In all, 50,359 were built throughout the production year. Including the Turbo Jet 400, the car also had 15-inch Rally racing wheels, a black custom steering wheel, distinct instrumentation, power brakes and a high output battery.Īs it had been for many years, the El Camino Custom – which included the SS models – was the best-selling El Camino for the year. One of the most popular was the SS options package, which provided a sporty trim to the car.
Instead, buyers could customize their El Caminos in numerous ways, choosing from different engine options and trim packages. Somewhat uniquely, the El Camino never had multiple models, other than the 1968 SS396 which was its own model rather than an options package. Fortunately, the number would rise even higher the following year. In fact, production rose over the 50,000 mark for the first time in history as 57,147 units were built. From there, buyers could choose the Turbo Jet 400, which was actually a 402 CID V8 rated at 240 horsepower, or a 454 CID V8 that produced 270 horsepower.īut the lowered numbers certainly didn’t hurt sales for 1972.
#1972 EL CAMINO SS SALE UPGRADE#
El Camino buyers that wanted V8 power (which most did) could upgrade to a 350 CID V8 that was now rated at 165 horsepower. Fortunately, the practicality of the El Camino would help it survive.Įngine options were the same as they had been the previous year, and the base engine was a 250 CID six-cylinder. But more important was the coming federal safety and emissions mandates that would effectively kill off the muscle car era by 1975. And even though the new lower net ratings didn’t actually represent a drop in power, the cars appeared on paper as less powerful, which was important in that day and age. However, when it was required in 1971 that all engines be able to run on unleaded fuel, power ratings began to go down. But throughout the years, performance options grew and grew until, in 1970, there were some very powerful El Caminos available. By the time the 1964 models came out, it was built as a practical hauling pickup based on a car platform, and it also had a couple of V8 options for buyers who wanted more performance. The El Camino wasn’t designed as a muscle car. But more importantly, the seemingly decreased power foreshadowed things to come. However, with those new net horsepower ratings, the specifications sheets of El Caminos seemed less powerful, even though they actually weren’t. Additional underside photos can be seen in the gallery below.Other than the new grille, turn signals and other small modifications, the 1972 El Camino was basically a carbon copy of the year before. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 4L70E four-speed automatic transmission and a 3.70:1 rear gear. The retrofitted 6.2-liter LS3 V8 features body-color fuel-rail covers, a chrome-finished intake pipe, high-flow air filters, an Optima battery, and tubular exhaust headers. The five-digit odometer shows 2,500 miles, and total mileage is unknown. The rear cargo area is fitted with a body-color hard tonneau cover and carpeting that matches the rest of the cabin.Ī leather-wrapped aftermarket steering wheel frames a 120-mph speedometer, a tachometer, an analog clock, and gauges for voltage, coolant temperature, and fuel level. Equipment includes air conditioning, power-operated windows, a fire extinguisher, and a period-look stereo. The cabin features power-adjustable bucket seats trimmed in red leather with a matching dashboard, door panels, and carpets. The car is equipped with power-assisted steering and brakes. Silver-finished 15″ Rally-style wheels wear chrome trim rings and center caps and are mounted with 215/60 front and 275/60 rear BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires. Other exterior features include black stripes on the cowl-induction hood, SS badging, and chrome bumpers and trim. The car is said to have undergone a body-off refurbishment and was refinished in silver with black lower cladding. This modified El Camino is now offered by the seller on behalf of the owner a clean California title. The car is finished in silver with black stripes, and additional equipment includes a body-color hard tonneau cover, a cowl-induction hood, 15” Rally-style wheels, power steering and brakes, tubular exhaust headers, SS badging, chrome trim and bumpers, air conditioning, and power windows. This 1972 Chevrolet El Camino was acquired by the current owner in 2019 and subsequently underwent a mechanical and cosmetic refurbishment which is said to have included removing the body from the frame, repainting the exterior, installing a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, and reupholstering the interior in red leather.
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