Reader-Owned 1973 Corvettes
What makes a 1973 Corvette a 1973
1973 is the transition year. The front bumper went to a body-colour urethane cover to meet the new five mile per hour impact rule, while the rear kept its chrome, making 1973 the only C3 with that combination. The removable rear window was gone, radial tyres arrived, and there was new sound insulation under the hood and in the body. The big block was down to the 454 LS4. A 1973 is instantly recognisable from either end of the car.
Below are the 1973 cars that readers of Corvette-C3.com have sent in over the years, in the words of the people who own them. Click any photo to see it full size. If you own a 1973, send yours in and it will be added here.
Bill's 1973 Corvette
My first vette was a 1973 L82 which I sold a while ago and missed ever since. After a number of C4/C5/C6's, I recently got the bug again for a 1973 and bought this a month ago:
454 coupe. 55K original miles. 90% original paint, original interior, original engine compartment, matching #'s, all original paperwork. Loaded: PW, PS, PB, AC, Turbo Hydra-Matic, AM/FM Stereo, Tilt/Tele, Rear Defogger, Map Lamp. Dark Blue Metallic (one year only color) with Black Custom interior. MSRP $7335.50. I'm carefully restoring the few items the car needs (correct dated coded master cylinder, belts, hoses, etc.).
Tim's 1973 Corvette
Here are some pictures of my 1973 convertible. The car is an original L48 190 hp 350 with air p/s and am/fm stereo. I have owned it for just over a year and it is a BLAST to drive. I am the 5th owner and the car only has 11,500 all original miles (YES it is original paint too). It is Bloomington Survivor\Benchmark (2003) and NCRS Top Flight (2009). I'm thinking of going for the Bowtie but it needs some work to get that. All in all this is my first Vette and I am enjoying it more and more each day. I have spoken to three of the previous owners and found out the third owner had the car for 14 years and only put 105 miles on it (that's crazy). Thanks for your postings. It is nice to see what a following Corvettes have. Keep up the good work!
Binnie writes:
Thanks Tim, your '73 really is a gorgeous car. I have always loved the '73 model as it was the transition year from chrome to rubber bumpers.
Brian M's 1973 Corvette
I am the 4th owner. I bought the car in Oct 1993 from a friend that had it for 8 years. He bought it off a guy that had taken the car to a body shop in 1985 for an accident repair. While at the body shop, the owner had the Elkhart Green stripped and painted Mille Miglia Red. The first thing I did was to redo the interior. I put in carpet and leather seat covers. Later I repaired the AC. From then on, I decided that for the spring project I would go through the car until there was nothing to fix anymore. Ok, that didn't work out so good. I have rebuilt the suspension, engine and added the OD trans. I have taken the body off and fixed the rocker channels and body mounts. I added stainless steel fuel and brake lines. I put a new TRW rear spring in and replaced the front bumper with a Tureflex fiberglass bumper last summer. This spring I will be replacing the tires. It is very important to me that the car will be capable of going anywhere at anytime. I make the 1200 mile round trip to Bowling Green, KY every year for the Labor Day Celebration of the NCM. In a few years, I will have to repaint the car again, but for now, it is a good 10 footer.
DC's 1973 Corvette
Been looking for a Vette for a long time. That all changed a couple of weeks ago when I became a member of the permanently affixed BSEG club....picked up a '73 in Arizona and drove her back to Texas.
Jerry A's 1973 Corvette
Here's my 73 I'm working on. Soon to be completed. It has a TBI 350, small cam, headers, chambered exhaust, 700r4, 4.56, cruise, air, interval wipers, power locks, removable rear window & alloy wheels. It should make a neat toy when it's done.
Jerry Allgire lives in Grand Rapids, Ohio
Carl's 1973 Corvette
Carl Shea:
Here is a '73 that I bought about two months ago out of South Carolina. I am the 3rd owner of this 56,xxx mile car and all components are original and numbers matching except the radio. The paint is the original paint too! The car runs great and I enjoy it a lot. I really enjoy your Web site. Thanks.
Binnie writes:
Carl, you do indeed have a gorgeous '73. It it tough to beat that transition year of chrome rear and rubber front!
Paul's 1973 Corvette
I am a new member of the C3 Corvette Forum. I live in Palm Coast, Florida and this is my beautiful 1973 Corvette coupe.
Binnie writes:
Paul, 1973 is one of my favorites in the C3 series...rubber front and chrome rear...I love it! This is one gorgeous car.
Paul writes:
I am a new member of the C3 Corvette Forum. I live in Palm Coast, Florida and this is my beautiful 1973 Corvette coupe.
Binnie writes:
Paul, 1973 is one of my favorites in the C3 series...rubber front and chrome rear...I love it! This is one gorgeous car.
Bob's 1973 Corvette
This is my beautiful 1973 Corvette. It has been professionally refurbished at a Corvette shop. With only 30,xxx miles since a frame on restoration/rebuild, it is a 350 quadrajet with a Turbo 400 automatic, 3.08 gears, power steering, power brakes, non air cond, t-top, and grey metalflake show room paint. The car has a black interior, sweet rumbling chrome Patriot sidepipes, all stock engine rebuilt, driving lights plus LED lights inside and out.
Binnie writes:
That is one gorgeous '73...gotta love the transition year from chrome to rubber bumpers.
Thierry's 1973 Corvette
I am from the south of France. My car is a 1973 350 300 HP with a 4 speed manual transmission. Upgrades include Wilwood brakes, Bilstein shocks and Gymkhana suspension. I purchased the car in Bedford PA in October of '08.
