An icon of American muscle
The first-generation Chevelle was released in 1964 to round out Chevrolet’s offering of smaller and larger cars with a mid-sized offering that could compete with the Ford Fairlane, which was released two years earlier. The Chevelle was offered in many configurations, including two-door convertible, hardtop, coupe, sedan, station wagon, light utility truck, and four-door sedan.
Among the numerous trim packages were the famous Malibu, the SS, and the Concours, like this one on Exotic Car Trader. As far as we can find, there was no year when an SS Concours package was ever offered in one model, so the numerous SS badges were likely added as part of the 2017 restoration by Luce Customs in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This immaculately restored 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Concours LS3 is ready to cruise on by. Check it out before it’s gone!
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Like liquid metal on the pavement
This Chevelle station wagon rebuild is gilded in a striking, deep, and dark gray metallic paint, with tinted black windows and black trim. The viscous-looking color and shine put one in mind of the 1990s and 2000s era of liquid metal CGI effects, like the T-1000 Terminator played by Robert Patrick, or the eponymous Silver Surfer from the 2007 movie Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, played by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne.
With such a cool liquid-metal effect on the outside, it’s easy to miss some of the other cool features, like the two small round side mirrors, which almost seem cutely undersized for a car of this size, or the large rectangular grille with prominent ‘SS’ badging. There are also two small hood pins to help keep things contained after the engine upgrade. Rounding out the outside look are Rocket Racing 18” wheels with black and grey that match the overall color scheme.
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Rebuilt in the name of sound
The inside is a grey-black medley, with four black-leather bucket seats with fold-down armrests and white-thread contrast stitching, and a long center console that extends front to back across all four seats. Sharp red lines splash across the door panels, and modern skeletonized hand cranks for the windows are a distinct stylistic choice.
For being a restoration, the dash and gauges retain a classic, retro look, with a carbon and grey instrument cluster and a Lokar shifter that is sleek but not out of place. A modern heating and air conditioning system has been installed, as well as a small and non-disruptive Alpine touchscreen. Sound really is the main focus of this build, with speakers placed throughout for a powerful, surround effect. The crown jewel here is a Memphis Audio subwoofer in the back that is completely isolated by black carpeting and sits like a king upon its rearward-facing throne.
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A completely modern engine in a beloved classic
As mentioned earlier, this 1972 Chevelle underwent a complete rebuild by Luce Customs about eight years ago and has only 1,204 miles on the odometer since then. The brand-new, thoroughly modern 6.2L naturally aspirated GM Performance Parts LS3 V8 engine is slotted perfectly where the older, less powerful engine once sat. With an estimated 495 hp, this monster of an engine is perfect at any speed, especially since it has been paired with a new 4L70E 4-speed automatic transmission with a limited-slip differential, which sends power to the rear wheels.
Ridetech coilovers, suspension, and control arms further add to the comfort and control this ride can provide, as well as Wilwood six-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers with drilled/slotted rotors to bring the party to a stop. The car’s wiring has been redone by American Autowire, and an aluminum radiator with electric fans provides cooling along with stainless headers and twin MagnaFlow exhaust pipes.
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Final thoughts: The perfect showpiece for any show
It’s nice to see a restoration that knows exactly what it wants to be: a fun and light-hearted center of the action. The sound system can stand out in any crowd, and the paint job is clearly meant to impress, without being too loud or showy. New engine, new parts, a state-of-the-art sound system, and four comfortable seats turn this station wagon into a speedy and safe party bus with just a bit more intimacy and class.
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