First of all, new to the forum... so thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Just located a '72 SS hidden away in a back yard. Lots of body rust and the interior is pretty much shot. What isn't rusted seems to be straight. Glass is all intact. It appears to have the factory 402 engine w/ Muncie 4-speed (not sure if the Muncie is factory, but it looks like it came that way).

I haven't been able to talk to the guy who owns it yet (he lives in another state), but hope to do so soon. He apparently bought the car several years ago, drove it very little, and has left it parked there for about 11-12 years now.

The odometer shows 54,451 miles on it.

Based on that limited knowledge, can anyone suggest a price range that would be reasonable?

Thanks in advance......................Mark

IT sounds like it is in bad shape. It is really hard to give an idea without pictures. Gets some and post them up. you will get a much better estimate.

Can hopefully post up some pics later tonight. My son said he has snapped about 100 of them so far...:) Based on what he has said it is definitely in rough shape. But I'm a Chevelle lover at heart - my first car back in 1981 was a '71 Malibu 2-dr hardtop.

It would definitely be a long-term, high-dollar investment... but it's one I'm willing to take on.

Hope to post up some pics later tonight. Thanks!

Here are a few phone pics for now... more later... son found out the guy who owns it is reportedly currently restoring a Camaro, so doubtful there is a deal to be found here. I'd still like to hear some opinions on what this might be worth as it sits.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/markfromark/Chevelle/Chevelle01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/markfromark/Chevelle/Chevelle02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/markfromark/Chevelle/Chevelle03.jpg

Thanks,
Mark

Well, from what we can see it looks relatively complete. No idea on value, a lot would depend on if it has the original drivetrain and exactly how rusty it is/isn't. It actually doesn't look as bad as you first described.

Definately neglected but as Rich said from you description I expected worse. You need more info and I guess you need to find out if it's for sale. If the current owner is restoring a Camaro maybe he can use the moeny to finish his project. It never hurts to ask.

My description was based on my son's description... he has a camera full of pictures, so hopefully will know more about it tonight. The uncle says the car is "just like it came from the factory". The VIN backs up the 402 that is in it, but that's all I know. Son says the interior, although in very bad shape, appears to be all original - with the exception of an after-market 8-track tape player...:D

Hoping to get the guy's name/number soon to call and chat. Even if it isn't for sale...:(...I'll be interested to hear his story and plans for the car.

It looks a lot better than I was expecting. That being said pictures can be deceiving. The 402 I would think would make this car worth saving. I

Looks original. Even the radiator cap. More than likely radiator also. 5 or 6 most likely I would try at.

Up here in MN, we call that restorable. Short of the top, mine was in about the same shape, and it looked a bunch better after just a wash and buffing. See my sig line for cleaned up pic.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u165/Bowtie-Bry/carpics/scans008.jpg

Oh Man!!! I hope you get it.

it looks fine except for the roof, but it probably had a Vinyl. Not bad at all, look at mine in my Sig on the first day, way worse than that '72 is. As long as the engine can be turned over, clean up is a breeze.

Wow you dont find many like that anymore ,hope you get it:thumbsup:

Looks original. Even the radiator cap. More than likely radiator also. 5 or 6 most likely I would try at.


As Elco68 says, it does appear to be all original...and not in as bad of condition as your description initially depicted it.

If it is all original, then the fact that it's numbers matching will add significant value and authenticity to this SS when it's restored properly.

If you can get this '72 SS with its numbers matching 402 and numbers matching Muncie 4-speed for 5 or 6 thousand, I'd say you'd be getting a very good deal.

Regards,
-Greg

Wow, what a sweet find!!! Good luck!

Won't know until we talk to the guy... will keep you posted... thanks for the input.

The story keeps getting more interesting... my son found out that the car was originally purchased from a dealer by the current owner's relative (uncle, I think), who then sold him the car in 1998. So the car has had only had two owners. It's really a shame it's been left to sit out in the weather all these years. It was reportedly running when it was parked, so I'm not sure what the story is behind that. Anyway... I'm fully expecting to hear the guy say, "not for sale"... but won't know until I talk to him - hopefully soon.

Looks like a pretty restorable car to me. When you talk to the owner even if he says not for sale leave him your name and number and tell him if he changes his mind to give you a ring. Make it clear you'd do her justice with a complete restoration.

Looks like a great find, awesome car to restore

If it is original and complete, there should even be a build sheet tucked away somewhere too

Wow you dont find many like that anymore ,hope you get it:thumbsup:

X2:thumbsup:

Man, this is worse than a little kid waiting to see what he got for Christmas... I'm not having any luck getting the contact information for the guy who owns this car.

Meanwhile I happened across '71 SS Clone that's not quite as appealing as this '72 SS, but the '71 is road-ready and fairly affordable.

I am in need of a healthy dose of patience right now......:D

Looks like it will be a couple more days before I possibly have a contact name/number for the car...:(

Meanwhile, I have a couple of additional questions... this is one of the few SS cars I've seen without the SS stripes on the hood/trunk. Were those optional? And was it also optional to have a vinyl top on a SS?

You could get the stripes deleted from the factory..and yes SS cars could have a vinyl top..

Do any of the numbers indicate that the SS stripes were deleted, that it came w/ the vinyl top, etc? Would that be on the trim tag?

Sorry for all the rookies questions....:)

Nice find!
From the pics you posted it looks untouched under the hood even down to the plug wires.
I saved the pics and blew them up. Looks like the typical rust thru at the rear window bottom corners, lower front fenders, and on the rear quarters above the wheel trim.
It's original but tons of bucks to bring it back I think.
I hope you get it, good luck, will be a fun project.

Not sure about the stripe delete information...but the vinyl top and paint info are definitely on the cowl tag.

If hes doing a camaro right now he knows what this car is all about.

all i have say is please save that car.it deserves a better fate then just rusting away in some field.....

If hes doing a camaro right now he knows what this car is all about.

I agree with that thought. I'm just puzzled why he would let it sit all these years and let the rust eat away at it. I'd love to get it dirt cheap, but I'm willing to pay what it's worth in the condition that it's in now.

My son got lots of pictures to me and I'm loading them to photobucket now. I'll share the album when I get done loading and hopefully will give you guys a better idea of the condition that it's in. Thanks!

A few more pictures... hope these help.

I really appreciate all the opinions and advice on this car!!! :hurray:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v684/markfromark/Chevelle/?albumview=slideshow

Not as bad as it first sounded..........really try to get this thing.

Hope it works out for you, and that you have the patience and money to do a frame off resto on it. It is hard to find a starter like this anymore. I would think $5 would be top dollar, add another $20-$25 if you mostly restore it yourself. You will have around $30 in it. I would guess nicely restored it would be worth $30 or so. You may have a couple years labor in it. I always think a guy should be realistic when taking on such a big project. Is it a project you can handfle and not get tired of or run out of money?

It sure does look original but it's going to take some work to restore it. I think it's worth saving, good luck on your quest.

I always think a guy should be realistic when taking on such a big project. Is it a project you can handfle and not get tired of or run out of money?

Money is definitely a factor for me. I can put about $10,000 into in the near-term, but past that it will have to be on a budget. I have a hobby (woodturning) that produces some disposable income that would get directed at this car, so that helps.

I'm sure it will be a long project requiring lots of effort and patience. This would be a car I'd hopefully never get rid of, so I don't mind investing the time (and money as it is available).

I've got the guy's name and number, so I'm giving him a call this afternoon and hopefully making contact. I'll report back.

"Not for sale" was the response I got from the guy's girlfriend. I told her that was fine - just wished he'd do something with the car and quit letting it rust away (I said it in a nice way). She said they were coming here next month, so he could do something with it then.

Oh well... sorry I wasted all this conversation on a car that ended up not being on the market. I left my name/number with him in case he ever changed his mind, but I'm not expecting any calls.

Thanks for all the input/advice and hopefully I'll be talking to you guys about another car one day soon.

Mark

i would offer him 5k cash in hand and then use the other 5k you have for all sheetmetal,suspension part you would need.that alone can take about year worth of labor.

I made an offer (thru his girlfriend), but she said he wasn't even considering selling. He got it from his uncle, so may be sentimental value for him. If so, then good for him! I hope he gets the car put up and gets something done with it soon, before it's completely too far gone.

Mark, sorry to hear that. That car is definitely worth restoring, hopefully he will someday or sell it to someone that will

Sorry to hear that he hasn't sold it to you yet. Thanks for sharing the pics and the story though... Is it just me or does anyone else love looking at these types of "forgotten car" pics and stories???

I know, I know.. I'll consider talking to a psychiatrist......

Sean

wait ten years,it will still be there. what a joke!!!,at least cover the dam thing!!!