1972 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 402ci V8 Coupe (LHD)

Description

The Chevelle was Chevrolet's intermediate-sized car from the time of its introduction as a nameplate in 1964, initially built around General Motors's A-body platform. Performance enthusiasts soon realised that with careful optioning it was possible to turn the smaller, lighter Chevelle into a fire-breathing monster and it quickly evolved to become the undisputed muscle car king, the SS 454 in ultimate LS6 guise punching out 450 horses and capable of turning a 13.81 second quarter mile. By 1972, the horsepower arms race was beginning to subside and in what proved to be the final season of the second-generation model, only minor changes were made to the distinctive 'coke bottle' fastback styling. Two trim levels were available, the base model and the more upmarket Malibu, which had a longer list of standard equipment. Although the base model came with a mild 110 horsepower 'six' under the hood as standard, most of the small and big block V8s were available as options in 1972, including the LS3 Turbo-Jet 400 found here. Ticking that box meant a 402-cid big block V8, 8.5:1 compression ratio, a four-barrel carburettor and 240 horses, all for an additional $272 over the Chevelle Malibu Coupe's base price of $2923. The LS3 came with a heavy-duty MC1 three-speed manual as standard, with the option of an M20 four-speed manual 'box or the Turbo Hydra-matic automatic transmission. The Super Sports RPO Z15 package once again proved popular with performance-oriented customers, adding sports suspension, power front disc brakes, a blacked-out grille, remote exterior sports rear-view mirror, special 'SS' badges, 15 x 7-inch wheels with special centre caps and raised white lettering on the F60-15 tyres. With emissions controls and the fuel crisis looming, the 1972 Chevelle was to be the last hurrah of Chevrolet's muscle car era.