Up for sale is this 1972 Monte Carlo, finished in Midnight Bronze with a black vinyl roof over a black interior, powered by the 454 cubic inch LS5 V8 running through a 3-speed automatic transmission, with 36,566 miles on the clock.

This is an exceptionally clean and well-optioned example of the popular Monte Carlo line, specified with the best performance trim available, with a thoroughly documented and verified history. Ordered originally by Don Sherwood of Sherwood Chevrolet, he worked closely with employees at the Baltimore assembly plant, getting inside information to help with ordering the car to get a rare top specification. This was necessary because technically, Chevrolet had stopped offering the "SS" option for the Monte Carlo, but with that insider help, the options he chose made this a carbon copy of that option, mechanically speaking. With a verified build date of 9/29/71, this is one of the earliest “W” code Monte Carlos known to exist, with more detail available in the pictures that break down how the car was built and verified.

The story behind this example is comprehensive, and make this handsome coupe very desirable, both historically and also as an enjoyable Chevy factory muscle car.

The exterior of this Monte Carlo is in excellent condition, with a mostly original finish of the Midnight Bronze color. In October of 2010, with the mileage at 32,787, the rear quarter panels and trunk were stripped down to metal and refinished, with excellent color match - otherwise all paint is original.

Up front, the nose of the Monte Carlo is in very good condition.. The grill and center mount badge are in as-new condition, with no pitting or issues with chrome, and the chrome headlight trim is similarly clean. The painted areas visible between the headlight and the bumper show some chips and pitting from use. Headlights and turn signal lenses are clean, free from haze or fade, and are in proper operating condition. Bumper chrome is excellent with depth and consistent finish, with scrapes or contact damage, and proper mounting alignment,

In back, no issues are visible, with proper alignment of trim and badging. Lenses and lighting are all clean and free from haze or fade, and operate properly. The rear bumper is clean and straight, with the dual exhaust tips from the Magnaflow exhaust clean and mounted properly.

Along the sides, the panels are free from chips or nicks, with the long doors aligned properly. The chrome trim along the bottom edge is straight, with the proper “SS454” badges in their proper OEM location.

Up top, the black vinyl roof is in excellent condition, with no color fade, and is taut and tight against the sheet metal. All seams are tight and clean, and the factory “Monte Carlo Custom” badges are clean and in their proper position.

Wheels sport the original optional P02 wheel covers, which are in excellent condition, wrapped with newer tires with red line sidewalls.

The interior is in similarly excellent condition, and feature the extra options this car was specified with from new. Seating surfaces on the black front bucket seats are original and in excellent condition, with some waviness visible in the piping along the outer edge of the seat bottoms. The back bench seat is clean and has no sagging or issues with seating surfaces. Touch points like the steering wheels and armrests all present in as-new condition, and suffer from no sag or color fade.

The dash and instrumentation are all original, including the AM radio. Labeling for controls are all clean and free from fade, and the wood applique for both the dash face and the center console – with the great optional shifter also in excellent condition. Carpeting and headliner are all original and in excellent condition, with no sag or color fade.

The 454 LS5 V8 installed in this Monte Carlo was a rare option, and is a numbers matching motor for this car. The engine was pulled from the Monte Carlo and refreshed in February 2010, and has been driven approximately 4,000 miles since that work was performed. The installed air cleaner is a 1970-era 454 LS6 air cleaner, though the original air cleaner will be included in the sale.

The engine bay is clean and sports clean brake booster, hoses, and wiring as evidence of a through job of reconditioning. The factory installed optional A/C compressor is visible and functioning, though it is noted that it is blowing warm air and will need to be serviced to function properly.

Underneath,, the chassis is clean and suffers from no issues, with some mild surface corrosion visible on the frame, but needing nothing addressed.