C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Black 1973 vett?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 9, 2006 | 11:17 PM
  #1  
misfit1's Avatar
misfit1
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Reisterstown/ Finksburg Maryland
Default Black 1973 vett?

Hi Everyone, I have a 1973 corvette and I believe it to be an original black car. Does anyone out there know how to verify this? It has been repainted, several times (currently black). One person told me to take off the I.D. plate (says SPEC PAINT on tag) in the door jam and check the color under that. He said most people don’t bother taking that off during a paint job and it looks to me like the first paint job is black.
Thanks to anybody who can help!
Reply
Old May 9, 2006 | 11:22 PM
  #2  
Flagstaff_Vette's Avatar
Flagstaff_Vette
Pro
Supporting Lifetime
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 604
Likes: 1
From: Flagstaff !!!! baby AZ
Default

No Factory car was black.

Look on the plate inside drivers door:
910 - Classic White
914 - Silver
922 - Medium Blue
927 - Dark Blue
945 - Blue-Green
947 - Elkhart Green
952 - Yellow
953 - Yellow Metallic
976 - Mile Miglia Red
980 - Orange
Reply
Old May 9, 2006 | 11:25 PM
  #3  
misfit1's Avatar
misfit1
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Reisterstown/ Finksburg Maryland
Default

Check your book again, 30 were made, and my tag says "Spec paint".

Last edited by misfit1; May 9, 2006 at 11:30 PM. Reason: adding to what I wrote
Reply
Old May 9, 2006 | 11:41 PM
  #4  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

having a 'SPEC' trim tag means that it's very possible that you have one of the 30 non-standard colour cars.

Whether it was originally black can only be determined by carefully investigation. Good luck.
Reply
Old May 9, 2006 | 11:44 PM
  #5  
LittleJake's Avatar
LittleJake
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
Default

Post pics of your "spec paint" trim tag and body color underneath. Thats very interesting.
Reply
Old May 9, 2006 | 11:48 PM
  #6  
TonySinclair's Avatar
TonySinclair
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 5
Default

Originally Posted by misfit1
Check your book again, 30 were made, and my tag says "Spec paint".
If you know this already, then why are you asking?
Reply
Old May 9, 2006 | 11:58 PM
  #7  
Tom73's Avatar
Tom73
Race Director
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 477
From: NM
Default

Originally Posted by LittleJake
Post pics of your "spec paint" trim tag
Please, I have never seen a SPEC tag.

For '73 Black was not a factory color. But a SPEC tag would indicate a non factory color. But from my understanding, most SPEC cars came from the factory in primer. Then the receiving dealer painted them whatever the buyer wanted. Here is what the NCRS Judging Guide says:

"Chevrolet built very few Corvettes in special colors or in primer only. If the color is not designated for regular Corvette production, the paint code if different fro those listed below. If the car is built in primer or special color, the area of the tag before the word PAINT may read PRIME, SPEC, SPECIAL or some other indicator of non-standard paint finishes. The owner is responsible for documenting such deviations from standard production. A car with SPEC or SPECIAL for the paint code, and without documentation, is assumed to have been delivered in primer. A car produced in primer must be judged in gray primer....."

They go on to state: "In 1973, approximately thirty (30) cars were painted black. The paint code used for these black cars is unclear at this time. One is reported to have a SPEC code. All need to be carefully documented by the owner."

The key here is documentation. Without that, and if you are going to have the car judged, then it will need to be judged in primer. If not being judged then it can be any color you want
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 12:01 AM
  #8  
TonySinclair's Avatar
TonySinclair
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 5
Default

Originally Posted by Tom73
A car with SPEC or SPECIAL for the paint code, and without documentation, is assumed to have been delivered in primer. A car produced in primer must be judged in gray primer.....


Do they make primer in candy apple?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old May 10, 2006 | 12:03 AM
  #9  
LittleJake's Avatar
LittleJake
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
Default

Now that would suck having to restore your car to NCRS primer!
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 12:10 AM
  #10  
68AIR's Avatar
68AIR
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: FBO Florida
Default

[QUOTE=Tom73]... A car produced in primer must be judged in gray primer....."[/i]

They go on to state: "In 1973, approximately thirty (30) cars were painted black. The paint code used for these black cars is unclear at this time. One is reported to have a SPEC code. All need to be carefully documented by the owner."

This could be the biggest problem I have with NCRS. It is ludicrous to think someone kept their ride in gray primer for 33 years. Okay, strike that, my car was in primer the entire time I was in school. But not 33 years
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 12:17 AM
  #11  
LittleJake's Avatar
LittleJake
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
Default

Hey wouldnt gray primer be incorrect for the year though? Didnt they come with a dark red primer? NCRS would tag you bad on points for that one. Makes you go hmmmmm
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 12:20 AM
  #12  
68AIR's Avatar
68AIR
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: FBO Florida
Default Primer?

I could just see someone rolling up to the NCRS shindig with a primered car. "I'm telling you Carl, thats not 'The General's' shade of primer gray". "Look at the overspray, Lord that can't be correct".
In some perverse way this car would probably get all the attention I bet.
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 12:26 AM
  #13  
Tom73's Avatar
Tom73
Race Director
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 477
From: NM
Default

Originally Posted by LittleJake
Hey wouldnt gray primer be incorrect for the year though? Didnt they come with a dark red primer? NCRS would tag you bad on points for that one.
The Judging Manual says gray primer. But it does go on to say "Two coats of primer, the first red oxide and the second Gray, are applied to all cars. Centain colors required a third primer or sealant coat; e.g. white cars require another Gray coat and maroon cars red oxide.'

tom...
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 02:00 AM
  #14  
gator79's Avatar
gator79
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Default

pull tour door panels off and look inside the door. that should be the original color. maybe it was black primer
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 08:11 AM
  #15  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

[QUOTE=68AIR]
Originally Posted by Tom73
... A car produced in primer must be judged in gray primer....."[/i]

They go on to state: "In 1973, approximately thirty (30) cars were painted black. The paint code used for these black cars is unclear at this time. One is reported to have a SPEC code. All need to be carefully documented by the owner."

This could be the biggest problem I have with NCRS. It is ludicrous to think someone kept their ride in gray primer for 33 years. Okay, strike that, my car was in primer the entire time I was in school. But not 33 years
Nobody said that it had to stay in primer for 33 years. If you choose to enter your car in NCRS Flight Judging (not Bowtie/Star) then you can choose to restore it to the state in which it left the factory to minimise deductions. If you want to paint it the following day, that's your business.

If you don't like the concept or the rules, don't go.
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 02:57 PM
  #16  
68AIR's Avatar
68AIR
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: FBO Florida
Default Must be a Canadien concept

[QUOTE=Mike Ward]
Originally Posted by 68AIR


If you don't like the concept or the rules, don't go.

I don't, eh?
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 03:29 PM
  #17  
NHvette's Avatar
NHvette
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Default

That would be so unique and cool to see a SPEC car restored
to primer. NCRS is about preserving history ... not making a car look good.
If this ain't your mug of beer, then move on to the soda stand.

For the original poster, I would check under the door sill plates.
Even when a car is painted and 'jambed', the sill plates are rarely
removed to paint underneath. Both of mine had original paint under
these ... despite many complete and sketchy paint jobs.

Someone was hiding a black 73 at Mt Wachusett near me in MA ...
could it be another ??? Nah, it was originally med metallic blue.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Black 1973 vett?

Old May 10, 2006 | 09:21 PM
  #18  
misfit1's Avatar
misfit1
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Reisterstown/ Finksburg Maryland
Default

It figures, the batteries in my camera are dead, I'll get a pic of the "spec" tag for you. I have black paint under the sills, Carpet and under the trim tag I took off.

Does anyone think a special colour makes a car worth more? The reason I’m asking is I have been into British cars for so long colour didn’t make much difference as long a the car looked good. I know what you guys are thinking, but hey I had E Type Jaguars. You can’t get a car much more beautiful than that. Anyway I have seen the light and come back to American sports cars. I have this C3 and am looking for a C1.
Reply
Old May 13, 2006 | 12:48 AM
  #19  
RMS73's Avatar
RMS73
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 418
From: Chester Virginia
Default

I read somewhere that several cars were painted black for a dealer in the midwest. VIN 5492 has SPEC on the trim tag and 'to be painted black' on the build sheet. The car was shipped to a dealer in Iowa.
Can you post the last five numbers of the VIN for me. Also can you access the build sheet?

Roger
Reply
Old May 13, 2006 | 01:48 AM
  #20  
Greg's Avatar
Greg
Just another Corvette guy
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Default


The build sheet might really help.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:21 AM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE