Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1972 Corvette.
The 1972 Chevrolet Corvette is a notable entry in the model's long production history, though it predates the range of complaint data currently tracked for the platform, which begins in 1990 and runs through 2025. Within that broader tracked history, the Corvette line saw its highest complaint volume in the 2008 model year with 588 recorded complaints, while the 1992 model year marked the low point with just 8 — a spread that underscores how widely reliability perceptions can shift across generations. Because the 1972 model falls outside the years covered by the available complaint record, researchers should recognize that any reliability assessment for this particular year relies on sources other than the compiled complaint database, and its standing relative to later, tracked model years cannot be directly compared using that dataset alone.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 179.5 in |
| Overall width | 67.7 in |
| Overall height | 46.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 96.5 in |
| Curb weight | 3252 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Corvette of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Stingray LS6 Coupe 7.4L V8 | 5.30 sec | 13.80 sec | 425 hp | RWD |
| 1971 | Stingray LS5 Coupe 7.4L V8 | 5.70 sec | 14.20 sec | 365 hp | RWD |
| 1971 | Stingray LT-1 Coupe 5.7L V8 | 6.00 sec | 14.57 sec | 330 hp | RWD |
| 1971 | Stingray L48 Coupe 5.7L V8 | 7.10 sec | 15.55 sec | 270 hp | RWD |
| 1973 | Stingray LS4 Coupe 7.4L V8 | 6.40 sec | 14.60 sec | 275 hp | RWD |
| 1973 | Stingray LS4 Coupe 7.4L V8 | 6.40 sec | 14.70 sec | 275 hp | RWD |
| 1973 | Stingray L82 Coupe 5.7L V8 | 6.70 sec | 15.10 sec | 250 hp | RWD |
| 1970 | Stingray 427 Coupe 7.0L V8 | 5.30 sec | 13.80 sec | 390 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
REMANUFACTURERD REAR BRAKE CALIPERS, PART NOS. 18-7019, 18-7020, 16-7019, AND 16-7020, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2002, TO APRIL, 25, 2003., AND FOR USE ON 1965 THRU 1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTES. THE SUBJECT BRAKE… Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND ALL UNSOLD INVENTORY WILL BE REPURCHASED AND WILL PROVIDE A FULL REFUND TO CUSTOMERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY…
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.