1972 Chevrolet Impala Custom Coupe - Where I Draw the Line

Most two-door, 1972 Chevrolet Impala's I come across these days are Impala "Sport Coupes" not "Custom Coupes" like this one. The only real difference between the two is the rear window; on the Sport Coupes it's rounded, bubble like almost as an homage of sorts to the Impala Sport Coupes of yore. These Custom Coupes have convex rear windows that I prefer.  The difference sounds minute, it's not though when you see Sport and Custom Coupe side by side. 

Poster of the ad for this on Facebook Marketplace is asking $6,000 for it. Rather than get into the weeds about how I don't think it's worth a fraction of that, I'd rather luxuriate in the photographer's serendipitous use of the thin winter sunlight out in Wichita, Kansas. 

The relative darkness puts an additional patina on everything we see. Right down to what's left of the Chevrolet "small block", 400-cubic inch V-8 that hasn't been turned over in forty-years. I've driven Chevrolet's of this vintage with this engine and, everything being relative, they pull these big cars quite well. 

The interior is the big problem here. Ad says it's "mousy". That's a gross if not apt description. This picture is so good you can almost smell the little varmints. They've chewed up much of the wiring too. 

In my opinion, 1972 was the end of the run for the Golden Age of General Motors design that began, in earnest, in 1949. For 1973, federally mandated safety bumpers were required up front that changed the look of all cars, the Chevrolet Impala included and not for the better. Prior to '73, this car included, it seemed designers could do as they please in the interest of sales; after '72, they had to be concerned with pressing matters they never had to deal with before. 

That's why many of us draw the line on what's a "classic car" and what's not at 1972. I know I do. Everything after 1972, with some exceptions, of course, are just cars.