1972 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray — White T-Top Coupe with Rare LT-1 Hood and Numbers-Correct 350 Why This Car Is Special The 1972 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray holds a specific and well-documented place in Corvette history. It was the last model year to carry the traditional egg-crate grille, the last to use chrome front bumpers, and the last to feature the removable rear window on coupe models. It was also the final year that Chevrolet published gross horsepower ratings before the industry shifted to the lower net figures — a change that made the 1973 and later cars look less powerful on paper even when they weren't dramatically different mechanically.

For collectors who know the C3 generation well, 1972 sits at a distinct transition point, and it attracts buyers who want the last of the classic Stingray styling cues before the federally mandated changes began reshaping the car in 1973. This particular 1972 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is finished in white over a black vinyl interior and carries a combination of features that goes well beyond a typical base-spec example. The presence of the LT-1 hood is the detail that separates this car from most of the 27,004 Corvettes built for the 1972 model year.

The LT-1 was the high-winding, solid-lifter 350 cubic inch V8 option that Chevrolet carried over from 1970 and 1971. In 1972, only 1,741 Corvettes were ordered with the LT-1 engine, making it by far the rarest powertrain choice that year. The LT-1 hood — with its distinctive center-exit scoop — is a visually specific and historically significant piece of fiberglass that belongs to that engine option, and its presence on this car is worth understanding before you assume anything about what's under it.

The VIN on this car decodes to a 1972 Corvette coupe built at the St. Louis assembly plant with a 350 cubic inch V8 and an automatic transmission. The 'K' in the engine position of the VIN denotes the 200-horsepower base 350, not the LT-1 solid-lifter engine.

That means the LT-1 hood on this car is a cosmetic addition rather than original equipment — an important distinction for any buyer doing their research. The car is honest about what it is: a well-equipped 1972 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray with a correct 350 V8, a desirable options list, and the visual presence of one of the most recognizable hoods in Corvette history. Whether you view the hood as an upgrade or a deviation from numbers-matching spec will depend on what you're looking for.

What this car does offer is a compelling combination of usability and style. Air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, removable T-tops, and a functioning tachometer and 160-mph speedometer make this a Corvette you can drive regularly without the anxiety that comes with a fully documented, concours-correct collector piece. It's equipped to be used.

Features List - Numbers-correct 350ci V8 engine (VIN-decoded as the base 350, RPO L48 equivalent) - Automatic transmission - Rare LT-1 hood (cosmetic addition, not matching the VIN engine code) - Removable T-tops - Power steering - Power brakes - Air conditioning - Dual exhaust with exposed rear tips - Chrome rear bumpers - Tachometer - 160-mph speedometer - Corvette Sport steering wheel - Woodgrain interior trim - Black vinyl interior - Center console - White exterior Mechanical Under the hood sits the correct 350 cubic inch V8 for this VIN, backed by an automatic transmission. The engine bay presents well, with red-painted valve covers and a polished air cleaner assembly that are visually consistent with how these cars left the factory. Dual exhaust exits through the iconic squared-off rear tips that are characteristic of the C3 Corvette, and the system appears clean from the underside photos.

Power steering and power brakes were factory options on the 1972 Corvette, and both are present here. These features matter on a C3 that you plan to drive. Without power steering, the Corvette's recirculating ball unit requires real