American Car Spotters Guide - 1972

In 1972 the Chev Caprice received a revised grille that was lower in height than the previous year, but still in an eggcrate pattern flanked by a new bumper with increased protection one year ahead of the Federal mandate. This was done by a bumper within bumper design. Heavy gauge beams reinforce the bumper which are attached to the frame. The rear bumper also featured this design and now had the triple taillights now mounted in the bumper.

� Engine offerings were carried over from 1971 with the switch to "net" horsepower ratings including 170 hp (127 kW) for the standard two-barrel 400 Turbo Fire V8, 210 hp (157 kW) (240 hp (179 kW) with optional dual exhaust ) for the four-barrel Turbo Jet 400 big-block V8 and 270 hp (201 kW) for the four-barrel dual exhaust 454 Turbo Jet V8 (rated at 230 hp (172 kW) in wagons with single exhaust ). Turbo Hydramatic transmission, variable-ratio power steering and power front disc brakes continued as standard equipment. New to the Caprice lineup was a pillared four-door sedan.

1972 was a low production year for the Chevrolet Camaro and Firebird. Due to a strike at the plant where the cars where being produced, the '72 Camaro was one of the lowest production years ever. Sales where also declining for the Camaro due to a drop in performance options, as well as over 1000 Camaros that where scrapped as they did not meet the new federal safety standards with the bumper.

The Stutz Blackhawk was manufactured from 1971 through 1987 (the Stutz Motor Company having been revived in August, 1968 by New York banker James O'Donnell). Virgil Exner designed the car, which was prototyped by Ghia at a cost over US$300,000. The Blackhawk debuted in January of 1970 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, and approximately 500-600 had been manufactured by the time production ended in 1987. In 1972 the price was was US$23,000, jumping to a whopping US$43,000 the following year.

With a steel body hand built in Torino, Italy and greater than 19 feet long, the production Blackhawk used Pontiac Grand Prix running gear, Pontiac's 7.5 Litre (455 in³) V8 engine, and a GM TH400 automatic transmission. With its engine tuned to produce 425 hp (317 kW) and 420 ft·lbf (570 N·m), the 5000 lb (2300 kg) Blackhawk could accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 8.4 seconds with a 130 mph (210 km/h) top speed, delivering 8 miles per gallon (30 L/100 km). Later Blackhawks used Pontiac's 403 and 350. Exner's design included a spare tire that protruded through the trunklid and separate headlights. The interior included gold plated trim and birds eye maple.

All early Blackhawks were coupes, but rare sedans were produced later. In 1980, the Blackhawk was redesigned for the Pontiac Bonneville chassis. The first production car was purchased by Elvis Presley (who later bought four more), with other famous owners including Sammy Davis Jr., Evel Knievel, Robert Goulet, Larry Holmes, Willy Nelson, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Lucille Ball, Wilson Pickett (1974), Billy Joel, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Al Pacino, Frank Sinatra, Joseph Denney, Wayne Newton, and H.B. Halicki. Frank Sinatra had vied with Elvis for the first car. Each car included a dash plaque naming its original owner.