Help! 1972 Coupe with side pipes

[TonyJr]

Does anyone know if the 72 coupes could be ordered with side pipes? A friend of mine is considering buying one with side pipes and the seller swears the sidepipes are original equiment. Also, if they are original equipment, would it show on the build sheet? Thanks in advance.

Tony

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Nope not original. '69 was the only year they could be factory installed. Look under the rear bumpers, you'll see where somebody has fitted an aftermarket fibreglass panel to fill in where the standard exhaust outlets once sat.

It would show as an option on the tank sheet- if there was such a thing.

 

[TonyJr]

Thanks very much! Appreciate the quick response. I will have him check under the rear bumpers.

Tony Jr.

 

[Tom Bryant]

They may be original Corvette side pipes but they are not original to that car. Several vendors make a rear panel without the exhaust tip openings. I'll bet you can also find remnants of the exhaust hangers under there too.

Tom

 

[6880 Mike]

...the seller swears the sidepipes are original equiment...

In this instance, "original" only means the pipes were on the car when the seller bought it, making them "original" for him/her. It also indicates the seller has no real clue what he/she is selling.

...if they are original equipment, would it show on the build sheet?...

All options were shown on build sheets. The sidepipes were available only for the 1969 model year and appear on the build sheets for the cars which had them. It is also likely genuine side pipe cars could have various assembly line shorthand markings indicating the car was to be built for side pipes.

Assembly line shorthand mark for an N14 car. It appears on the bottom of the rear surround panel to remind the worker on the jig this rear would have side pipe fenders: