1972 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible - Car Nerds

Episode 3 of 6: Technical Director Don Sherman gets nerdy with Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter in a C3 Corvette. Binge-watch the whole series here: blog.caranddriver.com/ride-alo...

[@Stanislaw365]

this is my favorite gen of the Corvette, those body lines are just too damn gorgeous

[@goodboyringo9716]

alex... Funny you say this is your favorite vette most guys like the C2 and they always cost way more then the C3. One of my favorite also , I have a convertible 72 now but had a 1970 coupe years ago and have always loved the shape of the C3. I seems to me that if years ago I'd bought a C2 I'd be money ahead but I'm thinking these are going up in value.

[@joevette6290]

and the most refined car from ( 68-72) that batch!!

[@valerianportus7409]

Zora Duntov only purchased one Corvette in his life. It's a 74 and it's on display at the National Corvette Museum. The design of the C3 was by Larry Shinoda, he left GM in 69 for Ford and there designed the Boss 302 and 429 Mustangs.

[@sonnycoolest]

IMO Third Gen Vettes Best looking....Very Exciting....Love Them!!

[@cargueone1971]

Wow... So surprised how little the engineer knew of the former Corvettes. I'm 43 and not a big Corvette fan but as a car lover I do know much about them. Kind of disappoints me that he really never wanted to try them out before...

[@lamborgone1]

+Carlos Guevara Probably typical of these engineers and designer of these appliances nowadays. Miserable experience for me anyways. The old guys knock the spots off these new "car people" they'd be lost without their computers and all the other aids they have at their finger tips.

[@drumking241]

Great Point, and That's the problem right there, theres no fanship or regard or respect for its Legendary past or its fans world wide, just a bunch of suits trying to copy Euro amd Asian cars, As a Vette owner and fan since childhood, its an insult.

[@davidmizell940]

​@@drumking241 Tadge doesn't look like a "suit" to me.

[@anothersiguy]

Best looking Vette imo

[@shiftintohigh5564]

Had a 70 LT1 , no ac, ugh. But driving👍👍👍. Still had front end lift above about 80 or so. Later had a 73, no cfm at all with ac. But driving, pretty cool👍.

[@Pantera-wu9ty]

Incredibly rare car, especially with the tilt/tele wheel too boot!

[@joevette6290]

I have to disagree with you on the tilt-,steering " angle" being " under - notched" I own a 72 and think ther'e just perfectly notched!! Infact you guys seem to find alot of issues with this bumper vette !! Well I think the 72 were the most sexiest body with awesome engine choices!! and very dependable cars!! its unfortunate you didn't test the 70 LT-1 it would have been much faster

[@theobama8535]

friend of mine restored a 72 stingray LT1, working on a 76, bet your sunken down corvette seat I'll buy it

[@ManWithNoName.]

My fav. Vette

[@pierrelevesque7149]

I had one

[@CadillaccJ]

Great series, really liked the ride along history.

[@V8_screw_electric_cars]

But that handle on the outside is a materpiece though

[@Terraceview]

So strange that this is my fav Vette, I know it shouldn't be.... but it is.

[@42mrwright]

BarryEssex same

[@theyhatehimbecausehetoldth7576]

Why not? They are cool cars

[@kalebbrown93]

This man is wrong. He said this car is equipped with "the hottest engine available that year". That would be wrong. Big block 454's were available up until 74 as the top of the line engine. 72 the 454 would've put out 270 hp.

[@keywizard]

The LT-1 was much lighter, which gave the mouse motor faster 0-60 and 1/4 mile times than the 454, as well as superior handling. The BB was 1/2 the price of the expensive LT-1 solid lifter motor. There was a reason it was offered. Hands down it was the ultimate motor option of the day. Cheers!

[@Yankeededandy62]

keywizard is correct. The Big Block in 72 was a pretty tired and heavy engine. The LT-1 was way hotter eventhough it was tamer than the 70 version, too. But still a high reving solid lifter. Big Blocks don't always equal great engines.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

I thought by '72 they were using the hydraulic L-46 cam...

[@zwild1160]

@@BuzzLOLOL It was also the first year you could actually order AC with the LT1. AC equipped LT1's had a lower rpm redline so you wouldn't throw a belt. LT1 was a great engine but much better in 70. I hated when GM lowered the compression ratio on all their cars in 71 setting the stage for unleaded fuel. Pontiac engineers knew exactly how to build a great motor with the 73-74 455 SD. The SD heads actually out flowed the mighty 426 Hemi.

[@thud9797]

Yep the LT-1 was the top dog in 70 and would usually beat the 454. Saw one at a nostalgia drags on the stock nylon tires heated up run a 12.92 and 108 mph, not too shabby.

[@87ferrarif40]

I put cowl hoods on my C4's and it looked awesome! 😁 C4's needed more HP.

[@anamartinez6718]

I wonder if they have the bp racer from corvette

[@BUSTER.BRATAMUS]

I'm 6-4 230 can I comfortably drive a 70-72?

[@2thmvrmpf]

I was wondering if I would fit, also! 6’2” 205

[@SixtyFiveDropTop]

He's right about the '72's door pull handle. My '73 feels like it needs re-engineering. But it is a blast to drive.

[@jessekuchinski1172]

I drove a 72 recently. Absolutely beautiful car but really not alot of fun to drive. Kinda sluggish and handled like crap. But at least you get alot of waves and thumbs up

[@frankburns8871]

The latest Corvettes are amazing performance cars, but they can't touch the C3 for style

[@markthompson5395]

All they did was bitch about the driving experience, and the lack of engineering. They never did talk about what FUN it is to drive a car like that today.

[@lamborgone1]

+Mark Thompson Yeah Tell me about it. Chief Engineer Corvette? Guy didn't sound like he knew shit about them before the 90's Just miserable experience watching this video. Sorry if it isn't some $75,000 car that happens to have the Corvette name on it.. Geeze!

[@dogbert65]

Tag seems like a cool guy! Don talks too much....

[@Brazsty]

"Episode 3 of 6: Technical Director Don Sherman gets dirty with Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter in a C3 Corvette." MEHHEHEHEHEH :D

[@SirJamesTND]

The intro is 1:10 with a 6 minute video. Not needed.

[@DevineENTERventioN]

That was awful. I thought the passenger was never going to shut up. He didn't let the driver get a word in edgewise about how the car was to drive. No mention of how the solid lifter engine responded, nothing! It amazes me how bad some of these 'reviews' are, even from a major source like Car and Driver. Next time, leave the passenger at home...loudmouth lame-brane. Brother

[@Atombender]

The last Gen before the Oil Crisis fucked up the car industry.

[@Nebulasmoke]

The sad thing was the terrible, gutless 350 engines in these cars. It should've never been anything but 427's and 454's and the like with big HP and big TQ.

[@jessekuchinski1172]

So true. I just drove a 72 with the 350 and it was straight up a total dog. Very sluggish and heavy feeling. It was a beautiful car tho, no doubt about that

[@Deputy276]

Yawn...huh? It's over? No burnouts with the solid lifter LT-1???? What a dud review. These guys should stick to the newer luxury limo Vettes and leave the hard core cars to people who know how to drive them.

[@manymany4879]

you can soup-up the engine , but its expensive.