I've owned all 1970 GSs in the past and the longer I own this 72 the more I enjoy it! The one thing I don't care for is the black in the head light doors (sorry purest). Sent them out for plating. Added the bumper guards front and rear (unquie design) GM fixed a lot of things on the body that was weak and prone to break. I read all the bad press on the 72 but in my humble opinion it is heads to toe as nice as the earlier cars!
Al, At one time I had 2 sets of NOS 72 headlight bezels and both sets were painted a dark charcoal color around the headlights. One set was the early style and the other the late style. Both sets were a little different color, but neither set was black around the headlights. Duane
I have a NOS early set and they are a dark argent. I have a second design set ( a lot heavier ) I sent out for custom chrome plating The ones on the car are first design.
Here is a good friends car that I completed, I can see the like on both sides, a lot depends on how nice the car is I guess.
Thanks! This GS has kept me "with it!" Owned all automatics since 1977. When I got this one over 30 years ago it was a game changer!
I thought the 72 headlight doors looked good with the charcoal inserts. Actually, GM got everything right on the 72, but the hood lip moulding. That flat moulding looks hideous.
Sharp Ride! I agree on the hood molding, thought about going with the 71 style, but you would need to do the head light doors too, not doing that!
As I posted earlier, I see positives on both sides. The dark rings give an aggressive sport stance and the bright rings more of a luxury conservative appearance. Exterior color also makes a big difference too! Like Randy's stunning 72, the rings work and in my case being a Sherwod Green and the bumper guards I thing bright was the way to go.
I think the early design headlight bezel tended to crack as it was very thin across the top as you know. Its interesting that the hood molding was the exact opposite, early 72 cars had the thicker molding (underneath chrome edge went all the way to the ends) and then later on the hood molding was lightened up at about the same time the headlight bezels got thicker. They all carried the same p/n too regardless of design. Changeover appeared to be about Nov 71 from the cars I have seen., and it seemed flint and fremont both did this (from total of 7 cars I looked at/parted). That's a very small sample size of course so more info always welcome. Anyway, to be honest I always preferred the 71's, but the blacked out/darkened styling does grow on a guy. It does work well with brighter colors. I read once the hood molding was an attempt to "lower" the look of the car at the front, I guess it kinda worked but still seems odd.
I had a set done the way I like, sorry, my highly option exterior package looks better with bright at the headlight surounds, still need to set the car code on the painted areas.
Thanks for the kind words! I've had only 70s in the past. I always wanted a manual transmission GS, a 72 came up for sale on the west coast, I was done! After owning this GS of the last body style I have really like it because it is kind of unique, you know, GM has a tendency to iron out all the problem with a car line then discontinue that car line.
What was “wrong” with the ‘72’s Same as the ‘71’s except grille, bumpers and headlight bezels and interior trim.
Nothing really wrong with the 72 model. Just 1970 gets the most interest. With 1972, many improvements been made like a front bumper that projected the grill. The 72 model has cylinder heads to work with today's lead free fuel. One other thing, having a more reliable differential that shared the corporate GM set up.
nb,mmm/ (My Dog did that) I like the 71/72 models myself I DO like the 70 grille better tho, the way its recessed deep on the ends. I think the reason the 70 model gets all the attention is it was the last year for high compression, but that doesnt mean much since we usually redo everything anyways.
Here's mine; ordered and purchased it new--arrived in March of 1972 (picture taken 11/72; I had more hair back then...); "refreshed" in 1990 (picture taken April, 1991):