Right then, My first Dumb question. My 72 Convertible seems quite well loaded from what i can gather, It has:

Power windows
Power roof
Buckets and console
SS(?) Gauges
Power disc barkes
'Softray' windows
Bumper guards

Are any of these particularly unusual? does it point towards it being an SS and is there any way other than finding the Build sheet to find out what the car is/was when it was new.

You need to locate the serial #'s along the left front window-inside on the dash-look into the front window and there should be a number like this ID37W2B500001.

Your dash looks just like mine. I believe that only SS cars got the round gauges. Your dash has the seatbelt warning light (only 72's had that) plus it has the convertible top switch in the same place as mine.

I think if that dash is original, then your car would be an SS. And by the looks of it, if that dash is not original, someone swapped in a dash specifically from a 72 convertible SS (i.e., not from a 70 Monte Carlo or some other, more common car).

Post the VIN, and the info from your cowl tag.

Like Al said above... If the 5th character of the VIN is a W, then your car came originally with a 454. That motor only came in SS models, so therefore you would have an SS. You could also get a 402, or either of the 350's in the SS that year. I think you have the 350 with the 2bbl carb. That could come in the SS, but could also come in the plain Malibu...

The full guage package(tach, temp & oil pressure guages) could be ordered on a non-ss car.

However- If you have the round guage dash, but the idiot lights inside them instead of the regular guages- That was only possible on a true ss car, as non SS cars without the guage package got the sweep dash.

So if it has the idiot lights- it was either have been swapped in, or proves that it was a true ss.

If it is the full guage setup- then it doesn't answer anything, as it could have been had on a non SS car as well as an SS one.
Also- since the car IS highly optioned, it is not surprising they also would have ordered the extra guage package-

Did you know that for some odd reason the 1971 & 1972 Chevelles didn't come from the factory with power windows? Power locks sure, but pw were dropped after '70 and came back for '73. Weird. The Monte Carlo offered them all along though.

All SS models came with a rear stabilizer bar regardless of engine, while a non SS could only come factory with a rear stabilizer bar is it came with the '400' (402).

Right then, i'd better sort out some numbers.

As for the dash it has three large Dials and three smaller ones. so i'm guessing that tells us nothing. I'm interested in where the power windows would have come from as they look fairly standard fit. I've got switches for the fronts at the front of the console and the rears are on the rear quarters. I can't see that they would have been from another car, as i doubt there have been many convertibles broken for parts in this country.

Is the Speedo/odometer in MPH or KPH? If KPH the car was built specifically for export as I don't think The Canadian built Chevys were setup with KPH until the mid 70's(looking at your pic it looks to be in MPH). Power windows would have NO buttons on the console so they are definitely an add-on. The typical GM would have a 4 toggle switch on the drivers door and a single at each window. Out of GMs I think Camaros were the ones that had buttons on the console and I'm not sure but it started in the 70's I think. The power window setups themselves could have come from any of the A-body lines and used the original windows. Buicks, Olds, Pontiacs could have all been donors. It also could very well be that somebody changed the button setup when they changed out the door panels (maybe the original 4 toggle switch went bad) Looking at the pic of your dash, my guess is your car got the instrument package and isn't an SS. But it is well optioned. You are also missing the domed hood for an SS. Gotta remember, the car is 33 years old and A LOT of stuff can happen in 33 years :)

i bought a 72 malibu in 1975 that was definitely an ordered car. it was a 350 4 bbl, 4 speed, single exhaust, non-posi rear, PS, PB (all drums), bench seat with round gauges.