Corvettes are just plain awesome. There's no such thing as a Corvette that isn't a blast to drive, and with a booming enthusiast marketplace, they're still some of the best hobby cars you can own. With Corvettes, it's also easy to get hung up on pedigrees (not that this car doesn't have a good one), which is why this 1972 Corvette coupe is so refreshing. It neatly balances the things that serious collectors want with upgrades that make it vastly more entertaining to drive. And if you're going to own a Corvette, driving is what you should be doing. Why not do it in a car that feels decades younger than it is, all wrapped in gorgeous Stingray bodywork that still draws admiring glances more than 50 years later?

The first note we should make is that this car was correctly refinished in its original code 945 Bryar Blue, which is a kind of turquoise blue that's extremely difficult to capture in photos. Because of this, we have digitally adjusted the photos to represent the car's color as accurately as possible, but there may be some variations due to monitor settings. It remains quite handsome, a deep aqua that looks exactly right on the early '70s Stingray. It was repainted several years ago so there are a few minor signs of use, but you can easily see just how well it fits together; the hood and headlight doors fit flush, the door gaps are even, and this is one '70s Corvette that doesn't sound or feel creaky and brittle. It does not appear to have ever been wrecked or critically injured, and 1972 remains popular with enthusiasts because it is the final year for chrome bumpers fore and aft. The contrast between the blue bodywork and bright trim is extremely attractive. And unlike so many of its siblings, this one does not have fender flares, spoilers, stripes, or a custom hood to distract from the chiseled good looks of the original design. If you want a great-looking C3 'Vette that doesn't look like a cartoon, you can scarcely do better than this.

The interior is fitted with a correct code 400 Black vinyl interior that's probably the best possible choice with Bryar Blue. Like the exterior, it has been restored to stock specs aside from the custom steering wheel and the shifter, but we'll get to that in a moment. Beautiful seat covers look sporting and inviting, a great example of subtlety in design from a period where "restraint" wasn't exactly a priority. New black carpets include matching floor mats to keep everything looking tidy, and the door panels look great without so much as an elbow dent on the armrest. The factory gauges are all fully operational save for the tach, which is due to the modern electronic distributor under the hood—don't worry, I'll tell you all about it. Fortunately, there's a period Sun Super Tach on the steering column to keep an eye on the stout small block up front. This car also includes factory A/C that blows ice cold thanks to new components and a recent service, plus a factory AM/FM radio. If you look closely, you'll notice that Hurst cue ball knob now features five forward gears, a fantastic upgrade for driving that offers a deep overdrive that makes this Corvette an incredible high-speed touring car. Shift action is crisp and suddenly this vintage 'Vette feels a lot more contemporary than you'd expect. You'll also find two sets of T-tops, including the standard painted tops and a 1-piece smoked Plexiglas unit that is a neat addition to the roster.

That engine is a fresh 300-horsepower GM crate motor that has been properly dressed to look fairly stock in the '72 Corvette's engine bay. The engine itself features 4-bolt mains, a nodular iron crank, and a pump-gas-friendly compression ratio so you can feed it regular gas. It's properly finished in Chevy Orange with finned valve covers and an open-element air cleaner featuring reproduction decals. There's an Edelbrock aluminum intake and matching carburetor to feed it, so it lights off easily and idles well, and it does move with considerably more vigor than the original 200 horsepower engine (the original, numbers-matching engine is available with the car, please inquire). There's also a new aluminum radiator with twin electric fans, an upgraded power steering box that replaces the original slave cylinder for improved precision, and a set of block-hugging headers to help build torque. This Corvette wants to run!

The aforementioned Tremec 5-speed manual transmission totally transforms this Corvette on the road, and thanks to a fresh hydraulic clutch with heavy-duty clutch disc, shifting is a joy. Combined with a fresh set of 3.73 gears plus a Posi limited slip, acceleration is extremely impressive yet it cruises easily at modern highway speeds with the A/C blasting. There are also new springs fore and aft (the rear spring is composite to save weight), fresh stainless brake calipers, expensive new Bilstein shocks, and a recent exhaust system that sounds just right. You will note that the underside is clean but not detailed for show, and the critical areas just ahead of the rear wheels are in excellent condition. 17-inch Torque Thrust wheels offer a period look but modern rubber, with this car wearing 235/55/17 Goodyears at all four corners.

Documentation is excellent, including the original tank sticker, Protect-O-Plate, and owner's manual, plus receipts for much of the recent work.

Despite what the folks on TV would have you believe, this is the kind of Corvette you want to own. Beautifully restored in its original colors, but no so perfect that you're afraid to drive it. Professionally finished but upgraded to make it user-friendly in today's world. Well documented so it will always have value. And if you'd like to make it numbers-matching, the original engine and transmission are available. At this price, there's just no way to go wrong with this awesome Stingray. Call today!