Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

[Alan T.]

There is a 1972 on fleabay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...TQ:MOTORS:1123 claiming factory side exhausts. Just couldn't resist, so I emailed the guy informing him that those side exhausts were a 1969 only option and that somebody must have added the exhausts and filled in the rear valance. His reply was this: "Hi, I am going to correct the ad along with Photos. This is a 3 owner car. The Side pipes were on this car when it was picked up at the Dealer when New. The original owner of the car had a '69 Side Pipe car and while he was in Vietnam he ordered this car but would only take it with Side Pipes. Many Telegrams back and for with the Dealer an G.M. got the car the way you see it. The rear Valance is original, without any cut outs or patch work. It is a one piece deal back their also. Personally I think it is a very Rare car. Back in those days the Zone office could do many things with a car when being built as they did for Zone Managers and Auto Shows, Then just tell most people that those options were back ordered or they quit doing it. Not like now when machines do everything and you cannot change much on a production car. Thanks for your interest, you were not the only one to point that out on this car and I am going to work on getting a statement of facts from the original owner on the side pipes." I'm almost embarassed to ask the Board this question, but after reading his reply and looking at the rear valance in the photos, I have to ask: is there any way at all that something like that could have happened? Experience and knowledge tells me no way Jose, another seller's urban legend - but any chance at all?

[Terry M.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

Some dealers would and could do anything to sell a Corvette -- but St. Louis?? I'm skeptical.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

The car looks like it has been well kept and a better look at the window sticker should clear up the factory options. I agree with Terry on the side exhaust.
Lyle

[Wayne W.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

There is a 1972 on fleabay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...TQ:MOTORS:1123 claiming factory side exhausts. Just couldn't resist, so I emailed the guy informing him that those side exhausts were a 1969 only option and that somebody must have added the exhausts and filled in the rear valance. His reply was this: "Hi, I am going to correct the ad along with Photos. This is a 3 owner car. The Side pipes were on this car when it was picked up at the Dealer when New. The original owner of the car had a '69 Side Pipe car and while he was in Vietnam he ordered this car but would only take it with Side Pipes. Many Telegrams back and for with the Dealer an G.M. got the car the way you see it. The rear Valance is original, without any cut outs or patch work. It is a one piece deal back their also. Personally I think it is a very Rare car. Back in those days the Zone office could do many things with a car when being built as they did for Zone Managers and Auto Shows, Then just tell most people that those options were back ordered or they quit doing it. Not like now when machines do everything and you cannot change much on a production car. Thanks for your interest, you were not the only one to point that out on this car and I am going to work on getting a statement of facts from the original owner on the side pipes." I'm almost embarassed to ask the Board this question, but after reading his reply and looking at the rear valance in the photos, I have to ask: is there any way at all that something like that could have happened? Experience and knowledge tells me no way Jose, another seller's urban legend - but any chance at all?

The factory had no rear quarter panels to put on a 72 to eliminate the exhaust holes. Its BS, plain and simple. Also the rear panel is glassed into the rear quarters, which would have made body drop impossible. It didnt happen.

[Dick W.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

And you will notice that the rear valance is glassed in. Si Senor, no way Jose

[Chuck S.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

There is a 1972 on fleabay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...TQ:MOTORS:1123 claiming factory side exhausts. Just couldn't resist, so I emailed the guy informing him that those side exhausts were a 1969 only option and that somebody must have added the exhausts and filled in the rear valance. His reply was this: "Hi, I am going to correct the ad along with Photos. This is a 3 owner car. The Side pipes were on this car when it was picked up at the Dealer when New. The original owner of the car had a '69 Side Pipe car and while he was in Vietnam he ordered this car but would only take it with Side Pipes. Many Telegrams back and for with the Dealer an G.M. got the car the way you see it. The rear Valance is original, without any cut outs or patch work. It is a one piece deal back their also. Personally I think it is a very Rare car. Back in those days the Zone office could do many things with a car when being built as they did for Zone Managers and Auto Shows, Then just tell most people that those options were back ordered or they quit doing it. Not like now when machines do everything and you cannot change much on a production car. Thanks for your interest, you were not the only one to point that out on this car and I am going to work on getting a statement of facts from the original owner on the side pipes." I'm almost embarassed to ask the Board this question, but after reading his reply and looking at the rear valance in the photos, I have to ask: is there any way at all that something like that could have happened? Experience and knowledge tells me no way Jose, another seller's urban legend - but any chance at all?

Have him send you copies of the telegrams...if there's no telegrams, then his story might as well be about Paul Bunyon and his blue ox.

[Erik K.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

I've got a similar situation with my car. It's a '72 with sidepipes as delivered by the dealer.

The pipes were not factory installed, however. They were put on by Harry Mann Chevrolet in Los Angeles. It's a very nice job, but it's not factory.

[Alan S.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

Alan,
I put side exhaust on my 71 in March of 71. Went through a lot of work to do it as close to right as possible. The next winter 71-72 the dealer parts department GAVE me 2 new sets of outer covers. The salt and sand that Maryland was using on the roads was brutal on them. The dealer then told me not to come back. I think Chevrolet was more than happy they had only been available in 69. I still have them on the car, if I run it in the garage I can't even get my brain to function because they've gotten so loud.
Regards,
Alan

[Alan T.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

OK guys, the seller has now posted alot of additional photos and a little more description about the sidepipes situation. Go back to the listing http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevr...spagenameZWDVW and take a look. I'm actually impressed with the car, it looks to be a quite original and unmolested example. The newly-added photos are educational in terms of seeing original components, factory finishes and overspray, etc. Whats interesting in terms of my original post about the sidepipes is the photos of the valance from underneath. You can clearly see where they were patched in, and the seller made the new description that the resin drip proves it was done at the factory. I'm not convinced about that, but I do think, after seeing the photos and the whole car, that it is entirely possible that the dealer added the pipes and did the valance patching and paintwork prior to delivery. Because it is a 3 owner car and apparently the seller is in touch with the original owner, I tend to buy the story about the original buyer wanting the pipes at delivery and that is how he got it. But in my opinion the dealer in all probability did it, not the factory.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

...The newly-added photos are educational in terms of seeing original components, factory finishes and overspray, etc. Whats interesting in terms of my original post about the sidepipes is the photos of the valance from underneath. You can clearly see where they were patched in, and the seller made the new description that the resin drip proves it was done at the factory. I'm not convinced about that, but I do think, after seeing the photos and the whole car, that it is entirely possible that the dealer added the pipes and did the valance patching and paintwork prior to delivery...

Alan, the patches in the exhaust panel are interesting...that's not the worst fiberglass body work I've ever seen from the ugly side view.

The interesting part is that the person used two large donor pieces of fiberglass to cover the prepped openings, by simply bonding them to the back side. Then on the beauty side, I suppose the exhaust panel has about a pound of Bondo on each side to match the contour. I don't buy that it's factory because of the "drips" either...gravity still works the same in Nebraska as it does in St. Louis.

I can't see the factory doing that kind of work...even for GI in the steamy jungles of Viet Nam. And if they had...I really can't see them doing it that way. But...seeing the backside does raise a question: Where did the dealer find a couple of pieces of similarly contoured fiberglass like that for donor pieces? I suppose they could make their own donor pieces with mat and resin, let them cure, then trim to fit and bond them in place...but why not just laminate them in place with something to back up the lamination?...much less Bondo that way.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

Alan, the patches in the exhaust panel are interesting...that's not the worst fiberglass body work I've ever seen from the ugly side view.

The interesting part is that the person used two large donor pieces of fiberglass to cover the prepped openings, by simply bonding them to the back side. Then on the beauty side, I suppose the exhaust panel has about a pound of Bondo on each side to match the contour. I don't buy that it's factory because of the "drips" either...gravity still works the same in Nebraska as it does in St. Louis.

I can't see the factory doing that kind of work...even for GI in the steamy jungles of Viet Nam. And if they had...I really can't see them doing it that way. But...seeing the backside does raise a question: Where did the dealer find a couple of pieces of similarly contoured fiberglass like that for donor pieces? I suppose they could make their own donor pieces with mat and resin, let them cure, then trim to fit and bond them in place...but why not just laminate them in place with something to back up the lamination?...much less Bondo that way.

That was and still is a common method of patching. It would not be uncommon for a dealer in `72 to have fiberglass pieces laying around. They did a lot of Corvette repair. The panel is not too good of a contour fit either and there are pop rivets too. For those that worked on them duing that time frame will remember the over counter fiberglass kits that were sold to do these repairs. That stuff was thin epoxy and ran like a crazy. The drips you see are because the stuff was thin and I would bet thats what it is. If the factory would have done this repair, they would have used the bonding agent available in the factory. That stuff has much more body and would not run like that. This stroy is BS period. Nice car otherwise though.

Picture:

[Dick W.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

From the photo's it does look like a good deal. I bet there is one poster here that could make these disappear and make a good stab at getting a BowTie with this car!

[Chuck S.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

Thanks for your insights on the repairs, Wayne. I missed the pop rivets, but noted the patches seemed to not have enough curvature or something.

I agree, it's a nice original old car to be proud of, especially from the rocker moldings up. Underneath has been chewed up pretty good from long northern winters; it's need a good chassis resto, but it's probably BowTie eligible.

[Dick W.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

Thanks for your insights on the repairs, Wayne. I missed the pop rivets, but noted the patches seemed to not have enough curvature or something.

I agree, it's a nice original old car to be proud of, especially from the rocker moldings up. Underneath has been chewed up pretty good from long northern winters; it's need a good chassis resto, but it's probably BowTie eligible.

It could become "The Real Deal"

[Chuck S.]

Re: Factory installed side exhausts on a 1972?

It could become "The Real Deal"

There you go again...Speaking insider code-word talk, red-letter edition even!