1972 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
The final year of the second-generation Chevelle marked significant changes for Chevrolet’s muscle car lineup.
For 1972, the SS (still offered as an option package on the Malibu) received revised front styling with single-unit parking lights on the fenders and a new twin-bar grille, maintaining the characteristic blacked-out finish and domed hood with hood pins that distinguished performance models from standard Malibus.
The SS package featured the flowing silhouette introduced in 1968, complemented by body-color front and rear bumpers and SS badging.
Under the hood, buyers faced a dramatically different performance landscape. New SAE net horsepower ratings replaced gross figures, reflecting lower compression ratios mandated for unleaded fuel compatibility.
The base 350 CI V8 produced 165 or 175 HP depending on carburetor specification, while the optional 402 CI big-block (still marketed as a 396) generated 240 HP. The top engine choice was the LS5 454 CI V8 rated at 270 HP, exclusively available with the SS package.
This specific example features a substantially upgraded 572 CI GM crate motor producing 621 HP, paired with a Tremec five-speed manual transmission and 12-bolt Moser rear axle.
Production totaled 5,333 SS 454 units, marking the end of an increasingly regulated performance environment.
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