George & Vicki Hicks' 1972 Corvette

(Primary Participant)

    Our 1972 Stingray

    The 1972 is an original car with matching engine numbers and t-tops with removable rear window. It was the last year for both front and rear chrome bumpers on a Corvette.

    There is just SOMETHING about those classic Stingrays that everyone loves:

    -possibly the unique body styles
    -possibly the trip down memory lane, which the cars invoke

    - or maybe just the sheer beauty and excitement of a Corvette.

    We discovered this wonderful 1972 Stingray in the possession of a friend and expert Corvette mechanic, who had performed a partial restoration on the car for his wife. The restoration included the interior and gauges as well as a complete overhaul of the engine. During the restoration, he discovered the original build sheet (now beautifully framed) stuffed behind the instrument cluster. When his wife decided she would rather not drive such an original car, he sold it to us.

    We were more than happy to buy the Corvette and take over the restoration. The paint on the car was a poorly done faded silver, so it was time to take it back to the original color, Steel Cities Gray. After a complete strip down and repaint, the car was almost back to its original condition. The original radio was next, which we had reconditioned and installed. We also located a set of original P02 hubcaps to replace the chrome rings and centers that were currently on the car. We reread the build sheet and diligently searched for the appropriate parts to make it the same beautiful car that came out of the plant in St. Louis on April 13, 1972. The car now sits the way it came off the assembly line per the original build sheet:

    VIN # 1Z37K2S518763
    Equipment code
    19437 Base Corvette Sport Coupe
    CKX 350ci, 200 hp, AT
    M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic
    C60 4-Season Air conditioning
    J50 Power Brakes
    N40 Power Steering
    P02 Custom Wheel Covers
    U69 AM/FM Pushbutton Radio
    400 Black Vinyl Interior
    988 Steel Cities Gray

    This car is such a "fun" drive. We have enjoyed the attention it attracts everywhere it takes us. On October 13, 2000 we drove the 1972 to Bowling Green to pick up our 2001 Magnetic Red convertible at the Museum during the First Delivery Reunion Weekend. At the Reunion dinner at Wendell and Jan Strode's home, where there was a yard full of gorgeous C5s - people were still drawn to congregate around the Stingray.

    P.S. "They don't write songs about Volvos!!"

    George & Vicki Hicks
    Roswell, GA
    NCM Lifetime #858

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