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Exterior differences between '71 and '72 Corvette?

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Old Sep 24, 2006 | 07:13 AM
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Default Exterior differences between '71 and '72 Corvette?

I read something about the eggcrate "gill" vent being chromed for one year or something like that.

I like the '71 and '72 Coupes specifically because of the Steel Cities Gray color option. I especially like it with the red interior. I prefer small block hoods (I like the lines better) and coupes over convertibles, but really I like them all.

Any other info on '71 or '72 would be appreciated.
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Old Sep 24, 2006 | 07:36 AM
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I can't really think of any exterior differences. The egg crate grills were the same. (70 was slightly different). All 72s had amber turn signal lights. 71s were suppose to by most didn't. The alarm was standard on 72, an option for 71. There were some more small interior differences. 72 didn't have fiberoptics, 72 had retractable seat belts and different radio *****.
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Old Sep 24, 2006 | 09:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Navy Blue
I read something about the eggcrate "gill" vent being chromed for one year or something like that.

I like the '71 and '72 Coupes specifically because of the Steel Cities Gray color option. I especially like it with the red interior. I prefer small block hoods (I like the lines better) and coupes over convertibles, but really I like them all.

Any other info on '71 or '72 would be appreciated.
I have the Corvette Mag write up on the Gen 3 Sharks, and it looks like the only difference from 71' was power train related. Going from gross to net HP ratings. The one year only LT1/AC combo (15K preimum for that combo!) and that's all they list as different from 71' . 72's are worth a couple grand more than 71's for some reason.
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 01:39 AM
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As far as I know, the only visible difference between the '71s and '72s were the front parking lights. In 71 they had clear lenses and yellow bulbs; in 72 they had amber lenses and clear bulbs.
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 02:04 AM
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Originally Posted by mstanton
I can't really think of any exterior differences. The egg crate grills were the same. (70 was slightly different). All 72s had amber turn signal lights. 71s were suppose to by most didn't. The alarm was standard on 72, an option for 71. There were some more small interior differences. 72 didn't have fiberoptics, 72 had retractable seat belts and different radio *****.
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 06:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Navy Blue
....I like the '71 and '72 Coupes......Any other info on '71 or '72 would be appreciated.
You need a vert....
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 08:33 AM
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I "have heard" that early (vin #) 72 models had clear parking light lens.

I don't know that to be true or not...........?
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 09:15 AM
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Hmm, interesting. That could explain the clear lenses and amber bulbs in my '72. I swithed them to clear bulbs and amber lenses thinking they were wrong.
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 09:21 AM
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Are you sure 15K for LT1 with AC.Seems a little steep.Maybe $1,500.
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 09:25 AM
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Only built 240 or so 72 LT1/AC cars so a 15K premium sounds fair.
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 09:29 AM
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$15,000?thats more than the car cost.Could we be talking about a ZR1?Not sure they even built one in 72.A 72Z/28 had the same engine and it wasn't a 15k mark up.I'm sure someone will come up with the rpo codes/prices on this.Theres no way that that small block would be more than double the price of the car.It was just a small block with solid lifters and forged internals!!!!

Last edited by copter; Sep 25, 2006 at 09:37 AM.
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 09:34 AM
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Originally Posted by fotyfobravo
I "have heard" that early (vin #) 72 models had clear parking light lens.

I don't know that to be true or not...........?
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------

Whoops! Let me correct myself.....My Corvette Black Book /1953-1980 edition states.....

"Beginning in 71, all came with amber parking light lens except for very early cars."
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 10:00 AM
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Originally Posted by PEPTO77
Hmm, interesting. That could explain the clear lenses and amber bulbs in my '72. I swithed them to clear bulbs and amber lenses thinking they were wrong.

Also, and we have been throught this before, a number of 72 retained the fiber optics, but exactly when they ran out of parts and stoped installing them is debatable
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 10:09 AM
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My 72 was built the second week of August in 71. It is a 72 car with it being the 185th car down the assembly line. The car has no fiber optics on it. It had amber parking lights. It did not have the seat belt warning system that 72 cars had. The wiring harness must be leftover from 71 cars. I have talked to some experts on this and they said it is correct. Not tha tmine is a NCRS car at all, far from it.

The LT1 package cost 483.45 in 72. The ZR1 package was 1010.05.
There was no AC on a ZR1 and the AC on a LT1 was just like ordering on any other car. It cost 464.50. It was only available on later 72 LT1 cars.
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 10:17 AM
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Originally Posted by copter
$15,000?thats more than the car cost.Could we be talking about a ZR1?Not sure they even built one in 72.A 72Z/28 had the same engine and it wasn't a 15k mark up.I'm sure someone will come up with the rpo codes/prices on this.Theres no way that that small block would be more than double the price of the car.It was just a small block with solid lifters and forged internals!!!!
The 15K is what you would add to the value today of a 72 LT1/AC versus a 72 LT1/no AC.
The AC option when the car was new was still the same $450 or whatever it was.

They did make the ZR1 in 72 and these cars are probably around 100K.
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 10:28 AM
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Originally Posted by wfo76
The 15K is what you would add to the value today of a 72 LT1/AC versus a 72 LT1/no AC.
The AC option when the car was new was still the same $450 or whatever it was.

They did make the ZR1 in 72 and these cars are probably around 100K.
Ok, I gottcha.It all make's since now
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 10:56 AM
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Originally Posted by fotyfobravo
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------

Whoops! Let me correct myself.....My Corvette Black Book /1953-1980 edition states.....

"Beginning in 71, all came with amber parking light lens except for very early cars."
That's incorrect. 71's had amber parking lights and clear lenses, 72's changed this around and had amber lenses and clear bulbs. There certainly could be some overlap on early/late cars.

BTW, I like your choice of color ...SCG
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 11:21 AM
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Originally Posted by gq82
That's incorrect. 71's had amber parking lights and clear lenses, 72's changed this around and had amber lenses and clear bulbs. There certainly could be some overlap on early/late cars.

BTW, I like your choice of color ...SCG
You know...I think you are correct....I always thought that the clear lens went through the 71 models ... then all were amber. I guess I need to get myself a newer Black Book ... this one was my Dad's from 1980....
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 11:39 AM
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gq82;I had a 70 Z/28 that color.I loved it!!!!Made the car look like a machine
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Old Sep 25, 2006 | 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by fotyfobravo
You know...I think you are correct....I always thought that the clear lens went through the 71 models ... then all were amber. I guess I need to get myself a newer Black Book ... this one was my Dad's from 1980....
You should...the black book I have which isn't exactly new 53-04 corrects the earlier edition stating "Production specs called for amber lenses but most 71's had clear lenses w/amber bulbs"
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