Back in 1958Back in 1958, Chevrolet launched the Impala as the top-of-the-line Bel Air version. The new nameplate’s success was so unexpected that the GM brand promoted the Impala to a standalone series only a year later., Chevrolet launched the Impala as the top-of-the-line Bel Air version. The new nameplate’s success was so unexpected that the GM brand promoted the Impala to a standalone series only a year later.
Back in 1958, Chevrolet launched the Impala as the top-of-the-line Bel Air version. The new nameplate’s success was so unexpected that the GM brand promoted the Impala to a standalone series only a year later. Everything worked like a charm for Chevrolet, as the Impala became a money-making machine. In 1965, it became the first car in the U.S. to sell more than one million units in just a single year.
The American carmaker used the same idea for Caprice, a new nameplate originally launched as an Impala version in 1965. Sure enough, the Caprice was selling well from its first year on the market but didn’t necessarily reach Impala’s popularity. This didn’t stop Chevrolet from promoting it to a separate series, so in 1966, Caprice and Impala embraced different paths.
Since then, Chevrolet has been trying to keep the Caprice fresh, so every single new model year brought additional refinements and polishing. In 1972, the GM brand launched a pillared four-door sedan, as well as a redesigned grille and a new bumper that helped the car align with the new safety regulations. The engine lineup remained pretty much the same, with the 454 (7.4-liter) still serving as the icing on the cake with 270 horsepower thanks to a four-barrel carburetor.
The Caprice you see in these pictures was born with a 400 (6.6-liter) under the hood, and the fantastic news is that the very same engine is still in there in charge of putting the wheels in motion. The 4-door sedan comes in nearly mint condition, with everything shining almost like new. Described as a barn find (though no further specifics have been shared on this front), this Caprice continues to be entirely original. It sports a 350 automatic transmission, power front seats, and other original goodies installed by Chevrolet over five decades ago.
The car runs and drives like a brand-new car, as the only family that owned it since new took proper care of it. The photos shared on Craigslist easily highlight the mesmerizing condition, showing that this Caprice could have a well-deserved place in any Chevrolet museum out there.
A 1972 Caprice isn’t necessarily a highly desirable model, though, so its selling price isn’t overwhelming. The owner explains online that they expect to get $9,500 for the car, though they claim they’ll also consider other offers (and possibly trades too). Without a doubt, a Caprice looking so good deserves a heated garage where it can retain its fantastic shape, so fingers crossed for a diehard Chevy fan to end up getting it. The car is parked near Detroit, so reach out to the seller if you want to see it in person before committing to a purchase.