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Friend buying 72 SS Chevelle on ebay

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1.7K views 12 replies 7 participants last post by  gigem  
B
#1 ·
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M
#2 ·
The Vin decodes as follows:
1-Chevrolet
D-Malibu
37-2 dr. coupe
j-350 engine L48 4-bbl
2-Model year
R-Arlington Texas
578815- Fisher body sequence #

Without ANY documentation such as a protecto-plate
build sheet, ect., there is no way to be sure that it is a true SS. If it had a 454 then by decoding the VIN you could tell if it were a true SS, because in 72 you could only get a 454 in an SS.

The car looks nice from the pictures, but unless you see it in person you never know. It does have the correct round instrumentation pods. The correct drivers side sport mirror. It should have a 12 bolt and boxed rear lower control arms.
The air cleaner should be a closed element snorkel type and the valve covers should be painted.

I don't believe the car has 29,000 original miles though.

Good Luck,
Mike
 
C
#5 ·
from the ad:
the vehicle shows only 29k miles!

(i think the key word is SHOWS)
i dont hear no HAS in there
 
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#7 ·
578815 from the VIN is the vehicle assembly sequence number, not the Fisher body sequence #. In 72, the vehicle sequence started with 500001 makin this the 78,815th Chevelle from that plant. The Fisher Body unit number (not necessarily sequence number) is listed on the body plate (cowl tag) just after the assembly plant, e.g., *R 12345*.
 
G
#8 ·
Auction is over, and I don't know if your friend won or not. So maybe this doesn't matter, but...

Car seems to have the relatively rare "standard" SS steering wheel. If I were going to clone one, I'd look for the much more common "deluxe" wheel...

Also, car seems to have seatbelt warning light. A 1972-only feature. Again, if I were going to clone one, I might have had to settle for an earlier dash that would not have the seatbelt light.

Every time I tried to view larger pictures from the auction, my IE crashed. So I might not have been seeing these details correctly...
 
D
#10 ·
It is definitely a '72 SS dash (a good sign), and it has the correct small-block red-line on the tach.

The knobs on the dash for the headlights, radio, and lighter are completely wrong.

The hood stripes are a little bt too far away from the leading edge of the hood.

And the grille emblem is upside down. Why do they ALWAYS do that
Image
!?
 
#12 ·
350 2-barrel came with a 10-bolt while the 350 4-barrel came with a 12-bolt differental. This is true even in 71/72 despite there really not being any difference in the engine, just the carb, intake and fuel pump. A 'J' in the v.i.n. indicates a 4-barrel 350 so I'd expect a 12-bolt (unless it's a late '72 with an 8.5" 10-bolt).
 
G
#13 ·
Originally posted by Cam:
350 2-barrel came with a 10-bolt while the 350 4-barrel came with a 12-bolt differental. This is true even in 71/72 despite there really not being any difference in the engine, just the carb, intake and fuel pump. A 'J' in the v.i.n. indicates a 4-barrel 350 so I'd expect a 12-bolt (unless it's a late '72 with an 8.5" 10-bolt).
Click to expand...
My 11/71 built 72 SS came with 350-4bbl and a 12 bolt posi w/ 2.73 gear, per build sheet.

I believe this car to be a real 72 SS, after finally getting to see all of the large pictures. Looks like a good car to me., not sure about the price though.
 
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