1972 · Pontiac · United States
1972 Pontiac GTO: option W62, net ratings only
The GTO goes back to being an option on the LeMans, with net ratings only; 5,807 were built.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
For 1972 the GTO stopped being a separate Pontiac series and reverted to being option W62 on the LeMans coupe and hardtop. This record's own overview states that Pontiac's own production figures no longer list GTOs separately at all, so the Over-Drive Magazine compilation this record relies on instead extracts a GTO figure from the LeMans body rows: 5,673 hardtop coupes and 134 pillared coupes, 5,807 in all for the year.1,2
Engines carried net ratings only for 1972, with no gross figure recorded alongside any of the three: the standard 400 four-barrel with dual exhaust, coded L78, at 250 hp and 325 lb-ft; an optional 455 four-barrel, coded L75, also at 250 hp but with 360 lb-ft, restricted to the automatic transmission only; and the 455 HO, coded LS5, at 300 hp and 415 lb-ft, available with any transmission. A separate production figure of 646 cars is recorded specifically against the 455 HO, but this record's own production notes state that the figure is unattributed in its own source and that its population scope, whether GTO-only or all 1972 A-body applications, is not stated, so this record keeps it apart from the GTO total rather than treating it as a GTO-specific count.1
Base LeMans prices before the GTO option are recorded at $2,840 for the two-door coupe and $2,969 for the two-door hardtop, both drawn from OldRide.com's own compiled table, with the W62 GTO option itself priced at $353.88 by that same source and at a rounded $354 by the separate secondary fact sheet this record also cites, a small rounding-level difference this record carries without treating as a substantive dispute. The W62 package shows 5,807 installations, matching the GTO total already given above.3,2
Beyond the base GTO package, options recorded for the year include the 455 HO at $349, the plain 455 four-barrel at $272, a rally gauge cluster with clock and tachometer at $92, and a rear deck spoiler at $46, the last one specifically noted in this record as discontinued on October 1, 1971, meaning it was already unavailable for a portion of the 1972 selling season despite being listed among that year's options.1
Fourteen exterior paint codes are documented as marked for GTO availability, but this record's own interiors section is entirely empty for 1972, a documented gap rather than an assumption that no interior choices existed. Specification detail is limited to a single 112-inch wheelbase figure shared with the LeMans coupe and hardtop bodies; this record's identification section separately documents the body-plate coding scheme and the specific assembly-plant letter codes used across GM's Pontiac-building plants for the model year.1,4
This record's own conflicts section carries no logged disputes for 1972, though a separate unpublished lead repeats an uncited Wikipedia total of 5,811 GTOs, including one convertible and three station wagons fitted with the GTO option, a claim this record does not adopt given the compiled table's own 5,807 figure and the total absence of any convertible or wagon body style elsewhere in this record's own production or body-style data for the year. No performance-test data or engine-specific production count beyond the unattributed 455 HO figure above was found in an accessible source for the model year.2
Fact sheet · 1972 · United States
The numbers
1972 Pontiac GTO — The GTO goes back to being an option on the LeMans, with net ratings only; 5,807 were built.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-22.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTO option total2,5 LeMans with GTO option (W62) · not stated by source Extracted from LeMans coupe and hardtop rows, as the compiler states. | 5,807 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTO hardtop coupe2 LeMans GTO · 2-door hardtop · not stated by source | 5,673 | built, model-year | Reported |
| GTO pillared coupe2 LeMans GTO · 2-door coupe · not stated by source | 134 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cars built with the 455 HO (LS5), all 1972 A-body applications1 GTO and LeMans applications as stated · 455 HO · not stated by source Unattributed in the fact sheet; population scope (GTO only or all mid-size) is not stated. | 646 | built, model-year | Reported |
The two body rows partition 5,807 per the compiler's note. The 455 HO row has a different, unclear scope and must not be compared with the GTO total.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| LeMans two-door coupe (2D27), before the GTO option3 | $2,840 | factory price as compiled, 1972 model year |
| LeMans two-door hardtop (2D37), before the GTO option3 | $2,969 | factory price as compiled, 1972 model year |
| GTO option on LeMans coupe or hardtop3 | $353.88 | option price as stated, 1972 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| L78 · 400 4-bbl, dual exhaust (standard GTO)1 400 cu in · Rochester four-barrel | 250 hp @ 4,400, 325 lb-ft @ 3,200 (SAE net) | standard | Not yet sourced |
| L75 · 455 4-bbl, dual exhaust1 455 cu in · Rochester four-barrel | 250 hp @ 3,600, 360 lb-ft @ 2,800 (SAE net) | optional, automatic only; $272 per secondary fact sheet | Not yet sourced |
| LS5 · 455 HO1 455 cu in · Rochester four-barrel | 300 hp @ 4,000, 415 lb-ft @ 3,200 (SAE net) | optional, all transmissions; $349 per secondary fact sheet | 6461 Reported |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
W62RPO |
GTO package1 | $354 | 5,8072 Reported |
LS5RPO |
455 HO V81 | $349 | Not yet sourced |
L75RPO |
455 4-bbl V81 | $272 | Not yet sourced |
|
Rally gauge cluster with clock and tachometer1 | $92 | Not yet sourced |
|
Rear deck spoiler (discontinued October 1, 1971)1 | $46 | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
11 |
Cameo White1 | Not yet sourced |
14 |
Revere Silver1 | Not yet sourced |
24 |
Adriatic Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
26 |
Lucerne Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
43 |
Springfield Green1 | Not yet sourced |
48 |
Wilderness Green1 | Not yet sourced |
50 |
Brittany Beige1 | Not yet sourced |
53 |
Quezal Gold1 | Not yet sourced |
55 |
Shadow Gold1 | Not yet sourced |
56 |
Monarch Yellow1 | Not yet sourced |
57 |
Brasilia Gold1 | Not yet sourced |
63 |
Anaconda Gold1 | Not yet sourced |
65 |
Sundance Orange1 | Not yet sourced |
75 |
Cardinal Red1 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase2 | 112 in | LeMans two-door coupe and hardtop |
Identification
- Body (cowl) plate
- Body (cowl) plate riveted to the top left cowl under the hood. It carries the build date (month 01-12 and week A-E), the style number (year, series and body style), the body number (assembly-plant prefix and production sequence), the trim code, the lower and upper paint codes, and factory accessory codes. The page's example plate reads: Build Date 10D; Style 72-23537; Body A 03XXX; Trim 274; Paint 56 56.4
- Body-plate assembly-plant codes
- A = Atlanta, GA; P = Pontiac, MI; B = Baltimore, MD; LOA = Lordstown, OH; C = Southgate, CA; X = Kansas City, KS; E = Linden, NJ; Z = Fremont, CA; G = Framingham, MA; 1 = Oshawa, Ont. CAN; L = Van Nuys, CA.4
Identification
Read a 1972 Pontiac VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1972
- AMC AMX The first year of SAE net ratings and Chrysler-built TorqueFlite automatics. Javelin AMX production rose to 3,220, and the 304 V8 became available.
- AMC Gremlin X and Spirit AMX The first V8 Gremlin: the 304 (150 hp SAE net) in AMC's subcompact. Gremlin X production is not published in any source found.
- AMC Javelin The base model was dropped, so every non-AMX Javelin was an SST. This was the first year of the Pierre Cardin interior and of Chrysler-built automatics.
- Buick Riviera Net ratings only for 1972: 250 hp standard, 260 GS per ROA; 2,171 of 33,728 were GS.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX The last A-body GS year before the Colonnade Century; the GSX package, now in many colours, was invoiced on only 44 cars, most of them outside the lower 48 states.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The last Z15 Chevelle SS of the first generation: net-rated engines, an LS5 454 at 270 net hp, and 5,333 SS 454s.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova The source engine table switches to net ratings; SS and Rally Nova offered. Enthusiast-compiled production: 349,733 cars; Super Sport 12,309.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS Last year of the Chevelle-bodied El Camino SS; 50,359 V8 Malibu El Caminos were built, and the SS share is not separately published.
- Dodge Challenger Hardtop only, with a new grille: the R/T gave way to the Challenger Rallye package, and the most powerful engine listed was the 340 four-barrel.
- Dodge Charger The R/T and Super Bee were dropped; the new Rallye package became the performance Charger, and the 440 Six Pack was cancelled after a handful of cars.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon The Demon's second and final year under that name: 8,773 Demon 340s, with small Canadian and Swiss-market 340 runs counted separately.
- Ford Maverick Grabber The dual-scoop-hood Grabber in its second year as a model; Classic Industries counts 35,347.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT continued on the 1972-76 Ranchero; 12,620 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird First year of the sixth-generation Thunderbird; only the whole-line production total was found.
- Ford Torino The new body-on-frame Torino sold 496,645 in 1972; the performance models were the Gran Torino Sport SportsRoof (60,794) and hardtop (31,239), with the 351 Cobra Jet and a Rallye Equipment Group on the option list.
- Mercury Cougar Net ratings arrived, the 429 was gone, and the 351 Cobra Jet became the performance Cougar engine, fitted to 3,560 cars.
- Mercury Montego GT The first year of the fastback-only Montego GT on the new split-wheelbase intermediate, with the Cyclone name reduced to a performance option that only a few dozen buyers took.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The 4-4-2 became a Cutlass option again, engines were rated in SAE net (W-30: 300 hp), and a Hurst/Olds paced the Indianapolis 500.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda Hardtops only, single headlamps, four round taillamps, and a 340 four-barrel as the top engine: the 'Cuda carried it as standard.
- Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 In the first net-rating year the Duster 340's 8.5:1 340 was rated 240 net hp with electronic ignition, the Twister became order code A51, and output rose to 15,681 in both compilations.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite For 1972 the GTX existed only as the 440 four-barrel option on the Road Runner hardtop; Mueller's Muscle Car Source Book counts 672 of them.
- Plymouth Road Runner The hardtop-only Road Runner took a 400 four-barrel as its advertised standard engine, and production fell again.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am A strike-shortened year: 29,951 Firebirds and 1,286 Trans Ams, every one a 455 HO.
- Pontiac Grand Prix A carryover year with the SJ still offered; production recovered to 91,961.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The GTO becomes a LeMans option, and the LeMans gets WW4 and WW5 performance packages.