The 1974 model year marked a significant milestone in the production life of Chevrolet’s C3 Corvette. Chrome bumpers were now a distant memory, and the company’s big-block V8 made its final appearance. This ‘Vette rolled off the line that year and is a low-mile survivor with the legendary 454 under the hood. It is an unrestored turnkey classic needing nothing but a new home. The seller has listed the C3 here on eBay in Phoenix, Arizona. Bidding has raced past the reserve to sit at $16,100 at the time of writing.
Chevrolet’s transformation of the C3 Corvette from a hard-edged sports car to a comfortable cruiser was almost complete by 1974. The company installed more supple suspension for a more refined ride, and the chrome rear bumper was consigned to the pages of history. Some enthusiasts lamented the changes, but buyer acceptance was high, with a new sales record of 37,502 cars during the production year. Chevrolet offered ten paint shades on the 1974 color palette, with this car’s original owner selecting Dark Brown Metallic. The seller claims the ‘Vette is original and unrestored, and its presentation is impressive if true. Close-up shots reveal a scattering of small chips, but the depth of color and shine is hard to criticize. The engine bay is free from visible corrosion, and with the car residing in a dry climate, there shouldn’t be rust problems with the frame or birdcage. There are no signs of issues with the fiberglass or urethane bumpers, and the beautiful Rally wheels are new. The badges and trim pieces are excellent, and the tinted glass looks flawless.
The original owner obviously craved the perfect combination of performance and comfort with this Corvette, selecting the 454ci V8, a three-speed automatic transmission, and power assistance for the steering and brakes. The big-block was beginning to feel the strain imposed by stricter emission regulations but still churned out an impressive 270hp and 380 ft/lbs of torque. It allowed the car to cover the ¼-mile in 14.8 seconds, making the ‘Vette one of the fastest American production cars available in 1974. The seller indicates this classic features its original engine, although they state that shifting duties are now performed by an updated four-speed automatic. They don’t specify its type or origin, but the overdrive will give this beauty long legs on the open road. They don’t mention verifying evidence for their claim that it has a genuine 39,000 miles on the clock, but the overall condition makes it plausible. The Corvette bursts into life when the key is turned, running and driving perfectly. Flying in and driving home is viable for those considering a cross-country road trip.
The focus on comfort is further reinforced when we focus on this classic’s interior. It features leather seatcovers, air conditioning, power windows, and an AM/FM radio. The presentation is hard to fault, with no wear on the upholstered surfaces and no signs of the typical carpet fading. The dash, pad, and plastic haven’t succumbed to the Arizona sun, and there is no evidence of the console scratches that are common as C3 Corvettes age. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this interior is the lack of aftermarket additions. Factory radios are often swapped for more modern alternatives, but this car has avoided that fate.
This 1974 Corvette isn’t perfect, but there is plenty to like. The car presents well and seems to hold no nasty surprises, while the engine and transmission combination promise excellent acceleration and open-road touring. It has attracted seventeen bids, suggesting some people like what they see. It will head to a new home in a few days, and I hope the next owner keeps treating it with the respect it has obviously received throughout its life. More importantly, I hope they drive and enjoy it as its creators intended. It deserves nothing less.
Those side mirrors are from a ’77 or later Vette.
Good catch.
It looks to be a nice driver albeit an automatic.
Nice car.it would have chrome side mirrors.in 1974…454.looks good..big Ole quadrajet.carbs on it..nice car
Just when you think there are not any Rats left unmolested in the wild bam! What a sweetheart color isn’t my favorite but as a whole there is a lot to like & A/C to boot ! Your just a few tweaks away from big block heaven with this girl or is a hairy chested Rat a guy?
270 is still a respectable number for the Rat for 74. This is a fine example indeed!
Nice looking car, I have a 74BB vette same color, similar options, but I never seen those plastic intake runners on a 74.
Wondering if that is a CA emissions part or off a later model?
That air intake looks like it could be an aftermarket cold air intake set-up or maybe even a well executed home grown one, This sounds like a very nice C3 that I’d love to call it mine. Bet ya it’s a good highway cruiser with that O/D trans.
Looks like a home made air intake job. You can see in the expanded picture in the auction that one side is reverse of the other side. Probably done to make it fit better. Not a bad idea.
Though not a full up fan of the all glass body this is a nice car. Go to work, go cruising, whatever, it should be a fun driver.
VS a partial glass body? Or, vs chrome bumper cars?
I’m 50-50 on the ’73s but will admit I’m first on a friend’s list to buy his ’73 if he ever decides to sell it. The friends car.
How is your friends car a ‘73 if it has chrome front bumper?
Because that was the first year Corvette put a plastic scrunch bumper on the rear and left the chrome up front.
All these years and I’m still of the opinion that Chevrolet used the “Confucius” theory for their reasoning.
You know. You have no control of what is happening in the past behind you however you do have “some” control of what is about to take place in the immediate future.
I have a 78 barn find that needs a little work for 10,000.00. Is that a good price?
Depends on how little work it needs, and if you are a keeper or a flipper. If it was one I really liked, i.e., color, interior, features, transmission (I would want a 4 speed manual) I could see going $10k on one to keep if the work needed was stuff I could do myself or get done for a couple thousand. C3s are not bringing big $$ at this point, so probably not a good flipper investment. There are plenty of all original low mileage units out there, the demand will have to build and consume those before it will make sense to invest $$ in restoration projects to flip. Just my opinion, ymmv.
Jim, if you are a Facebook member, join a couple of the Corvettes for sale groups.
That will give you a general idea of what other people are asking. Price is always going to depend on condition.
I definitely prefer the chrome bumper versions, but I deviate from the norm when it comes to color. How many Corvettes do we see in red or black ? Something other than those two colors is a plus for me. In 1974, this 454 was about the best a buyer could get. Sure, a 4 speed would have been better, but all in all, this is a good looking unit for someone who wants a non chrome bumper Vette.
My dad bought almost exactly this version of a 74 new back then. Big block, auto, but with tan leather. Fairly soon after, it wiped a cam lobe, I can still hear the sound of that miss in my head. Warranty covered it. I think there was some issue with the cams in some cars. Super smooth, strong pull up to some take me to jail speeds. I’m still amazed he let me drive it alone from time to time as a relatively newly minted driver. A lot of trust. Not sure I’d let my son do the equivalent of that now if I had a similar vehicle.
Had a ‘74 convertible. For C3 I prefer the ‘73 with the chrome rear bumper. I’ve seen a few of the chocolate brown ‘74’s over the years. This one would be a nice driver but would look much better with a tan interior (black was an odd choice) and some white letter tires.
it’s the right color for a turd
Not many were in the frost blue color and the inside is dark blue. Have to look but close to 48,000 miles. Regular 350 with automatic. My friend bought it years ago and I got it and did all work to make sure that everything was drivable with no issues after sitting for a few years in a garage. I’m 74 and do not drive it now with health issues and don’t want it to just sit.
BE SAFE,,,,,,JIM
Jim,
Sounds like a nice car. I love C3 Corvettes and would be interested, but money is now sunk into a house that is being built.
Reach out to the nice folks here at Barn Finds and they will be happy to list it here for you and give you good selling advice.
72 was the last year for both chrome. 73 has chrome up front.
No, you have it backwards.