Guide to the 1972 Heavy Chevy
As the 1971 Heavy Chevy was, the 1972 Heavy Chevy was based on the base 13437 (1C37 VIN) Chevelle Sport Coupe only and the amenities were austere to say the least. Since bucket seats were not an option available on the base Chevelle series, bucket seats could not be ordered with the Heavy Chevy option either. Interior fabrics and colors were restricted as well. The YF3 option sold 9,508 units in 1972.
As with non-SS and SS-optioned Malibus, two dash assemblies were available. The basic sweep-style speedometer with fuel gauge was standard and a clock was optional. The round-type dash pod was used when RPO U14 Instrument Panel gauges were ordered. The gauges were identical to those offered in the Malibu series and included the speedometer, tachometer, fuel, water temperature, ammeter, and clock. The oil pressure indicator remained a warning lamp and was housed in the tachometer.
The YF3 option included not only the wild laser stripes down both sides but "Heavy Chevy" decals on the front fenders, on the trunk and hood as well in lieu of the typical "Chevelle by Chevrolet" emblems. Other items included in the YF3 option were a black accented grille, special domed hood with locking pins, 14"x6" rally type wheels with special center caps. Stripes were only offered in black or white with black being available on any color except Midnight Bronze and white being available on any color except Antique White.
Engines/Transmissions
The Heavy Chevy could be ordered with any V8 engine except the LS5, 454 cubic inch V8. The Powerglide transmission was only available with the 307/200hp engine while the two 350 engines (L65 & L48) got the Turbo-Hydramatic 350 and the 402 engine (LS3) got the Turbo-Hydramatic 400 and all were column-shift units along with the standard 3-speed manual transmissions. The optional manual 3-speed and manual 4-speed (M20 wide ratio) was available behind any of the three optional V8 engines as a floor-shift unit but no consoles were available in the Heavy Chevy since that would require bucket seats which were not an option.
Standard Interior Equipment
Several more interior colors and fabrics were offered for 1972, only Light Covert and White were not offered. Floor covering consisted of a color-keyed vinyl-coated rubber mat in lieu of carpeting & no trunk mat was supplied. Glove compartment and courtesy lamps were not standard equipment but could be ordered via RPO ZJ9, Auxiliary Lighting equipment.
Door panels were sparsely attired in the Chevelle sport coupe and the Heavy Chevy option did nothing to dress these up. The 1972 model year door panels were color coordinated with the interior and featured raised panels and an wood-grained stripe in place of the white stripe used in 1971.
Exterior Equipment
Standard exterior trim was as austere as the standard interior trim. The grille did not get the center bow tie emblem but the Heavy Chevy did get the grille outline moldings the standard Chevelle did not. The lower windshield reveal molding was narrower than the Malibu & the windshield wipers did not depress below the windshield and not have an articulated left blade. Bright wheel opening, rocker, and roof drip moldings were also absent although two-tone and vinyl-topped Heavies did get the normal trim separating the body and roof. The tail lamp lenses were a plain red lens without the bright trim rings or Argent Silver paint.
Various Paperwork
