Alright guys, time to confess. My 72 Elky SS started its life as a Custom, not a real SS. But the previous owner did a great job of making the Elky look like a genuine SS. I have one question though, the four partitions on my grille are silver in color, and I've seen 72 SS's with black grilles. Which is correct, and also are amber lenses or amber bulbs correct?? Here is a pic of my car for reference. Just copy and paste it-
http://www.genxrodsandcustoms.8m.com/ELKY.jpg

[This message has been edited by 72Elky (edited 08-02-99).]

Check this out:
www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html (http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html)
Hope this helps!
BTW, the chrome strips are only supposed to be on the top and bottom part of the grille, not the two in the middle. Mine is the same way your is. See my 72 at:
www.chevelles.com/showroom/72CHEVELLE1.jpg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/72CHEVELLE1.jpg)
Good luck!

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Jeremy J. Bennett
72 Chevelle
Team Chevelle #298


[This message has been edited by 72CHEVELLE (edited 08-02-99).]

Don't know for certain about the top and bottom chrome strips but I am certain that the rest of the grill was all black, Also the 72's had amber lenses. You can look elsewhere on this site for a factory brochure w/ pics. I think it is under "Info Exchange " or something like that

Jeremy is right about the grille on the SS , all black with 1 upper and 1 lower molding. on the parking lenses there was a first and second design, so either one would be correct on all 72 Chevelles. I personally like the clear with the amber bulb.


Jeff

Take a look at the sales brochure scanned in by Anne in her post on this site. It has very good photos.

The Elky grill looks good except for the two chrome strips down the center. I was able to pop them off carefully, mask over the remaining two outer strips, and paint away. I dont know the correct color of black, but I used a flat black, then covered it with a coat of clear. Looks great.

BTW Jeremy, I have had your chevelle picture as my backround for over a week now. Nice. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

I'd also like to know which is correct, chrome bezels around the headlights or the flat black ones?? Thanks!!

[This message has been edited by 72Elky (edited 08-03-99).]

The chrome across the top of the grill should folow around each headlight and connect up to the botom strip on the grill. So the rest should be painted the same black as the grill with the exception of a small strip around the light.

Take a look at this page from the origional sales broschure. (Thanks Anne)
http://www.thuntek.net/annes/chevy/book/p11.jpg

The '72 Malibu, Custom El Camino, and SS had clear lenses with amber bulbs. the base models had the amber lenses.

Generally, the '72 SS grill was black with stainless strips across the top and bottom.

However, I believe that my '72 SS-454 El Camino came with all 4 stainless strips on the grill, possibly because it had the deluxe exterior trim option.

Thanks Dan! I have to say that you have a very nice El Camino, and I like that 71 GMC Sprint of yours. I think think that the amber lenses look better, but thats just my opinon. My front end is the same as yours; amber lenses and four silver partitions. I e-mailed you before, but never got a response as to where you got that tonneau cover for your 72???

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The correct headlamp bezels for a 72 SS and the heavy chevy are the black ones.
But for the regular malibu both the chrome and black were offered. GM parts catalog shows a first and second design. some early 72 Malibu's came with black, and later changed to chrome. But the SS and The Heavy Chevy stuck with the black only.


Jeff

I have the 72 brochure on my site and would be happy to send you clearer close up scans of the grilles if you'd like them.
PS - thanks to everyone who has been visiting the site and sending in comments and pictures. (keep 'em coming!)
Anne

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Anne
genx member (NM)
www.thuntek.net/annes/chevy (http://www.thuntek.net/annes/chevy)
annes@thuntek.net

What's wrong with this picture?

http://chevelles.com/showroom/mikec72elky1

I know this is an original SS. The photo was taken shortly after I bought the car and the car has since been disassembled. There was no telltale signs that there has ever been any frontend damage that might suggest that anything has been replaced.
Mike




[This message has been edited by MikEC (edited 08-06-99).]

On the subject of the color of the parking lens.

I used to own a new 72 El Camino SS350, it had the clear lens, a coworker at the time had a 72 Chevelle SS350 his had the amber lens. I have seen 72 SS with both and thats when they were new in 72. So either one is probably correct.

The parts catalog says the amber lens is the 1st design and the clear is the 2nd design. A brochure for the 72 El Camino dated Aug. 71 shows a SS on the cover with clear lens as do all the rest in the brochure. There is an original 1972 4dr Malibu around here driven by a little old lady and it has amber lens. I have seen it a few times in the dealer service dept, low miles and all original. I can't recall ever seeing a non SS with clear lens. A friend's original (was his aunt's car since new) 72 malibu had clear lens till he switched to amber, he parted out about a dozen non SS and ever one had amber lens, not one clear.

72Elky,
Thanks !
I'm sure I would have responded to your email inquiry, but things happen.

Anyway, the company that makes the fiberglass bed covers is "Gaylord's Lids".

Just go to: http://www.gaylordslids.com

Anne-

That would be great if you could send me those close-ups.

Dan-
Thanks a lot man. When I first got my 72 Elky I thought I felt out of the muscle car crowd cuz not many people have them. But I've seen now that many people are interested in Elkys, and I think its great!! I especially like that 72 of yours. A question on the fiberglass lid; I've been to that site before, and I just wanted to know, did you get yours custom painted or does Gaylord paint the stripes?? Thanks Dan!!

Anybody else have this lid on their camino??

It came black. I had it painted to match the hood when the rest of the car was painted. It was a bit of a pain to mask off the stripes because of the textured surface, but it came out good. Note that my lid surface is textured (complete with fake seams) to match a vinyl top.
I'm not sure if the newer lids are that way or not.

Thanks Dan. Sorry to ask so many questions, but how does the hinges of the lid mount to the back panel under the window??

The hinges are bolted to the body, just below the window, and above the stainless strip at the front of the bed. You'll have to drill 4 holes, but thats a lot better than having a few dozen snap soles in your quarter panels for a soft tonneau cover.

PS: The hydraulic lifts bolt the the inner wheel wells. If you want to acually use the locks that the lid comes with, you'll also have to drill couple of small holes in the stainless trim piece on the top of the tailgate.

Alright Dan, thanks for the info!!