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Rare 1973 Chevrolet Corvette 454 4-Speed!

Do you like having a third pedal under the dash? Well, this car is a 1973 Chevrolet Corvette that originally came with a 454 cubic inch V8 engine and 4 speed manual transmission. Sounds great, doesn’t it! Unfortunately, the 454 cubic inch V8 engine and 4-speed manual transmission are long gone and replaced by a small block Chevrolet V8 and automatic transmission. But never fear, the third pedal is still mounted under the dash!! This 1973 Corvette is located in Foxboro, Massachusetts and is listed here on eBay. The car has a reserve and is currently bid to $6,500 and is listed with a Buy It Now Price of $8,800 with 2 days remaining.

The seller doesn’t include very much information about the small block Chevy engine that currently resides under the hood. The ad does say that the engine runs well. The engine appears to have an aluminum intake manifold and headers. The seller does not have the original numbers matching engine or transmission.

The black interior shows wear from age and dirt from not being cared for over the years. The car is equipped with T-tops (duh), power steering, power brakes, power windows, air conditioning and the nice tilt/telescopic steering column feature found in Corvettes. The seller states that the frame and birdcage are great but the pictures underneath the car look scary to me.

Brake work including a new parking brake and new calipers on all four corners have been installed. The headlights and some of the gauges are not working. The seller honestly states that the paint looks better in the pictures than in person. The 1973 Corvette is one of my favorites because it was the only C3 with the soft front end and chrome rear bumper. This car has Chevrolet rally wheels and black wall tires look archaic. So the million-dollar question is, would you buy this car and return it to its original big block glory?

Comments

  1. Avatar David Mika Member

    Dang. What a let down to see a small-block!

    Like 11
  2. Avatar Greg

    Brief excitement followed by huge disappointment! Should be the headline. At least the price seems inline for C3 Vette with a auto & SBC.

    Like 6
  3. Avatar Ricky M.

    so its just another vette with a slush box. Nothing to see here people, keep moving.

    Like 10
  4. Avatar Classic Steel

    The 454 was no performer of yesteryear vettes. The road and track wrote distance and smoothness said the 350 was lighter and better.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar gbvette62

    The seller may think his car is rare, because it’s a loaded big block, but most 71-74 big block cars tended to be loaded. It seems that people ordered the 454, usually added leather, AC, power windows, etc, though they often have automatics too.

    Overall it’s a pretty tired looking car, though I have to disagree with the writer about the underside being scary. The frame end cap shown looks solid, and much of the rest of what I see, just looks like surface rust. $8800 seems pretty strong for what I see there.

    Like 4
  6. Avatar Frank Sumatra

    Another total BS ad headline from BF! You guys are really going out of your way to insult your loyal readership. Get with the program! No excuse for this crap.

    Like 6
  7. Avatar Stephen Miklos

    After looking at this Vette. The comments are correct. Another SB Vette. $6,500 now is the right price. Interior needs cleaning and the paint a good cleaning and wax. Pull out the drivetrain. Get a 454 LS5 or LS6 setup with a 4 speed or 5 speed. It won’t be number matching but… Fun to drive.. another winter project.😄

    Like 3
  8. Avatar Arthur

    If the original 454 is gone, this Corvette could be fitted with the LSX 454 and a custom-built 4-speed … unless someone wants more than just 4 gears.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Jay Morgan

    Chrome rear bumper and plastic in the front ? Interesting.

    Like 0
    • Avatar frank

      73 was the first year of the 5mph front bumper. all 73’s were that way. chrome in the back and plastic up front.

      Like 2
  10. Avatar Lynn Member

    Some cars u walk away from, this one u should run away from.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar moosie

    No A/C compressor, not original motor or transmission, it might be a car to have if you could get it cheap enough and could put a big block and a 4 speed back into it. But I’m thinking the present bid, $6500 bucks, is all its worth, all things considered.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar nono

    hmmm, I got a 73 454 in the garage looking for a bay to go in…. The real question should be, what does it take to get a chrome bumper up front?

    Like 0
  13. Avatar K. R. V.

    Now this is undoubtably a great candidate for an LS 6.2 swap, with a new manual trans! Then just drive it!

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Ken

    Oh, I’d say about a
    bout 10 thousand more dollars for a crappy one!

    Like 0
  15. Avatar George Mattat

    I have a 73 4 speed small block car. Far better handling than the 71 454 coupe I had in 1976. Riding in a C3 with a 454 and no air conditioning on a 90 degree day and you will cook like a turkey. I have a 454 lying around in the shop with 11 to 1 pistons and roller cam. Hmmmm.

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Charles Sawka

    Sort of a blank canvas. If ya got it a a great price, Rod it or Mod it.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Kevin

    It has the wrong hood for a big block car. Also, if it were a true big block car with a small block installed the front would sit higher. Big blocks weigh a lot more. Nice try.

    Like 0
    • Avatar moosie

      Kevin,
      Going by the vin.# thats listed, 1Z37Z3S4xxxxx, the fifth symbol being “Z” makes it a 454 car. Its hard to guess how many times front springs might have been changed in the course of this cars 47 years of life.

      Like 0

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