Pick of the Day: 1972 Chevrolet Corvette, still a performance bargain

Among classic American sports cars, the best deal on the planet has to be the Chevrolet C3 Corvette. With a production that spans 1968-1982, there is a C3 for every budget. If you have anywhere from $8,500 to $85,000, there is a C3 out there with your name on it.

Sure, certain European sports car owners might make fun of your car, but that is when you remind them that your car competed at Sebring, Le Mans and Daytona, where in 1972 it finished first in class. Then be sure to explain to those European car owners that a major service on your car costs only about the price of an oil change on their cars. Be sure you are smiling when you add that last bit.

The Pick of the Day is one of these iconic cars, a 1972 Chevrolet Corvette T-top coupe. Of the lengthy run of the third-generation Corvette, the 1970-1972 models are the ones that combine all the best styling elements, chrome bumpers, fender vents, rear-end treatment, that all come together in what has to be the best-looking American car design of the era.

Also, 1972 is the last year that the Corvette had a removable rear window, and the stunning egg-crate fender louvers.

This 1972 Corvette, offered on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in St Louis, Missouri, is described as having a numbers-matching drivetrain and equipped with quite a few options. These include tilt and telescoping steering wheel, automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, power windows, and air conditioning.

Before you complain about the automatic, first go out and drive a C3 with an automatic. These cars are well suited to an auto and there is little if any performance lost with cars so equipped.

The seller states that in the mid-2000s, the car’s previous owner did an extensive suspension, brake and steering restoration, and the Corvette handles just as it should. It should be noted that the C3 Corvette with the gymkhana suspension option was the one of the best handling cars in the world, frequently putting up higher numbers than the Porsche 911 of the time.

Doubt that? Take a look at the road tests and comparison tests from back when the cars were new, and prepare to be surprised.

The listing for this 1972 Corvette features many high-quality photographs of the car, which show a nice driver-level car with no apparent issues. The interior looks nice and correct, and it still has its original radio. The engine compartment also looks to be in very good condition as does the chassis.

Performance for the time, even with the stock L48 V8 as this one is equipped, is more than adequate, with 0-60 times in the 8-second range and a top speed of somewhere around 130 mph.

It still puzzles me that more people are not on the C3 Corvette bandwagon, as this car with an asking price of $28,000 looks to be a great deal. This is market price for one of these cars and seems like a great value, especially when compared with any other true sports car of the era.

Sure, the C3 Corvette might not have the build quality of a Porsche 911, and it will be a bit rattily as they were when new, but the bang for the buck is simply impossible to beat.

To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.