If you are hunting for a spotlessly preserved and original survivor, this 1973 Corvette probably won’t be the car for you. However, if what you want is a classic car that is in excellent condition and can be driven and enjoyed in a carefree fashion, you may well have hit the jackpot. The Corvette is a turn-key proposition that is raring to go for its lucky new owner. If you think you could be that person, you will find the ‘Vette located in Clearwater, Florida, and listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding has been frantic on this one, indicating that people like what they see. It currently sits at $9,900, but the reserve hasn’t been met. If you aren’t a fan of the whole auction scene, you might choose to hit the BIN button. The owner has set this at a very competitive $18,700. Barn Finder Larry D has had his radar working overtime to spot this one. So thank you for that, Larry.

If you are going to cast your eyes over a classic car to park in your driveway, why not pick one finished in a color called Classic White? That is the shade that graces this Corvette’s panels, and it presents nicely. There are no significant flaws or issues, and as you can see from this photo, the chrome sparkles in the sun. The owner provides some close-up shots, and they show a fiberglass body with no cracks or problems that would require attention. The T-Top is intact, and the owner says that this fits snuggly with no leaks. The Rally wheels, trim rings, and center caps are all in excellent condition. The same would appear to be true of the glass. I will admit that classic cars finished in White generally don’t get pulses racing, but when they are as tidy as this one is, they still have the ability to turn heads on the street or at a Cars & Coffee.

Turning our attention to the Corvette’s interior, and once again, the news appears to be pretty good. It is upholstered in Code 413 Midnight Blue vinyl. The owner has recently installed new covers on the seats, and while they look good, the buyer might want to give them a tweak to improve the fit. The door trims and most of the plastic is in good condition, while the same is true of the carpet and dash. The owner has made a couple of changes, including installing a Hurst shifter and a Pioneer radio/cassette player. The fit of the last item is not that neat, and these changes can be a compromise in C3 Corvettes. However, adaptor plates can give an almost factory appearance to these types of changes. These plates cost around $70, and the difference that they make is profound. The buyer doesn’t get loads of optional extras with this classic, but the factory air conditioning should make life more pleasant on those hotter days.

The 1973 Corvette brought some interesting engine choices for potential buyers, and part of this surrounded the price of each engine. The entry-level engine produced a relatively asthmatic 190hp, which was enough to propel the vehicle through the ¼ mile in 15.9 seconds. Alternatively, a buyer could tick the box beside the L82 version of the 350 or go for broke by ordering the LS4 big-block. This is where the whole thing becomes fascinating because while the L82 added $299 to the Corvette’s sticker price, the big block would lighten your wallet by a mere $250. Power figures were comparable, with the 350 producing 250hp and the 454 pumping out 275hp. Torque figures told a different story because while the LS4 offered 390 ft/lbs, those with an L82 had to make do with 285 ft/lbs. The 454-equipped Corvette was capable of galloping through the ¼ mile in 14.8 seconds. Point the L82-equipped car at the same ribbon of tarmac, and the journey would be over in 15.3 seconds. It might be slower, but it is a more complete package as a driver’s car. The big-block Corvette tipped the scales at a whopping 212lbs more than the L82 Corvette, and all of that additional weight was over the front wheels. That makes the small-block cars more agile and responsive on twisting bitumen and goes some way towards explaining why there were 1,300 more Corvettes equipped with the L82 than the cheaper LS4. This Corvette features the L82, and it is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. The owner has replaced the intake and carburetor to improve performance, but he includes the original components in the sale. When you delve below the surface, you also find that the Corvette has received a comprehensive list of suspension and steering components. These include ball joints, springs, control arms, shocks, bushings, and all of the power steering components. When you add a master cylinder to that list, it is little wonder that it runs and drives exceptionally well. All the buyer will need to do is slip behind the wheel and hit the road.

For some people, owning an immaculately preserved classic car can bring with it a high level of paranoia. Dust, dirt, and stone chips can cause sleepless nights, while a passing shower of rain can cause them to hyperventilate. I’m not saying that owning such a car is a bad thing. What I am saying is that the experience is not for everyone. That’s where cars like this 1973 Corvette fit into the grand scheme of things. This is a clean and tidy classic that its owner could take anywhere with their head held high. It is a car of which they could rightly feel proud, but it is also a vehicle that won’t cause wailing and gnashing of teeth if it cops the occasional chip or mark. Its owner can slip behind the wheel and enjoy a spot of carefree cruising regardless of the prevailing weather. They have the opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life, and that is undoubtedly why this car has already attracted an incredible 65 bids. It is also why I believe that this Corvette deserves more than a mere passing glance.