO) process.

Interior Trim Codes

RPO	Color/Material
400	Black vinyl
404	Black leather *
407	Red vinyl
412	Blue vinyl
417	Saddle vinyl
421	Saddle leather *

* Deluxe interior in black or saddle offered in leather and included special cut pile carpeting on floor and lower door side walls, wood grain insert on console and wood grand insert with bright die cast molding on door side wall.

1972 OEM Supplier Paint Colors

Color	Valspar Code	PPG Code	DuPont Code	RM Code	SW Code	WA Code
Classic White	W041	8631	5040	1802	2517	3465
Pewter Silver Metallic	S365	2429	5426	2541	n/a	4230
Bryar Blue Metallic	L904	2434	5461	2547	n/a	4283
Elkhart Green Metallic	G625	2438	5462	2551	n/a	4284
Sunflower Yellow	Y1087	2338	5283	2422	n/a	4145
Mille Miglia Red	R1127	2349	5291	2460	n/a	4147
Targa Blue Metallic	L4460	2432	5460	2544	n/a	4282
Ontario Orange Metallic	A324	2357	5293	2469F	n/a	4149
Steel Cities Gray Metallic	N887	2358	5294	2470D	n/a	4150
War Bonnet Yellow	Y777	2351	5292	2464F	n/a	4148

GM Heritage PDF file of specifications/options/etc.

1968	1969	1970	1971	1972
1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
1978	1979	1980	1981	1982