Two things really stood out in my mind when I first saw this 1974 Chevrolet Corvette. Well, actually three. My first thought was just how good this car looks all the way around, followed by the matching numbers 454 and 4-Speed bringing a smile to my face. But my third thought was that it initially seemed a bit expensive for a ’74, but after I did some research now I’m not so sure, although I’m no expert on Corvette pricing. This Stingray is a California beauty located in Cameron Park, not very far from Sacramento. and can be seen here on Craigslist with the asking price posted at $55,000. Barn Finds wants to thank reader Pat L. for finding this one and sending it our way!
The seller of this Corvette says he has owned the C3 for the last 29 years and claims to have receipts totaling over $90,000 that has been invested into the car over this period. It’s hard to argue that this is one really top-notch example, and it’s won over 80 awards and trophies in different categories. Outside, the original front urethane bumper is still in place and a newer two-piece fiberglass rear bumper has been added, with that beautiful red paint job applied by Roseville Rod And Custom in California. Anywhere you look, it’s hard to find much to fault about the exterior appearance, although the passenger door not being fully closed during the photo shoot made me chuckle a bit.
Under the hood is the original 454 big block, which has been treated to a Competition Cam, ported heads, high-compression pistons, and more. It also comes with the complete blueprinted build sheet. The original M-21 4-Speed has been completely rebuilt with M-22 performance gears and steel mid-plate, plus the original 3.36 gears have been removed and the rear-end has been rebuilt to a 3.73 ratio. There are also new brakes and a newer set of tires, and a nice bonus item is a set of period-correct Firestone 500 Steel Radials mounted on 15×8 rally rims, although these are recommended for show only and not street use.
Things inside do not disappoint either, and most of the interior is original. This was a highly-optioned car and includes power windows, a tilt/telescopic steering column, a rear defroster, power windows, and power brakes. The glass is stated to be all original, and the T-Tops are said to have hardly ever been removed. Though the odometer recently quit working, it shows 60k miles, which is believed to be original.
So let’s talk about the price. There are numerous websites that list value ranges for Corvettes, and prices are of course objective or subjective. One such site is Concept Carz, which takes actual auction results and compiles the data based on different criteria, and in the case of a 1974 Corvette, the difference between excellent and perfect condition seems to be colossal. You can see the page here, and I’d be eager to find out what other evaluation sites and tools our readers use for Corvettes and if the $55,000 price tag seems in the ballpark. What are your thoughts on this 1974 Chevrolet Corvette? How much should the $90,000 the seller says he has invested in the car over the last 3 decades and all of those trophies and awards be taken into account?
Not a total fan of the plastic bumper cars but this is a really good looking Vette. Obviously taken good care of from day one.
This car would look like easy pickings to most stop light racers. Nice to see that it is packing a big surprise.
This car comes with an extra set of original Firestone 500 radial tires, for “show only”. The dangerously defective Firestone 500 tires put on their own “show” in the 70s, with failures leading to hundreds of injuries, and 40 fatalities. Firestone was eventually ordered to recall millions of 500s, and similarly constructed tires. It was revealed that senior management at Firestone knew their new radial design 500s had problems , but kept producing and selling them. The company was fined, and the entire senior management team was ultimately replaced.
A friend of mine had bought a used ’75 Corvette in 1977 that had Firestone 500s. She had a blowout at highway speed, which completely destroyed the fiberglass left rear quarter, and caused the car to spin out. She was not injured.
Turn in a Firestone 500 tire and receive a new tire in its place at least that was the policy for a long time. Best 74 I’ve seen in a long time. Too much, maybe that money for a 69 to 72 yeah. Cars are up now!
“How much should the $90,000 the seller says he has invested in the car over the last 3 decades and all of those trophies and awards be taken into account?”
Zero, zilch, nada. Owners choice to spend that much. And it is a $30,000 car at the absolute top for someone who just has to have this car. $25,000 is more realistic. At least it has air-conditioning.
It’s probably the nicest 1974 corvette coupe you’ll ever see, but $55,000? I will be very surprised.
Correct, always check the market for pricing before dropping your hard earned money into a vehicle.
It has the “I’ve owned it for 29 years” sentimental 15K markup.
So what, I owned my ’70 for 29 years and asked an honest price and sold it via Craigslist within 2 weeks.
1. Concours
#1 vehicles are the best in the world. Imagine the best vehicle, in the right colors, driving onto the lawn at the finest concours. Perfectly clean, the vehicle has been groomed down to the tire treads. Painted and chromed surfaces are mirror-like. Dust and dirt are banned, and materials used are correct and superbly fitted.
Hagerty lists a “Concours” 1974 454 Corvette at $52,300. Not sure the subject vehicle meets the definition. The average of the Hagerty “Concours” and “Excellent” works out to $43,000. Still seems high to me.
Sacramento area gas prices about $6.oo+ per gallon…here to stay.
Would I pay $55k for a 454?
Well there is always a Toyota Prius for that. Let me k ow which one is more fun to drive.
Bill Bixby The magician had white 74.
Probably the best post-1973 C3 you’d be able to get. Red, 454, 4-speed, low mileage but not so low you’d be afraid to drive it, A/C, and good mods that should make it really fast while maintaining stock appearance and character.
If a top one is really worth $74.8k as the link says, the price would seem fair. However, I have never seen a $75,000 1974 Corvette so I would need to do research on that one. My gut tells me that’s optimistic.
C8 base price (Unicorn) $65,595.
Plus $10,000 “Market Adjustment,” if you can even find one.
VanBortel Corvette in Mendon, NY (Rochester) sells at list price. Take a look at their web page and read their statement on flipping one of their C8’s. I believe there are other dealers in the US who will sell at list price.
I have a friend looking at the Civic Si. One wanted $42k, for a car with a sub-30k MSRP. I find it shocking some are selling new Corvettes at MSRP in this climate but good to hear.
MacMulkin in NH charges MSRP for new Corvettes. I’ve been told that waiting list is long, but you can get delivery to any(?) Chevrolet dealership in the country.
@PRA4SNW- The list is crazy long, 5500 units need to be built.
@Frank Sumatra: Wow, I wasn’t aware of that. A buddy of mine was on the C8 list. I haven’t checked in with him for awhile, so not sure if he ever got one or not.
Top 100 Corvette Dealers including those selling C8’s at list:
*** 2020 Top 100 Dealers by volume sold ***
MSRP Y/N – Rank – Dealership – City, State – # Sold
YES – 1 – KERBECK (Now CIOCCA) CHEVROLET – ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – 866
YES – 2 – MAC MULKIN CHEVROLET CADILLAC – NASHUA, NH – 778
YES – 3 – LES STANFORD CHEVROLET CADILLAC – DEARBORN, MI – 321
YES – 4 – CRISWELL CHEVROLET – GAITHERSBURG, MD – 308
YES – 5 – BOMNIN CHEVROLET DADELAND – MIAMI, FL – 296
YES – 6 – STINGRAY CHEVROLET – PLANT CITY, FL – 235
No – 7 – COUGHLIN AUTOMOTIVE – PATASKALA, OH – 170
No – 8 – RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET – DULUTH, GA – 132
YES – 9 – JIM ELLIS CHEVROLET – CHAMBLEE, GA – 131
YES – 10 – GEORGE MATICK CHEVROLET – REDFORD, MI – 130
YES – 11 – CLASSIC CHEVROLET – GRAPEVINE, TX – 126 (Requires $50,000 charity donation for Z06)
YES – 12 – BOMNIN CHEVROLET WEST KENDALL – MIAMI, FL – 121
No – 13 – VAN CHEVROLET – SCOTTSDALE, AZ – 119
No – 14 – HENDRICK CHEVROLET – CARY, NC – 110
YES – 15 – DON MEALEY CHEVROLET – CLERMONT, FL – 102
YES – 16 – CLASSIC CHEVROLET – SUGAR LAND, TX – 97
No – 16 – RYDELL CHEVROLET – NORTHRIDGE, CA – 97
YES – 16 – ESTERO BAY CHEVROLET – ESTERO, FL – 97
YES – 19 – RICK HENDRICK CITY CHEVROLET – CHARLOTTE, NC – 92
YES – 20 – BILL STASEK CHEVROLET, INC. – WHEELING, IL – 89
No – 21 – KEVIN WHITAKER CHEVROLET – GREENVILLE, SC – 83
YES – 22 – DAN CUMMINS CHEVROLET-BUICK – PARIS, KY – 82
YES – 23 – RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET NAPLES – NAPLES, FL – 80
YES – 24 – JON HALL CHEVROLET, INC. – DAYTONA BEACH, FL – 78
YES – 25 – BOARDWALK CHEVROLET – REDWOOD CITY, CA – 77
No – 26 – RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET OF BUFORD – BUFORD, GA – 76
YES – 26 – VAN BORTEL CHEVROLET, INC. – MACEDON, NY – 76
No – 28 – MAHER CHEVROLET – SAINT PETERSBURG, FL – 74
No – 29 – ROSS DOWNING CHEVROLET – HAMMOND, LA – 70
YES – 30 – HENDRICK CHEVROLET – HOOVER, AL – 69
No – 30 – STONEBRIAR CHEVROLET – FRISCO, TX – 69
No – 32 – PARKWAY CHEVROLET, INC. – TOMBALL, TX – 68
No – 33 – BACHMAN AUTO GROUP, INC. – LOUISVILLE, KY – 66
YES – 33 – PAUL MASSE CHEVROLET – E PROVIDENCE, RI – 66
No – 35 – MAC HAIK CHEVROLET – HOUSTON, TX – 63
No – 35 – HENDRICK CHEVROLET SHAWNEE MISSION – MERRIAM, KS – 63
No – 37 – FINDLAY CHEVROLET – LAS VEGAS, NV – 62
YES – 38 – BOB STALL CHEVROLET – LA MESA, CA – 60
YES – 39 – SELMAN CHEVROLET – ORANGE, CA – 59
No – 40 – GRIECO CHEVROLET OF DELRAY BEACH – DELRAY BEACH, FL – 57
YES – 41 – LANDERS CHEVROLET OF NORMAN – NORMAN, OK – 54
No – 42 – CONNELL CHEVROLET – COSTA MESA, CA – 52
??? – 42 – FERMAN CHEVROLET – TAMPA, FL – 52
YES – 42 – AUTONATION CHEVROLET GREENACRES – GREENACRES, FL – 52
YES – 45 – RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET – NORFOLK, VA – 50
??? – 46 – HARE CHEVROLET – NOBLESVILLE, IN – 49
??? – 47 – SCHUMACHER CHEVROLET – LAKE PARK, FL – 47
YES – 47 – BOMNIN CHEVROLET MANASSAS – MANASSAS, VA – 47
No – 47 – TROPICAL CHEVROLET – MIAMI, FL – 47
??? – 47 – HARBOR CHEVROLET – LONG BEACH, CA – 47
YES – 51 – LYNN LAYTON CHEVROLET – DECATUR, AL – 46
??? – 51 – SIMPSON CHEVROLET OF IRVINE – IRVINE, CA – 46
YES – 51 – COGGIN CHEVROLET AT THE AVENUES – JACKSONVILLE, FL – 46
No – 54 – LOU BACHRODT CHEVROLET – COCONUT CREEK, FL – 44
No – 54 – AUTONATION CHEVROLET PEMBROKE PINES – PEMBROKE PINES, FL – 44
??? – 56 – TERRY LABONTE CHEVROLET – GREENSBORO, NC – 42
YES – 56 – SERRA WHELAN CHEVROLET – STERLING HEIGHTS, MI – 42 (previously Buff Whelan)
??? – 56 – MCCLUSKEY CHEVROLET – CINCINNATI, OH – 42
YES – 56 – COLUMBIA CHEVROLET – MONTGOMERY, OH – 42
??? – 60 – SUNSET CHEVROLET – SARASOTA, FL – 41
YES – 60 – WHITMOYER BUICK-CHEVROLET – MOUNT JOY, PA – 41
No – 62 – MIDWAY CHEVROLET – PHOENIX, AZ – 38
??? – 62 – *** CHEVROLET – BRADENTON, FL – 38
No – 62 – F H DAILEY CHEVROLET – SAN LEANDRO, CA – 38
YES – 65 – CAMPBELL CHEVROLET OF BOWLING GREEN – BOWLING GREEN, KY – 37
??? – 66 – LOEHMANN-BLASIUS CHEVROLET – WATERBURY, CT – 36
??? – 66 – TIM LALLY CHEVROLET – WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, OH – 36
No – 66 – REEDER CHEVROLET – KNOXVILLE, TN – 36
??? – 66 – ELCO CHEVROLET – BALLWIN, MO – 36
YES – 66 – SIR WALTER CHEVROLET COMPANY – RALEIGH, NC – 36
??? – 71 – RAY HUFFINES CHEVROLET – PLANO, TX – 35
No – 71 – DIMMITT CHEVROLET – CLEARWATER, FL – 35
??? – 71 – RIVERSIDE CHEVROLET – RIVERSIDE, CA – 35
??? – 71 – WALLACE CHEVROLET, LLC – STUART, FL – 35
??? – 75 – SERRA CHEVROLET – MADISON, TN – 34
No – 75 – BRIDGEWATER CHEVROLET – BRIDGEWATER, NJ – 34
??? – 75 – THE CHEVROLET EXCHANGE – LAKE BLUFF, IL – 34
No – 78 – WALTERS ELKLAND CHEVROLET – ELKLAND, PA – 33
YES – 78 – WESTSIDE CHEVROLET – KATY, TX – 33
??? – 78 – SUN CHEVROLET – MC MURRAY, PA – 33
??? – 78 – CABLE-DAHMER CHEVROLET – INDEPENDENCE, MO – 33
YES – 78 – LASH CHEVROLET – JOHNSTOWN, OH – 33
??? – 78 – FREMONT CHEVROLET – FREMONT, CA – 33
No – 78 – KEYES CHEVROLET – VAN NUYS, CA – 33
??? – 78 – RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET – CHARLESTON, SC – 33
No – 78 – LINDSAY CHEVROLET – WOODBRIDGE, VA – 33
??? – 87 – JEFF SCHMITT CHEVROLET EAST – BEAVERCREEK, OH – 32
YES – 87 – JEFF GORDON CHEVROLET – WILMINGTON, NC – 32
??? – 87 – TED BRITT CHEVROLET – STERLING, VA – 32
??? – 87 – RELIABLE CHEVROLET – RICHARDSON, TX – 32
??? – 87 – PENSKE CHEVROLET OF CERRITOS – CERRITOS, CA – 32
??? – 87 – BUD’S CHEVROLET – SAINT MARYS, OH – 32
??? – 93 – WIN CHEVROLET – CARSON, CA – 31
No – 93 – ALLEN GWYNN CHEVROLET – GLENDALE, CA – 31
No – 93 – MATT SAXE CHEVROLET BUICK – BELLE PLAINE, MN – 31
??? – 93 – LONE STAR CHEVROLET – JERSEY VILLAGE, TX – 31
YES – 93 – RED RIVER CHEVROLET – BOSSIER CITY, LA – 31
No – 93 – NIMNICHT CHEVROLET COMPANY – JACKSONVILLE, FL – 31
??? – 93 – STEVENS CREEK CHEVROLET – SAN JOSE, CA – 31
??? – 100 – BAYWAY CHEVROLET – PEARLAND, TX – 30
YES – 100 – KARL CHEVROLET – ANKENY, IA – 30
No – 100 – CAPITOL CHEVROLET – AUSTIN, TX – 30
No – 100 – NEW SMYRNA BEACH CHEVROLET – NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL – 30
YES – 100 – STARLING CHEVROLET – ORLANDO, FL – 30
??? – 100 – MIAMI LAKES CHEVROLET – HIALEAH, FL – 30
Wow, what a list, thanks for sharing. There is a sharp dropoff after the first 2. What is it that they are doing that no one else is? Maybe it is the pickup at any dealership service, vehicle allotment, or?
@PRA4SNW- I didn’t want BF getting angry so I only printed the Top 100. There are many more in some very small towns. I am pretty sure allotment is based on Corvette sales. Cheers
What a pity… 3.73…(woud need engine blowing 5800 RMPat 125 mph in top gear)…. not useful for Germany… without speed limits on the Autobahn..i would prefer a 3.08 ( 125 mph at 4800 RPM)… or even would change to 2.76..(125 mph at 4300 RPM ). Acceleration with the 454 through gears would be still joyful. Longer axle.. longer engine life ..and less fuel consumption..
Sucks for actually driving it too. 3000 rpm at 60 mph gets annoying very quickly. And that won’t even let you keep up at highway speeds in North America.
My 1986 White Ford Escort hatchback 4sp also has matching numbers and original blue plates too.
Beautiful but he is quite optimistic at $55,000.
My 1986 Ford Escort 4sp has matching numbers..
You already said that..
Yes, he has said that PLENTY of times before.
Time for something new.
I wonder if door is just that way. My 1978 door is slightly off in similar way. Not uncommon build defect.
Looks like my first Vette. I’ve had several since but like your first kiss this one is always special.
C3s are the absolute ugliest Corvettes ever made IMHO! This 1 looks good but it isn’t original by any stretch of the imagination. Sure the numbers match but the engine has been modified, the rear bumper replaced by a fiberglass bumper instead of a OE bumper etc.! I have to see the receipts to belief you put $90,000 into it and even if he did I have to believe a lot of it was wasted!
Ugliest vet ever, you need your eyes checked aside for the c2 vets ,which is the prettiest car ever pined, the c3 is is number 2 and that is my opinion.
I certainly agree about the C2 probably being the best looking but I’ll definitely stay with my opinion of the C3. I actually think I’d put the newest ones at my 2nd choice.
You said it, Desert Rat. From the peak of the C2, every generation, in order, has gotten slightly, comparatively, worse. For the first time ever, with the current car, we now have a generic Corvette. Change the badge and it could be any car.
Yes from 1970 to the end.
My 2001 White Corolla 4 sp (auto) has matching hubcaps on one side. And the ones on the other side match one another too!
If you’re looking at concourse the rear end change hurts the value so does the paint & engine enhancement. It’s actually toooooo nice.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
$50k worth!
What are the 0 to 60 and 1/4 mile times? Automatic? Right? Stock?
Oops my mistake. Manual!
0 to 60 in 6.3 seconds, 1/4 mile 14.7 at 97 mph. ( With 3.08 rear axle)
Because over the course of 3 decades the car required $90K is irrelevant. This is a $35-40K Corvette if the visually impaired customer leaves the service dog home
I am a Vette guy and this one is stunning. Not sure its 55k stunning, but I guess all the trophies his wife is making him get rid of make up for it. He turns me away when he talks NCRS, those guys put me off for some reason. Always made me think of Ted Knight in Caddyshack looking down on everyone. I had mine at a show and a guy like that was asking why I changed to coil overs when that 55lb truck spring in the back was better. But I do appreciate how nice this car is. Good luck, but no one really wants trophies they didn’t win.
This is called “I’m upside down on the car and I really don’t want to sell it.” Absolute fantasy land AND the odometer doesn’t work? Cheapest tires $ can buy? Gimme a break. Nice $25k cars. Not even an NCRS car. Lots of super-low mile cars still out there for less.
There’s a saying when it comes to Corvettes, stay away from the 4’s!
I agree about 4s in the engine but really want one for the transmission in the older models.
I’ve had 2 C4’s and loved them both. Last one was a ’94 with the LT1. IMO a great engine with plenty of power and on the road at 70+ MPH 22 MPG. Never heard that saying. I owned 2 C3’s and the C4 was a definite improvement just like the Vettes every year. they always get better.
Nice Vette but not $55k nice… California, the land of fruits and nuts…
Currently listed at $34,000.