L-82 Convertible: 1974 Chevrolet Corvette

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The third generation of the Corvette was the longest running iteration of America’s Sports Car spanning three decades (1968-1982). This example is a 1974 Corvette equipped with the performance version of the 350 cubic inch V8 engine. It is the first year for a front and rear soft bumper and this car is also a convertible. The Corvette is listed here on eBay with just over a day remaining in the auction. It is currently bid to $15,100 and is located in Miami Beach, Florida.

This Corvette is equipped with the L-82 version of the Chevrolet 350 cubic inch V8 engine. The L-82 option was introduced in the prior year as the replacement for the LT-1 350 cubic inch V8. There were three engines available in 1974 and included the L-48 base engine rated at 195 horsepower and was a popular choice for its driveability and ample torque around town. The L-82 engine was rated at 250 horsepower and was preferred by many road racers. The LS4 454 cubic inch V8 engine was still available and was rated at 270 horsepower. All three engines propelled the Corvette from 0-60 in the mid 6 second range according to Hi Performance Car magazine.

The interior looks nice and has been well maintained. The car comes with two tops and was a 1 owner car prior to the current seller’s ownership. It is said to be an Arizona car. Apparently, the Corvette sat for many years in a climate controlled garage. Recent work includes a tune up, brake calipers, new tires and some cleaning of the fuel system.

The brown paint is said to be in nice condition and most of the options work. However, the radio, windshield wipers  and some of the dash gauges are inoperable. The seller states that the car needs some TLC. The Corvette is listed as a manual transmission but it is clearly an automatic. It should be a nice driver once some of the issues are sorted.

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Comments

  1. Cooter CooterMember

    I’m sorry but I cannot do a brown Corvette. Strip this to the glass and apply red, blue or black…all 3 will work with that interior.

    Like 8
    • Smokey Smokerson

      What about British Racing green with some gold fleck?

      Like 3
    • GARY GEISSMAN

      Red corvettes are boring!

      Like 1
      • Alice Adragna

        Ur boring ! Thank you

        Like 0
    • 74 BB vette

      I have a dark brown 74 big block and it is always a show favorite because there is never more than one, unlike the sea of common red, blue, or black vettes out there.

      The first, the last, and the few are the key to desirable corvettes.

      Like 3
    • Trent D Morris

      So you don’t like the metallic Chocolate Brown that was also used on the 79 Z28?

      Like 0
  2. ACZ

    The L82 is basically a cross between the old LT1 and the 350/350. Big heads, four bolt mains, steel crank, pink rods, forged pistons, etc. Just lower compression, a hydraulic cam, and hardened valve seats.

    Like 4
  3. rick de la Vega

    do you have an address so I can go see the car, Ill set something up with you at you time and place…Rick

    Like 1
  4. PRA4SNW

    In the Corvette Community, this seller has a less than stellar reputation for piecing together Vettes that look okay, but are all pieces of crap.

    A reader here on BF got sucked in and has a boatload of work ahead of him that he did not count on.

    BUYER BEWARE!

    There are so many other honest Vettes for sale that it just surprises me every time this seller is featured here on BF.

    Like 9
  5. DevilDog53

    Believe that’s the first brown Corvette I’ve ever seen. Didn’t realize that was a factory color option. Has to be rare…

    Like 2
    • ACZ

      Not so. I’ve seen quite a few.

      Like 3
      • DevilDog53

        They are just rare wherever I have lived then…

        Like 1
    • Neil R Norris

      I agree. A brown Corvette is just wrong. It was however a factory color option.

      Like 0
      • Ed

        The tan ones are worse.

        Like 2
    • PRA4SNW

      I used to see a lot of brown ones back in the day. I’ll bet most of them have been repainted red.

      Like 0
  6. Cooter CooterMember

    My red Corvette does zero to sixty in 2.9 seconds, 11.3 second quarter, 500 HP and 195 MPH top end. Draws a crowd everywhere it’s parked…I never get bored with any of that. I have a friend with a red 68 convertible with 427 four speed. It’s not very boring either!

    Like 4
    • 74 vette

      It is also as common as TP and Tesla’s

      Like 2
      • BT

        No. It’s not. It’s incredible.

        Like 0
      • Alice Adragna

        Ur boring ! Thank you

        Like 1
  7. Jim C

    In all fairness to that color Brown, It is a rather rare color and shows very well. Be a little more open minded.

    Like 2
    • FrankD

      Just like brown 911 Porsches found in Florida. Plenty of brown german cars there.

      Like 1
      • Cooter CooterMember

        It’s brown, you buy it…I’ll take your girl and your dog!😜

        Like 1
  8. Frank Sumatra

    I would take a brown L-82 coupe, 4-speed with rally wheels and the luggage rack (To offset the brown just a bit) and the saddle interior in a heartbeat. Nice car for a slow roll to Cars and Coffee. As noted elsewhere, you would not see too many.

    Like 2
    • PRA4SNW

      I’m with you, Frank.

      Like 0

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