ways to tell difference between 70,71,72??
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: sebastopol ca
ways to tell difference between 70,71,72??
are there any ways to look at a 70-72 and tell what year it is? i know how to tell 68,69,73, but the 70-72 look identical to me. so, is there a way?
Team Owner
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From: Lake Norman NC
Re: ways to tell difference between 70,71,72?? (OatBoy)
70 and 71 had clear or white parking lamps in the grill...72 had orange parking lamps in the grill. to tell the difference between 70 and 71...i think you'll have to look at the interior for that.
Racer
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 268
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From: CT
Re: ways to tell difference between 70,71,72?? (OatBoy)
The only exterior differences I know of are in the front blinker lenses. The 70 models have clear lenses in the grill. Ive seen both clear and orange on 71's and I believe all the 72's have orange lenses in the front grill. Other than that I cant think of anything else exterior wise.
Kevin
Kevin
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From: South Central Louisiana
St. Jude Contributor
Re: ways to tell difference between 70,71,72?? (71vettman)
70 and most 71's look identical inside and out, except I believe the 70's didn't have the square exhaut cut outs in the back. The clear lenses in front were used from the beggining of the 70 year production to most of the 71 year production. It is reported that the amber lenses were phased in at the end of the 71 models. Interior, the horsepower tags are different for each year, you have to kinda be familiar with what was what for each year to know which is which. 72's shouldn't have the fiber optic indicators on the center console.
Only way to know for sure is to look at the VIN# on the windshield pillar. One digit tells the tale.
Only way to know for sure is to look at the VIN# on the windshield pillar. One digit tells the tale.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
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Re: (MNJack)
May I kindly suggest a copy of the "Corvette Black Book", avail at any decent Vette shop for less than $20. It will tell you everything (and MORE!) that you ever wanted to know about any early Vette ever made......... :yesnod:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Tulsa OK
Re: ways to tell difference between 70,71,72?? (LAvetteman)
70 and most 71's look identical inside and out, except I believe the 70's didn't have the square exhaut cut outs in the back. The clear lenses in front were used from the beggining of the 70 year production to most of the 71 year production. It is reported that the amber lenses were phased in at the end of the 71 models. Interior, the horsepower tags are different for each year, you have to kinda be familiar with what was what for each year to know which is which. 72's shouldn't have the fiber optic indicators on the center console.
Only way to know for sure is to look at the VIN# on the windshield pillar. One digit tells the tale.
Only way to know for sure is to look at the VIN# on the windshield pillar. One digit tells the tale.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: sebastopol ca
Re: ways to tell difference between 70,71,72?? (LAvetteman)
thanks guys, i had a good feeling this was a good place to ask, it's purely so i can sound like a smart butt when i see a guy in a c3 and can say, NICE 72! or whatever year it is as opposed to nice 70, 71, or 72, whichever :lol:
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 369
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From: Finland
Re: ways to tell difference between 70,71,72?? (OatBoy)
Here are some more differences.
All -72s had factory alarm with the lock cylinder in the back above the corvette script. As it was an option on 70&71 aswell that only tells you that if it's missing you know it's not a -72.
The side grilles have some sligth differences eventhough they look very similar at first glance. My -72 has slightly raised ribs on the vertical edges of the grille while my friends -70 doesn't have them, I can't remember when they changed this. They also painted the grilles differently leaving the chrome visible on the ribs.
Front grilles have two screw holes at the bottom chromed part on 71-72 models but on most -70 models there are none (I guess they have studs of some sort and are held from the back). They changed this sometime during the -70 model year, my friends -70 has one grille with visible screws and one without!
The differences are small and as cars have been modified over the years many details have changed. For example the amber parking lights are illegal here in Finland so I use clear lenses at the annual inspection (but change the originals back afterwards...)
rgds Tomi
All -72s had factory alarm with the lock cylinder in the back above the corvette script. As it was an option on 70&71 aswell that only tells you that if it's missing you know it's not a -72.
The side grilles have some sligth differences eventhough they look very similar at first glance. My -72 has slightly raised ribs on the vertical edges of the grille while my friends -70 doesn't have them, I can't remember when they changed this. They also painted the grilles differently leaving the chrome visible on the ribs.
Front grilles have two screw holes at the bottom chromed part on 71-72 models but on most -70 models there are none (I guess they have studs of some sort and are held from the back). They changed this sometime during the -70 model year, my friends -70 has one grille with visible screws and one without!
The differences are small and as cars have been modified over the years many details have changed. For example the amber parking lights are illegal here in Finland so I use clear lenses at the annual inspection (but change the originals back afterwards...)
rgds Tomi
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Draper Utah
The side grilles have some sligth differences eventhough they look very similar at first glance. My -72 has slightly raised ribs on the vertical edges of the grille while my friends -70 doesn't have them, I can't remember when they changed this. They also painted the grilles differently leaving the chrome visible on the ribs.
The tags on the air cleaner and console are also an easy way to tell as the cars had different engines/HP ratings each year. I also believe most of the 70 small blocks had open element air cleaners.
1970 egg crate grills on the lower fenders have just the horizontal lines chromed. 71-72 also have the vertical lines chromed.
Last edited by Iceaxe; Nov 15, 2015 at 10:58 PM.
Drifting
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From: Sadieville Kentucky
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Wes,
I hope you used your "outdoor voice" when you left your message!!!
8 years for OB!!!!….seems like only the day before yesterday!
Regards,
Alan
I hope you used your "outdoor voice" when you left your message!!!
8 years for OB!!!!….seems like only the day before yesterday!
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Nov 16, 2015 at 01:16 PM.
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From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
1970 had the sweet engines but the Amber/orange parking light lenses look way better. The 71 has the fiber optic lights on the console. I don't believe any of the others do.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,285
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
I believe for the 72 model year the fiber-optics system which had been standard since 68 were no longer available, while the alarm, which had been an option since 1968, became standard.
Regards,
Alan
I generally first look at the front and side grills to see if it's a 70 or not.
Next I look at the tail light panel to see if it has an alarm or not… this tells me if it's a 71. (if it doesn't have an alarm it has to be a 71, if it has an alarm it could be a 71 or a 72.)
I then look in through the side window to see the configuration of the data plate. It changed from 71 to 72. 71 has 4 pieces of info on it, while the 72 has only 3.
I believe for the 72 model year the fiber-optics system which had been standard since 68 were no longer available, while the alarm, which had been an option since 1968, became standard.
Regards,
Alan
I generally first look at the front and side grills to see if it's a 70 or not.
Next I look at the tail light panel to see if it has an alarm or not… this tells me if it's a 71. (if it doesn't have an alarm it has to be a 71, if it has an alarm it could be a 71 or a 72.)
I then look in through the side window to see the configuration of the data plate. It changed from 71 to 72. 71 has 4 pieces of info on it, while the 72 has only 3.
Last edited by Alan 71; Nov 17, 2015 at 07:19 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 268
From: Central Wisconsin
Hi,
I believe for the 72 model year the fiber-optics system which had been standard since 68 were no longer available, while the alarm, which had been an option since 1968, became standard.
Regards,
Alan
I generally first look at the front and side grills to see if it's a 70 or not.
Next I look at the tail light panel to see if it has an alarm or not… this tells me if it's a 71. (if it doesn't have an alarm it has to be a 71, if it has an alarm it could be a 71 or a 72.)
I then look in through the side window to see the configuration of the data plate. It changed from 71 to 72. 71 has 4 pieces of info on it, while the 72 has only 3.
I believe for the 72 model year the fiber-optics system which had been standard since 68 were no longer available, while the alarm, which had been an option since 1968, became standard.
Regards,
Alan
I generally first look at the front and side grills to see if it's a 70 or not.
Next I look at the tail light panel to see if it has an alarm or not… this tells me if it's a 71. (if it doesn't have an alarm it has to be a 71, if it has an alarm it could be a 71 or a 72.)
I then look in through the side window to see the configuration of the data plate. It changed from 71 to 72. 71 has 4 pieces of info on it, while the 72 has only 3.
99 out of a hundred other cars and you can tell the difference in a heart beat but these 3 years of Vettes and are so frustrating.
If anyone is gonna know it will be Alan though.