Seldom Seen Green 4-Speed: 1973 Chevrolet Corvette
While Corvette lovers have their favorite years, there are few “rubber bumper” C3s among them. However, with the right options and the right color, the whole package on an off-year Corvette can be very appealing. This 1973 Chevrolet Corvette for sale on eBay in Miami Beach, Florida is a great example of a nice Corvette that would make an excellent driver at a reasonable price. Packing a four-speed and a small block under the hood, this Corvette is also bathed in a seldom-seen shade of green. With bidding currently at $11,650 with just two days to go, is someone going to get a distinctive Corvette at a reasonable price?
1973 was a year of changes for the Corvette, and not everyone was happy about those changes. Most notably, it was the year that federally mandated 5 MPH bumpers came to town for America’s sports car. Sort of like when Dracula or some other Saturday morning horror movie creature appears, this is seen as a point where many Corvette enthusiasts become irrationally terrified. Given that some cars met the standard by grafting on what looked like chrome-plated steel I-beams, the Corvette’s styling fared pretty well. There was a 35 lb. increase in weight, and impact-resistant bumpers were on the way to the rear of the Corvette in 1974. All told the new design sadly deflates the value of these cars in comparison to the previous chrome front bumper models. However, this is not such a big deal if you are looking for a driver-quality car.
So, if you can look past the absence of chrome bumpers, this 1973 Corvette painted in Elkhart Green may be a car that you should consider. According to the seller, this car is a matching number example with just 56,000 original miles. We are told that it was owned since new by a single family. It is described as being a straight car with a solid body and nice older paint. While this makes us think that it may have been given a repaint in the past, the color combination that it came from the factory with was preserved.
Inside, the car looks brand new. The seat covers, which I assume are vinyl, have the look of being recently replaced. However, looking from the center console to the dash and at the door panels shows no outward signs of damage. The seller tells us that most of the gauges work. Unfortunately, the wipers and radio are not functional at this time. We are also told that the headlights work, but “(manually)” is added as a caveat. Does that mean that the vacuum system on the headlight doors needs to be tended to? You can convert these to electric motors, but the price of admission for a kit is steep.
Under the hood is what we believe to be the original engine. However, there is a warning that the numbers on the stamping got a little decked. It might be prudent to be cautious here, not just about the stamping but also an explanation would be needed as to why a rebuild was done if the car’s mileage is true. There are some non-factory parts visible in the picture above. Hopefully, the original pieces come with the car. The seller tells us that the transmission was rebuilt as well and that the car has a nice, new exhaust system. It is said to run and drive nicely.
While there are questions to be asked, this does seem to be a Corvette that could be enjoyed. This green beauty presents well, and it looks as if many of the mechanical problem areas have been addressed. Hopefully, it finds a home with someone who will drive and enjoy it.
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Comments
I don’t think the 73 Corvette came with a HEI distributor, I thought those started in 75.
Under hood is horrible. For whatever reason, flex hoses kill ‘em for me
Mecum Auctions is boasting 500 Vettes for sale this weekend in Kissimmee. I ask; If these vintage Corvette’s are so great, why are they all for sale at crazy inflated prices? Nobody mentions that the out sourced supplier of fiberglass panels never got tge thickness issues figured out and when Chevrolet started to mold the bodies themselves, they never got it right either. I personally feel this is the ugliest year. You could do much better with a much newer 95′ for maybe 15k? I see this is a Miami car.. so it could be anything, and anything could be really bad. If you buy now and pick it up quick, you could make the Mecum Auction in Kissimmee.
jv – smash palace
I’m thinking you’ve ended up in the wrong location. Clearly there must be a Rivian site for the likes of you.
“Let the hate FLOW through you!” – Emperor Palpatine in “Star Wars: Episode VI – The Return of the Jedi”
I had a 73 coupe in the exact same green paint. When I went shopping at the dealership for a used one back in 1976, there were two 73 Vette Coupes with the same green paint. One had the tan leather interior with a 4-speed but no air. The other had a black vinyl interior, automatic and air. It was hot the day I drove them so I opted for the one with air. Both were priced at $5950. Both had the base L48 small block. I bought this car in 1976 and sold it in 1984 for $6000. The car in the article definitely has the leather interior. The upscale interior came with the woodgrain inserts in the door panels and on the console and 80/20 cut pile carpeting. The vinyl seats had woven vinyl seating panels which were cooler in hot weather. I always thought the 73’s were very nice looking. I currently own a C6 convertible which is more pleasant to drive, with more creature comforts, but the 73 was still fun in it’s time.
It’s simple, just check the production numbers, plus they were engineered into a small package, priced much higher and only seated 2 people. Which knocked many who wanted one out of the picture, especially if married and had kids, which many of us did. People generally took better care of the Corvette than they did other cars. That’s why it seems like so many are around. The high water mark for the Vette was only 53,807 back in 1979. Take the Mustang numbers for comparison, its high was over 600,000 back in 66 and has averaged over 120,000 per year since. Many, many more of them rusted away or got crushed than were preserved. Most Vettes remained inside, they didn’t fare well in the elements. The 2023 C8 just surpassed the 79 amount by a couple hundred extra units. Still not even 60,000. People who have never owned one really like to pick them apart! In my opinion, the C3 is one of the most beautiful automobiles ever built!
Beautiful Vette you are most likely a Volkswagen fan
It’s simple, they were priced higher and only seated 2, which knocked many who wanted one out of the picture if they had kids, which many of us did. People took better care of the Corvette than they did other cars. It was a gem, not your neighbors 4 seater that sat outside all the time. Insanely less amount of production numbers…the high water mark for the Vette was only 53,807 back in 1979. Take the Mustang numbers for comparison, its high mark was over 600,000 back in 66 and has averaged over 120,000 per year since. More of them rusted away or got crushed than have been preserved. Don’t get me wrong…I love Mustangs The 2023 C8 just surpassed the 79 amount by a couple hundred extra units. Its just a low production vehicle people have generally always taken care of. Class dismissed!
Numbers matching engine – LMAO! Block only.
Another wonderful piece of crap Vette brought to you by Barn Finds sponsored Miami EBayer.
You really should go and purchase one so they you can release all the hate!
What if there were only mustangs and Camaros in the world? You’d have nothing exotic built in the good old USA to pick apart!
What if there were only mustangs and Camaros in the world? You’d have nothing exotic built in the good old USA to pick apart!
Cooter, I love Corvettes, owned a ’70 Convertible for 30 years.
It kills me to see my favorite place to hang out constantly pushing this seller’s cobbled together hunks of junk and releasing them to unknowing buyers who see a piece of eye candy and do not realize all the work that will have to go into making them road worthy. With very very few exceptions, that describes this guy’s inventory.
If you don’t believe me, search for the seller’s name in the Corvette forums.
Nowhere do I see WHICH engine is in this car.
Miami/ocean/sea air=no photos of the underneath of car
Seller’s cars are not from Miami. He digs them out of all sorts of hidey holes, polishes them up and sells them for what buyers (mis)believe is a great deal.
I will agree with you that anything outta Miami should be thoroughly examined. I lived there in Key Largo for 2 years and there’s some shady folks down there for sure!
Image #2 and # 3 feature the seller’s crack Corvette restoration team admiring their work. This was a long-term project for them. They spent three days getting it ready to sell.
Frank – spot on! LMAO!