[akalisz]

Im a new commer to the forum. I have started a search for a good chevelle. My budget will be below 9k and am looking for something i can drive and work on.

My question is what are the main differences in the 1970 and 1972 chevelles? Beside the obvious headlights, tail lights, grill.

any sites or usefull information would be appreciated. hopefully this will be the first of many posts.

 

[robo3]

70 is cooler!

 

[yost44]

no way with the 70 (lol no offense)....go with 64-68 after that I'm not too fond of some little things but all have a lot of different cool things about them JMHO....66-67 are def my favs though...through all the years though they are all basically the same once you get into them...they all wont start when you want them to, break something after you just fixed something else, spend your paycheck before you even get it.

Which ever year you choose just have fun with it and learn as much as you can by working on it and reading/asking questions on here. This site is full of all the information you need somewhere either in the threads or the old timers who have been doing this stuff longer than I have been alive.

When I was 16 and looking for my first muscle car I never knew there was a different body style other than the 68-72 and I ended up finding a 66 at a girls house I was at after school one day. And now for the last 5 years I have pretty much just learning as I go. Built my first motor, did my first quickie paint job, learned to recover seats. Now my car is far from nice but its nice knowing that I did all of the stuff on it and can now help people do stuff for there rides.

 

[pwrjunkie80]

69 or 70 all the way! 70 is what you see alot in the movies these days.

 

[Brian Hoss]

Blond, brunette, redhead?

Pick a body style you like and go for it!

What sort of differences are you wanting to compare between those years?

 

[novaderrik]

70 has 4 headlights and square tail lights with more powerful engines from the factory.
71-71 has 2 headlights and round taillights with the first of the detuned "smog" motors from the factory.
there are some trim differences between a 71 and 72 like marker lights and stuff like that.
a 70 will cost more than a 71 or 72.

 

[Blue71]

Novaderrick has it down but here's another way to put it:

1970 is the most famous muscle car as it had an OPTION (they mostly did not) to have a bigger engine, the 454. And they are almost always more expensive, than 71 and 72.

1971/72 were the first cars with smog setup, which hurts max performance, so slightly less desirable, but you can deal with that any way you want. Most drivers (like you) won't care if it's there, or take it off.

Look at the front and rear of a 70 vs 71/2:
1970 had the double headlights, 71/72 they combined them into one. 1970 had square taillights, the 71/72 round. It's the main visual difference.

In 1971, the Chevelle was the biggest-selling car in America, so you can find tons of parts (they also fit the 72 usually). There tend to be less "collectible" ones made, and more available, and so the prices are cheaper than 1970.

 

[akalisz]

is there a way to make the 71 or 72 have a grill that looks like the 70? I like the split piece that the SS badging goes on that is on the 70 model and not 71-72.?

 

[novaderrik]

you can put the '70 nose on a 71 or 72, but i think you also need to change the radiator support. and then you will have to deal with all the people that will call you an idiot and poser for trying to pass a 71 off as a 70 unless you change the back of the car, too, but that's a bit more detailed with cutting and welding involved.

 

[Autoengineer]

I like the front on the '70 better, but I like the 71-72 rear better so for me it was a wash and it came down to which one I found first that was the best deal and most likely as others have said, that will be a 71-72. Motor was irrelavant because most of these engines have either been rebuilt or need to be rebuilt anyways. A couple things that I think makes the front end on my '72 look much better though is 1) clear turn signal lenses, and 2) I left my grill pianted silver even though I'm going for an SS look.

 

[akalisz]

I like the front on the '70 better, but I like the 71-72 rear better.

I am the same way, so i will prob end up with a 71-72 due to availbilty and price.

is there any major issues with manual or automatic or just driver preference?

 

[Finally]

I am the same way, so i will prob end up with a 71-72 due to availbilty and price.

is there any major issues with manual or automatic or just driver preference?

Only the normal issues with something that may be close to 40 years old. Either trans could need a rebuild. It's really driver preference. I have a 4 sp because that's what the car had in it, I would still have bought it if it had an auto.

Beyond the obvious front and rear differences the 70, 71, 72 are all the same basic car. Body panels are the same or very close, 70 front fenders have side marker lights, 71 & 72 don't. Hood, doors, trunk lid and all glass is the same. Dash is the same, 70 had green numbers on the SS dash, 71 & 72 had white. Seats are the same but I believe they changed the covers in 72. There are some very minor cosmetic changes in the interior but nothing obvious.

 

[JpMotorsports]

69 is/was the best year

 

[Rhino_68]

I must respectfully disagree. 68 has vent windows which are awesome especially when its hot out (it pretty much hot year round in tucson) and 68 has more attractive tailights. IMO

 

[1972malibu]

Anymore... The best year is the one you can get in your driveway. :beers:

 

[wills65]

Anymore... The best year is the one you can get in your driveway. :beers:

Ill second that!!

 

[1972malibu]

Ill second that!!

The irony is that ours is most assuredly NOT in our driveway...

l

 

[1ATony]

I like every year Chevelle,69's my favorite. I think the best two years for all motor companies were 69&70. Ahhh the good old days with out cats, and your Mc D's hamburg came in a nice Styrofoam container.

 

[grandsport]

Anymore... The best year is the one you can get in your driveway. :beers:

:yes: I agree. But I still have a soft spot for a 70.