When 1972 rolled around, the majority of the Chevrolet Chevelle’s styling went unchanged. The most notable difference was a new grille, and revamped parking lights mounted on the leading edges of the fenders. The 1972 Chevelle’s parking/side marker lights were a now a solid lens, while on the ’71, there was a horizontal divider.

The Heavy Chevy that was released late in 1971, was still an economy version of the Super Sport, and could be ordered with any V8 — except the 454 cubic-inch big-block. That engine was reserved for the SS. The 1972 Chevelle was hugely popular, and had enough appeal to be America’s second-best-selling car that year. Base models included a series of wagons, while the upscale versions were based on the Malibu series, which included the convertible. Known sales of Malibu sport sedans suggest that more than 24,000 were built with a standard 130 horsepower 307 cubic-inch V8. Don’t let the horsepower numbers depress you, this year, Chevrolet switched from using “gross” horsepower numbers to using “net” numbers. Net results were simply the result of testing in a different fashion.

The Malibu sport coupe with a six-cylinder engine cost a paltry $2,833. If you added the small V8, you also added $90 to the price. Other underhood power options included the 175 horsepower 350 cubic-inch V8, the 402 and 454 cubic-inch big-blocks that delivered 240 and 270 horsepower respectively. Buyers in California could not get the 307 cubic-inch V8, but the 350-cubic-inch engine was an option. California cars often made use of different powertrain options than those marketed in states with less-stringent emissions regulations.

In a final blow to the “musclecar,” 1972 was the last year the cowl-induction hood was available with the 454 cubic-inch engine. Ironically, it wasn’t even mentioned in the 1972 Chevelle sales brochure.

Any optional V8 engine was available in a Super Sport for 1972. This means the 307 cubic-inch was not available in an SS, because the engine was not an option, but rather, the base V8. The L65 350 cubic-inch V8 with a two-barrel carburetor came with a 10-bolt rear, but a 12-bolt rear was included if the trailer-towing option (RPO YD1) was specified. The other three optional V8 engines (the L48 four-barrel equipped 350, the LS3 402 cubic-inch big-block, and the LS5 454 cubic-inch big-block) were followed up by 12-bolt rears.

Chevrolet documentation notes that the Turbo-Fire 307 cubic-inch small-block, the Turbo-Jet 400 cubic-inch big-block (LS3), and the Turbo-Jet 454 cubic-inch big-block (LS5), were not available for registration in the state of California. That limits 1972 Super Sport-optioned Chevelles built in Van Nuys, and sent to California dealers to either the L65 350 cubic-inch engine with a two-barrel carburetor, or the L48 350 cubic-inch engine with a four-barrel carburetor.

There has been a lot of speculation in recent years about the Chevelle making a comeback. If it did, how would you want your delivered? Let us know in the comments section.