72 power steering option.

[Eric Fairclough]

Hello, I have a 72 454/400 auto with air/power brakes no power windows. It seems like it should have come with power assisted steering but it does not have it. My question is was this a common thing for a 72 not to have power assisted steering? Thanks in advance. Eric

[Kevin Morris]

Re: 72 power steering option.

Eric, funny thing about the 60's-early 70's, with the ability for buyers to go down a list of options and mark each and every option available individually, you see those cars today with what may seem like strange option choices. Today, if you want one option, you have to purchase a package which includes several options, in order to get the one you want. My '72 came with the Deluxe leather interior, AM/FM, tilt/tele., hardtop, and even the vinyl covering on the hardtop (only 811 ordered that year)...yet the original owner did not order PS, nor PB! The original tank sticker proves that my car was ordered this way. So, it may seem strange that your car does not have PS, but when you consider how cars were ordered in those days...maybe it's not so strange afterall.

Kevin #39927

[Kevin Morris]

Re: 72 power steering option.

Btw Eric, there were 27,004 Corvettes produced in '72, and 23,794 of them had PS...so I guess we ARE in some fairly "unusual" (I hate to call it "rare") company, huh?

Kevin #39927

[Patrick H.]

Re: 72 power steering option.

Mine has PB but NO PS. In fact, it only has AM/FM, white letter tires, and PB. That's it.

Patrick

[Jack H.]

Re: 72 power steering option.

As time marched on and underhood HP climbed, Corvette tires and wheels grew accordingly. Flipping through something like the Black Book that lists options as a percentage of total build in each year, you'll find PS, when first offered, was not a big seller. But, by the time we enter Shark era, it really stated to become popular because the steering wheel got smaller and the wheels and tires got bigger making parallel parking a real 'chore' without PS.

It wasn't uncommon for a well heeled buyer with past Corvette ownership experience to 'blow off' the PS option 'frill' when he/she bought their first Shark. Heck, never needed it/wanted it on my straight axle or mid-year....

Then, take delivery of the car and begin to 'enjoy' the driving experience and MANY discovered their purchasing 'mistake'. The after market addition of PS is reasonably common with Shark cars. The earlier the car, the greater the odds it came from the factory without PS....