C3 Designation Why So Long
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Native Californian CALIFORNIA
Army
C3 Designation Why So Long
With the C3 designation running from 68 - 82 I beliebve too many models and variations have been general categorized into one group.
What do you think?
What do you think?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Chassis/suspension didn't change much, interior didn't change much, body didn't change much at all...so no, it's just right. It was simply a long-running body style. The chassis made it 19 years without much in the way of major changes, starting in '63.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: B'ham Alabama
Actually, to the Non-Corvette fan,...most can't tell the difference between a '68-'73 and the '74-'77. With the bumper being the main difference, they seem to all look alike to most people who are not up on the Corvette.
Actually, the biggest difference is between the '68-'77 models vs the
'79 thru '82 models. The big back window and molded-in flairs look much different than the earlier models.
Actually, the biggest difference is between the '68-'77 models vs the
'79 thru '82 models. The big back window and molded-in flairs look much different than the earlier models.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: NM
68-69 Coke bottle with slit gills and no flairs
70-72 Flairs and egg crate fender vent
73 Chrome rear, rubber front, sugar scoop fender vent
74-77 rubber front and rear
78-79 the 77 with a bubble back
80-82 the bubble back with a heavy chin
Le Mans Master
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From: North Alabama
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
There are basically 2 groups 68-77 & 78-82. The body & interior were redone in 78. These were popular cars- note that the 79 is the highest volume year.
They all could be said to have the coke bottle shape.
They all could be said to have the coke bottle shape.
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Burning Brakes
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From: THE Eastern Shore Maryland
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Glen Allen, VA
I would agree that you could sub catagorize them, but they all are C-3's. I would say 68-72, 73 by itself, 74-77, 78 and 79, 80-82. I also agree that the C1's changed a lot more in thier 9 year run than C-3s. An 82 bears resemblance to a 68, but I don't think a 62 bears any resemblance to a 53.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Living in the Hartland
Funny they now have a C6 when they look pretty much like C5 to me with some minor changes/upgrades; no drastic body change to set them apart from a distance; line up C1 - C6 and C1-C5 cannot be mistaken for each from 10 yards but the C5 and C6 look almost the same.
Le Mans Master
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From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
especially when i go to shows, i hate being judged with an 82 thats the last year & mine is the first in the c-3 classification. A 1982 is 14 years newer & should carry itself better, and think about all the available parts on an 82 to help in your resto, good luck with most of the 68' parts being one year only.
OK but where does a 73 go in the grouping with chrome or without ?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: THE Eastern Shore Maryland
especially when i go to shows, i hate being judged with an 82 thats the last year & mine is the first in the c-3 classification. A 1982 is 14 years newer & should carry itself better, and think about all the available parts on an 82 to help in your resto, good luck with most of the 68' parts being one year only.
OK but where does a 73 go in the grouping with chrome or without ?
My point exactly....its own group?
Race Director
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From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
73 is actually in the 73-77 group just retaining the old 
rear treatment. I like both rear treatments. 73 got the modern integrated front bumper. 74, the modern integrated rear bumper.
C6 is better for marketing.
rear treatment. I like both rear treatments. 73 got the modern integrated front bumper. 74, the modern integrated rear bumper. C6 is better for marketing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
If i had to chose, i would say it would have to go with a 74 before a 72.
i think it resembles a 74 & newer more then it does earlier....... IMO
i think it resembles a 74 & newer more then it does earlier....... IMO
Race Director
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From: NM
The '73 goes into a class by its self....it is one of a kind, very unique. In fact:
"Larry Shinoda, the famous Corvette designer, once commented in an interview that the 1973 was his favorite of the post-1967 era because the front and rear styling were closest to what the stylists originally had in mind when this series was first designed."
(Illustrated Corvette Buyer's Guide by Michael Antonick).
"Larry Shinoda, the famous Corvette designer, once commented in an interview that the 1973 was his favorite of the post-1967 era because the front and rear styling were closest to what the stylists originally had in mind when this series was first designed."
(Illustrated Corvette Buyer's Guide by Michael Antonick).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: THE Eastern Shore Maryland
The '73 goes into a class by its self....it is one of a kind, very unique. In fact:
"Larry Shinoda, the famous Corvette designer, once commented in an interview that the 1973 was his favorite of the post-1967 era because the front and rear styling were closest to what the stylists originally had in mind when this series was first designed."
(Illustrated Corvette Buyer's Guide by Michael Antonick).
"Larry Shinoda, the famous Corvette designer, once commented in an interview that the 1973 was his favorite of the post-1967 era because the front and rear styling were closest to what the stylists originally had in mind when this series was first designed."
(Illustrated Corvette Buyer's Guide by Michael Antonick).
.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: NM
68-69 Started theCoke bottle shape, with slit gills and no flairs
70-72 StartedFlairs and added egg crate fender vent
73 Chrome rear, rubber front, first withsugar scoop fender vent
Maybe could group 73-74 together as they are more like each other than any other
74-77 rubber front and rear
78-79 the 77 with a bubble back and a revised interior
80-82 the bubble back with a heavy chin
Le Mans Master
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From: Philadelphia Burbs
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St. Jude Donor '06
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Nevada City California
Absolutely! I've been touting the subcategory of '68 to '82 Corvettes into 3 five year subcategories...'68 to '72, '73 to '77 & '78 to '82. It makes the most sense.
By the way although the '73 is kind of an orphan, it most resembles the '74 up...more than the '72 and down.