Estate Sale Gem: A 1972 Chevrolet Corvette With a Four-Speed and a Story to Match

Classic car listings live and die by their photography, and the seller of this 1972 Chevrolet Corvette in Perrysburg, Ohio, has done themselves no favors. The images are scattered and incomplete, forcing shoppers to mentally stitch together the car’s cosmetic state. Even so, the picture that emerges is a positive one — a driver-grade C3 that has been dormant for a couple of years but is reportedly still running and driving.

Offered on behalf of the late owner’s widow, the Corvette was purchased by him back in 1987 and clearly occupied a special place in his garage. Its Steel Cities Gray finish is actually a repaint, but the circumstances are hard to fault: after a driveway mishap with his pickup scratched the tailgate area, he opted for a full respray in the factory shade rather than a spot repair. The result, by all appearances, is a deep, mirror-like gloss. A fresh chip on the leading edge of the driver’s door is the only visible blemish, and the seller reports no rust in the frame or birdcage. Glass and trim are said to be acceptable for a car of this caliber.

Under the hood sits its numbers-matching 350ci V8 in L48 form, rated at 200 horsepower and 300 ft-lbs of torque, backed by a four-speed manual. Power steering and power brakes round out the driver-friendly spec. Documentation is a strong point here: the original Owner’s Manual and Protect-O-Plate come with the car, along with receipts and invoices tracing back to 1987, which could help authenticate the odometer.

The interior tells a story of priorities. The original buyer ticked boxes for leather trim, an AM/FM stereo, and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, yet skipped air conditioning and power windows. Carpet fading and light seat wear are visible in the photos, but nothing suggests serious trouble, and no aftermarket additions stand out. Bidding currently sits at $17,600 against an unmet reserve, with a$24,900 Buy It Now available. For a survivor-style classic needing only minor attention — and a new set of tires — that ask looks reasonable.