72E or 72L?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
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From: Minnesota
In theory that would be pretty late, but early or late for a model year is only used to designate different parts used throughout a rolling model change.
A quick google search tells me late ‘72s had the smaller gas pedal and retractors for lap belts. I’m sure there’s more differences, but what do you have?
A quick google search tells me late ‘72s had the smaller gas pedal and retractors for lap belts. I’m sure there’s more differences, but what do you have?
Last edited by Piersonpie; Apr 28, 2025 at 04:10 PM.
Race Director
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From: Shamong, NJ
Early and late are terms the hobby has created, but have no real world association to anything GM did, or how GM made "Running Model Changes" (what GM called production changes made during the model year, AKA "RMC"). As GM made changes to parts they described the parts as "1st design", "2nd Design", and so on. There was no "early" or "late" in the GM system, and no cut off date when they would make a change. As soon as a new, cheaper, stronger, lighter, etc redesigned part was available, they would start using it in production. The hobby has chosen to describe RMC part changes as early and late, but those terms are really a misnomer and sometimes cause undue confusion.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Wichita Kansas
In theory that would be pretty late, but early or late for a model year is only used to designate different parts used throughout a rolling model change.
A quick google search tells me late ‘72s had the smaller gas pedal and retractors for lap belts. I’m sure there’s more differences, but what do you have?
A quick google search tells me late ‘72s had the smaller gas pedal and retractors for lap belts. I’m sure there’s more differences, but what do you have?
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It was built in early May '72.
Mine was built in late April '76, but when it comes to A/C things it's considered early.
Mine was built in late April '76, but when it comes to A/C things it's considered early.
Last edited by SEVNT6; Apr 28, 2025 at 05:40 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Crossville TN
Best to open it up to see what you now have. Only way to be certain of the correct replacement. "Early" and "Late" usually refer to when a major group of running changes was made by the factory during a model year. Only some model years actually have such.
So, it IS relevant to what the factory was doing, but the 'E' and 'L' designations that were picked up by the hobby are useful to let owners know that differences exist during that model year.
The assembly factory documented such changes whenever they occurred by the S/N when the change was made. But that info was not made available to the general public nor kept for posterity. Some NCRS folks generate such information based on findings during judging of cars, etc. But they do not have access to the original factory records of such running changes.
So, it IS relevant to what the factory was doing, but the 'E' and 'L' designations that were picked up by the hobby are useful to let owners know that differences exist during that model year.
The assembly factory documented such changes whenever they occurred by the S/N when the change was made. But that info was not made available to the general public nor kept for posterity. Some NCRS folks generate such information based on findings during judging of cars, etc. But they do not have access to the original factory records of such running changes.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Apr 28, 2025 at 05:57 PM.
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Melting Slicks
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From: Wichita Kansas
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,810
Likes: 469
From: Wichita Kansas
In theory that would be pretty late, but early or late for a model year is only used to designate different parts used throughout a rolling model change.
A quick google search tells me late ‘72s had the smaller gas pedal and retractors for lap belts. I’m sure there’s more differences, but what do you have?
A quick google search tells me late ‘72s had the smaller gas pedal and retractors for lap belts. I’m sure there’s more differences, but what do you have?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Wichita Kansas
Melting Slicks
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2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
The AIM drawings for the model year have revisions noted by date. I would think any cars built before that date would be early, those built after would be late. Only place I know of where documented...