By 1974, American manufacturers began to feel the pinch with their performance offerings. There were still some respectable vehicles for those who craved speed, but the options were closing rapidly. This 1974 Corvette is a perfect example. While buyers could still order these classics with a big-block under the hood, the original owner of this car selected the L82 version of Chevrolet’s venerable small-block V8. It is a tidy driver that is mechanically and structurally sound. Located in Miami, Florida, you will find the Corvette listed for sale here on eBay. Spirited bidding has pushed the price to $9,100 in a No Reserve auction.
Finished in Classic White, the Corvette makes a positive first impression. The seller indicates that the car recently emerged from twenty years in a private collection and is structurally solid. He suggests that there are no issues with the frame, although he provides no information on the birdcage. He describes the paint as older, implying that a repaint might form part of this classic’s history. It presents well, with no significant issues or defects visible in the supplied photos. I can’t spot any fiberglass flaws, with the seller describing the body as “nice.” The panel gaps are generally consistent, although the one between the leading edge of the driver’s door and the front fender is larger than expected. This may indicate prior panel damage, but it could also be a symptom of Chevrolet’s panel fit during this era. The glass and trim look good, and although the aluminum wheels are from a later model, they don’t look out of place on this car.
If ever you needed a clear indication that Chevrolet had luxury on their radar with the ’74 Corvette, you need to look no further than the interior of our feature car. Black leather upholstery, power windows, faux woodgrain trim, and factory air conditioning should make any journey a pleasant experience. The overall impression is pretty positive, with the interior presenting well for a driver-quality car. There is some minor visible wear on the driver’s seat, but addressing this with a conditioning agent and appropriate dye would be easy and inexpensive. Some of the plastic trim pieces on the console exhibit damage that is common in ‘Vettes of this era, but it still looks okay. Someone has installed an aftermarket radio/cassette player, and the work quality is not great. The buyer could decide to reinstate a factory radio, although adaptors are readily available for around $40, improving the appearance noticeably.
Buyers in 1974 could elect to hand dealers an additional $250 above the sticker price of their new Corvette to outfit it with a 454ci big-block, and 3,494 buyers trod that path. The second alternative drew more interest, with 6,690 cars rolling off the line with the L82 version of the company’s venerable 350ci small-block that lightened their wallet by $299. While it delivered 250hp and 285 ft/lbs of torque versus the big-block’s 270hp and 380 ft/lbs, their straight-line performance figures were line ball. With a 454 under the hood, the Corvette could cover the ¼ mile in 14.9 seconds. That figure rose to 15.1 seconds for the L82, but the smaller motor brought other benefits. Corvette’s with the 350 tipped the scales around 220lbs less than those with a 454 under the hood. With most of that weight hanging over the front axle, the big-block cars weren’t as nimble or responsive on twisting roads. Our feature car houses its numbers-matching L82 and is in sound mechanical health. After emerging from its time in the collection, the seller cleaned the fuel tank, replaced the spark plugs, and rebuilt the brake calipers. He states that the buyer may want to replace the tires but that the car runs and drives well.
While it remained classed as a sports car, the 1974 Corvette was a different beast from its predecessors in the C3 lineage. The company had adapted to the legislative requirements for safety and emissions but had “softened” the cars in pursuit of a more comfortable driving experience. While diehard enthusiasts decried the changes, 37,502 buyers liked the 1974 Corvette enough to commit their hard-earned cash to park one in their garage. This’Vette looks like a good driver-quality vehicle, and the more potent optional engine makes it easy to understand why it has already received forty-three bids. I won’t be surprised if the bidding hits $15,000 before the hammer falls because recent sales results suggest that is possible. If a C3 Corvette is on your Wish List, this auction might be worth watching.
I’ve owned a few of these and really loved the looks. They are surprisingly narrow inside though for those with wide shoulders. I guess women aren’t the only ones who are willing to sacrifice comfort for beauty! The L82 gives a nice bump in power and durability and those valve covers are sweet. The steering has more heft than a Camaro of the same generation too which does give the car a sportier feel. My first Corvette was an automatic so I sold it and found a 4-speed. I sort of regretted that though because the shifter was not very smooth. I read a few road tests from the era and that was their main complaint so maybe it wasn’t just worn bushings. It’s probably nothing that a Hurst shifter and some time adjusting couldn’t fix though.
Vette looks good in white.. rather have the big block option.
To each is own. The 454 is heavy and eats gas at alarming rate. That weight leads to lousy handling. I know. I had a 454 Corvette many years ago. I now own a 73 L48 four speed coupe. This car handles much better than my LS5 car did. The only thing I would change is to the great L82 engine. I have driven several Corvettes with an L82 stick. So much better in all respects.
Anyone who says a Corvette’s big block is “hanging over the front axle”, has no idea what they’re talking about! Corvette aren’t Camaro’s, Corvette engines are mounted below and behind the front cross member (and axle center line), not over it. Big block’s have about a near perfect 51/49 weight balance, while small blocks are only slightly better at around 50/50. With a larger front sway bar, heavy rear spring and a rear sway bar (not included on small blocks), there is little to no difference in how “nimble and responsive” a big block’s handling is, compared to a small block.
The optional Corvette Custom (leather) Interior came with real wood veneer trim on the door panels and console, not “faux woodgrain” trim.
73’s & 74’s had a functional ram air hood, and I can never understand why people replace the functioning air cleaner, with an open element one. Engines are always happier with cool, fresh outside air, than hot underhood air. Though this car appears to have an aftermarket carb and intake, which probably didn’t fit under the hood, necessitating the air cleaner change.
I had a white with saddle, 74 4 speed L-82 in the late 70’s. With a few miner mods (blueprinted & jetted Q-Jet, recurved distributor) it easily ran mid 14’s. This isn’t the cleanest Corvette I’ve seen, but if it can be had for around $9K-$10K, it might be an okay car for someone looking for one to play with.
gbvette62: I agree with your comments about big block handling, but I got rid of my tweaked ’73 454 because in the wet it was outright dangerous. Despite new tires, the slightest bit of rain and it would spin out of control due to so much torque…something I never experienced with my 350 ’72, whose 350 was tweaked to just over 400 bhp.
Something else: the wood is indeed fake and not real. I have told this story before. I once made a bet with a Corvette restorer who kept insisting that the cars left the factory with REAL wood…and that it was only the aftermarket suppliers who supplied fake plastic wood. As he had a ’72 in a corner with its “wood” crumbling and had to be replaced, I made a bet with him and took a chunk of that so-called “wood”. I put a lighter to it and the wood started to drip. “Have you ever seen wood MELT?”, I asked…
I don’t want to start a fight, but the factory installed wood grain trim used with the 70-76 Custom Interior was absolutely a real wood veneer.
I have a couple NOS console inserts, in GM boxes, that are real wood. With age they’ve started to crack and lift off the aluminum base plate that they were originally glued too, but they are absolutely real wood. I’ve been selling Corvette parts since the late 70’s, and have parted plenty of cars with the Custom Interior since then. Every original one I’ve parted had real wood trim pieces. I have used shift consoles and door panel inserts, with tired real wood inserts on the shelf in my warehouse. The NCRS judging manuals call for real wood, not plastic.
If what you melted was plastic, then it was a later repro, from the 90’s or newer.
Did you see the size of that coil? That’s probably why the stock air cleaner was changed.
Other then that, nice car.
This would be a nice daily driver, other than that the 73-77’s don’t have much collector value, drive it and enjoy it
wrong rear bumper,, 74 had a center vertical split. can’t see that in the picture.
It’s hard to see, but the split is definitely there. I hard a hard time seeing it at first – I figured it would be a lot more apparent on a white car. You can really see it on dark colored cars.
The split should be as visible as the seam on the bumper to the body
I agree that the split is usually very visible, but there is one there. My guess is that someone tried to hide it by filling it in with something.
A professional detailing would have helped this listing immensely.
“Most gauges work”!! Looks like the important ones do not!!
I can almost guarantee you that the clock doesn’t work. Unless they changed them by ’74.
The best buys on the market are the 3-7 vettes. Problem is now everyone that didn’t like them before now wants one for an investment. Now the sharks are buying them up and will inflate the prices on them also.
3 more years a four speed vette will become unobtainable in any condition for 5K.
What used to be a reasonable car for the money will become like all the other shark infested cars.OVERPRICED.
The door to fender gaps are normal fit & finish for this era car, my ’76 has the same gaps.
Being an L82 most likely has the close ratio tranny.
Well I for one am happy to see the value of the 74 Corvette increasing as I have owned mine for 42 years. I put 329k miles on the L42. Ripped it out a few years ago and dropped in a GMPP 454 HO with a 5 speed Tremac Tranny with the Hurst side winder shifter, scored a L88 hood, and an awesome paint job in Harley Davidson Industrial Gray and BAM I’m ready for another 40 years with this car. That 5th gear with that 454 sends this car into hyper space on LA freeways
OOH yea I redid the front end, rear end, body mounts, new Vintage Air, new seat leather, new sound system – hidden in the rear compartment controlled by my Cell Ph, which I highly recommend, new seat belts, electric radiator fan, side pipes, and assorted required engine parts.
I love this car, an obvious keeper. It’s just great to see that after investing 35K I have a real nice 15K car.
Benefits of the 74 model is that they are available at reasonable prices. Parts are available and with the whole numbers matching, complete restoration, survivor value not as outrageous as some the years you can hot rod them up without it wearing on your conscious and have a fun car to drive, Most importantly for some of us NO SMOG not even in California.
It is a sin that the designers could not figure away to keep the metal bumpers, The rest of the GM line up kept them.
God Bless
Welcome to another episode of “The Magician” starring Bill Bixby. I think after watching the introduction to the TV show you would all agree the best place to park your white 74 Corvette is in your airplane.
Ended:Mar 29, 2022 , 10:09PM
Winning bid:
US $12,766.00
[ 48 bids ]