1972 Muscle Cars: The Complete List (A-Z)

1972 muscle cars took a hit in horsepower and torque compared to their 1971 muscle car counterparts.

Before this year, the name of the game was to advertise the largest horsepower ratings possible while trying to keep them low enough to keep insurance rates from skyrocketing.

Following the harsh reality of power cuts from 1971 muscle cars and with additional power-reducing regulations looming in the future, car manufacturers switched from a gross to a net horsepower rating.

While this was obviously meant to help soften the blow when more radical power cuts hit in the future, the horsepower roller coaster had finally ended.

Pontiac Changes Things Up

The 1972 Pontiac GTO became available only as an option package for LeMans coupes and hardtops. It could, however, once again be fitted with one of three different V-8 options.

The base L78 400 and the L75 455 offered 250 net horsepower, while the LS5 455 HO offered 300. While standard bucket seats did not return in 1972, the Endura nose did come back.

Optional ram-air was also available for the HO and 400, as was an optional ducktail spoiler for all varieties. Only a couple of installations of the ducktail are known to have occurred.

Meanwhile, the Firebird Formula came standard with a 175-horsepower L30 350, with the L78 as an available option. The Trans Am also saw a restyled grille, making it one of the easiest ways to identify the 1972 version of the car.

When powered by the 455HO, the GTO and Firebird Formula became the fourth and tenth fastest muscle cars produced in 1972, respectively.

The Hurst/Olds Makes a Return

The Hurst/Olds returned to the lineup of 1972 muscle cars. Available in both hardtop and convertible varieties, the 1972 Hurst/Olds served as the official pace car for the 56^th running of the Indy 500.

Exclusively available in Cameo White, the 1972 version featured highly-reflective gold decal accents. The 270-horsepower 455 Rocket V-8 became standard, while the 300-horsepower W-30 was an option.

The Hurst/Olds was the eighth fastest muscle car produced in 1972.

The Road Runner Gets Something New Under its Hood

Created by boring the old 383, a new 400 cubic-inch big block found its way under the hood of the Road Runner in 1972.

This standard four-barrel-fed V-8 offered 255 horsepower, while the optional 340 small-block offered 240 and the optional 440 four-barrel offered 280.

Other changes included adding the rear sway bar to the standard heavy-duty suspension package. Meanwhile, 1972 marked the last year for the availability of the Air Grabber hood.

By 1972, options for the Barracuda had also been further reduced. The two-door hardtop was the only available body choice, while single headlights also returned that same year.

One change included the two pairs of large, round taillights at the back and the rear sway bar found in the V-8 version of the ride. A 340 CID V8 powered ‘Cuda became the ninth fastest muscle car produced in 1972.

Buick Received Top Honors

With its standard 350 small-block offering 195 horsepower, the 455 with 225, and the Stage 1 boasting 270 horsepower, Buick’s GS-455 received Hi-Performance Cars magazine’s “Top Performance Car of the Year” in 1972.

This top-performance title wasn’t an undeserved honor. In the June 1972 issue of Motor Trend magazine, a Buick GS 455 Stage 1 ran a 14.10-second quarter-mile, traveling 97 miles per hour, making it the fastest muscle car produced in 1972.

Meanwhile, 1972 also marked the last year for the GSX package. Many of the great things born from the muscle car era seemed to be slowly ending.

The Complete List of 1972 Muscle Cars

While the muscle car era was in full swing by 1972, this year also marked the beginning of a decline in horsepower and performance as automakers struggled to meet new emissions regulations.

Despite these challenges, some impressive muscle cars were released in 1972, which we’ve compiled in the following list of muscle cars.

There is the complete list of 1972 muscle cars made by GM, Ford, Chrysler, and American Motors. Next up will be all the muscle cars from 1973.

Ryan Wheaton

Ryan has owned muscle cars since 1986 and currently owns a 1972 Dodge Charger Rallye. He combines passion and experience to create engaging content for fellow muscle car enthusiasts. In 2018, he founded Muscle Cars Illustrated, authoring hundreds of articles on tips, history, and trends in the muscle car industry. He attends national car shows, auctions, and museums to stay current with the latest developments in the muscle car industry.

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