A coarser grille
On cars without the Rally Sport the grille has fewer vertical bars and a larger eggcrate.26
Class of '72 · Chevrolet Camaro · 1971–1972 body · second generation
1972Chevrolet Camaro
A coarser grille, net ratings only, the last SS 350, SS 396 and factory big-block Camaro, and a strike at Norwood that left 1,100 cars unfinished.
The year in brief
The non-RS grille got fewer vertical bars, a larger eggcrate, and the Z/28 badges became «Z28».24
GM gave net ratings only: 110 hp for the six, 255 for the Z28 and 240 for the 402, which was not sold in California.3one source
It was the last year of the SS 350 and SS 396 and of a factory big-block Camaro, by Wikipedia's account. The reprinted book chapter counts 970 SS cars with the 402; the White Book says just 930 big-blocks were sold.456sources disagree
The story of the year
The strike at Norwood
A strike at the Norwood, Ohio, plant, the only one building 1972 Camaros, cut production. The White Book says it lasted 117 days; Wikipedia says 174.46
When it ended, 1,100 unfinished 1972 Camaros were scrapped. Wikipedia says they could not meet the 1973 bumper standards.46
Consumer Guide calls the year's total the Camaro's lowest; it is the lowest of the eleven years in the 1967–77 production table.12
How to spot a 1972
What tells it apart from a 1971.
«Z28» badges
The badges read «Z28» instead of «Z/28».4one source
Three-point belts
Three-point shoulder belts for the first time.2one source
Production12456
68,656 cars, by body.
Every trim line
| Body | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
| Sport coupe | 6-cylinder | 4,824 |
| V8 | 63,832 | |
| All sport coupes | 68,656 | |
| Total | 68,656 | |
Consumer Guide and the 1967–77 production table have 4,824 sixes and 63,832 V8s, 68,656 in all; Wikipedia (repeated by Over-Drive) gives only the total. The White Book's rows add up to 68,651, and the reprinted book chapter has its 63,830 V8s; see the ruling. A strike at the Norwood plant cut the year short.
Engines3one source
6 engines. The code is the engine code our sources give.
Net ratings only, from GM's AMA sheet of September 1971. GM's note: the 307 and the 402 were not available in California, where the base V8 was the 350. The VIN's engine letters are on the VIN tab.
Price when new236
Base retail prices in 1972 dollars, before options.
GM's 1972 price list, which carries no date. The White Book prints $2,729.70 and $2,819.70 and says these were lower than the introduction prices because the excise tax was repealed in December 1971; Consumer Guide's $2,730 to $2,820 are the same prices rounded. See the ruling.
Colors3one source
15 factory colors. The color names come from one source3one source; the swatches are approximate screen colors, not paint matches.
Antique White11
Pewter Silver14
Ascot Blue24
Mulsanne Blue26
Spring Green36
Gulf Green43
Sequoia Green48
Covert Tan50
Placer Gold53
Cream Yellow56
Golden Brown57
Mohave Gold63
Orange Flame65
Midnight Bronze68
Cranberry Red75
GM's color chart of September 1971: fifteen colors, listed by code and by name in the same order. No source we have gives the number of cars per color, so the counts are left empty.
Reading the VIN36
A 1972 VIN has 13 characters. Type one in, and the decoder reads it against the code tables on this page.
1Q87H2N1000016one source · The White Book's example, built at Norwood; by GM's letter list, H is the 165-hp 350.
The code table
| Position | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Make: Chevrolet |
| Q | Car line and series: Camaro |
| 87 | Body: sport coupe |
| D · F · H · K · L · U | Engine: D 250 six, 110 hp · F 307 V8, 130 hp · H 350 V8, 165 hp · K 350 V8, 200 hp · L 350 V8, 255 hp (Z28) · U 402 V8, 240 hp |
| 2 | Model year (1972) |
| N | Assembly plant: Norwood |
| 100001 → | Sequential number |
Where to find it: Stamped on a plate attached to the top left of the instrument panel.3one source
Questions about the 1972
How many 1972 Chevrolet Camaros were made?
68,656 by the count we use: 68,656 sport coupes. The sources disagree on the total; the ruling on this page explains which figure we show and why.12456sources disagree
How can you tell a 1972 Camaro from a 1971?
Three signs, each explained under «How to spot» on this page: a coarser grille; «Z28» badges; three-point belts.246
What engines did the 1972 Chevrolet Camaro have?
Six engines, from the 250 cu in inline-six to the 350 cu in V8. The engine table on this page gives every code and rating, and the rulings cover the disputed ones.3one source
How much did a 1972 Chevrolet Camaro cost new?
Base retail prices, before options: Sport coupe, six $2,852; Sport coupe, V8 $2,947.236
What colors did the 1972 Chevrolet Camaro come in?
General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) lists 15 factory colors.3one source
Where is the VIN on a 1972 Chevrolet Camaro?
Stamped on a plate attached to the top left of the instrument panel.3one source
Where the sources disagree
Every conflict we found for 1972, and how we settled it. All rulings.
Open
1972 Camaro production
Our ruling: Unresolved, leaning to 68,656. The 1967–77 production table and Consumer Guide give 4,824 sixes and 63,832 V8s, and the table's domestic and export columns give the same total; Wikipedia (repeated by Over-Drive) gives 68,656 without a source. The White Book's rows add up to 68,651, and the reprinted book chapter has its 63,830 V8s; the two may share an origin. We show the table's rows.
What each source says (5)
- 4,824 sixes and 63,832 V8s, 68,656 in all; domestic 64,958 and export 3,6981one source
- 4,824 sixes and 63,832 V8s, 68,656 in all2one source
- 68,65647one source
- 4,821 sixes and 63,830 V8s, 68,651 in all6one source
- 63,830 V8 coupes5one source
Open
Length of the 1972 Norwood strike
Our ruling: Unresolved. The White Book says 117 days and Wikipedia 174, with no source given; both agree that 1,100 unfinished cars were scrapped.
What each source says (2)
- 117 days6one source
- 174 days4one source
Open
1972 Camaro prices
Our ruling: Probably both, at different times. The White Book prints $2,729.70 and $2,819.70 and says these were lower than the introduction prices because the federal excise tax was repealed in December 1971; Consumer Guide's $2,730 to $2,820 are the same prices rounded. That GM's undated list ($2,852 and $2,947) shows the introduction prices is our reading. We show GM's list.
What each source says (3)
- $2,852 for the six, $2,947 for the V8 (the page carries no date)3one source
- $2,729.70 and $2,819.70; «Prices shown were lower than introduction prices due to the repeal of federal excise tax»6one source
- $2,730 to $2,8202one source
Sources
- «Camaro 1967-1977 Model-Year Production», a table reprinted in GM's 1969 Camaro kit Unknown (reprinted by GM Heritage) · read 2026-10-12
- Chevrolet Camaro (1971, 1972 and 1973 pages) HowStuffWorks (Consumer Guide Automotive) · read 2026-10-12
- 1972 Chevrolet Camaro – Vehicle Information Kit General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) · read 2026-10-12
- Chevrolet Camaro (second generation) Wikipedia · read 2026-10-12
- «Chapter 25 · 1972 Camaro SS», a book chapter reprinted in GM's 1972 Camaro kit Book chapter reprinted by GM Heritage · read 2026-10-12
- «The Genuine Camaro White Book 1967–1993», 1972 pages, reprinted in GM's 1971 and 1972 Camaro kits Michael Bruce Associates (reprinted by GM Heritage) · read 2026-10-12
- 1972 Chevrolet Camaro Fact Sheet Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-12
Keep going
Three more years.
1970Chevrolet CamaroThe all-new second-generation Camaro: a fastback coupe only, with no convertible, the Z28's 360-hp 350, and a start in February 1970.124,889 built1971Chevrolet CamaroLower compression for regular fuel, gross and net ratings side by side, high-back seats, and a model year that opened with a 67-day strike.114,643 built (disputed)
1973Chevrolet CamaroThe Type LT, bumpers set out on braces for the new impact rules, a 245-hp Z28 with hydraulic lifters, and no SS or big-block.96,756 built (disputed)See the whole second generation.
Dimensions, production year by year and every ruling, 1970–1973.