Just bought a '73
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 316
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
Welcome to the gang. I didn't realize how many proud 73 owners there were until I dropped by this place. Lots to love about a 73, but still lots to spend money on because its a Corvette 
Best of luck with your project; like it or not it will be a project for you.
Engine bay looks to be fairly complete. Clean it up like the rest of the car and have fun.
Best of luck with your project; like it or not it will be a project for you.
Engine bay looks to be fairly complete. Clean it up like the rest of the car and have fun.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
The rear profile of the front bumper looks correct for a 73. My guess is that it was dinged in the front, the original urethane bumper deteriorated, or someone just liked the bumperettes.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Thanks a lot guys!
It looks like the car was in some kind of accident or two in the past, but it must have been minimal, because the frame and core support appear to be original baed on the rusted bolts. The front bumper is a 75-79 model. Probably because they are a couple hundred less than the 73-74, or at least were 10 years ago when it was painted. I will be getting a '73 to replace it, because the bumperettes drive me crazy. I may get a pace car front spoiler or something like it.
The rear frame has some plates welded on, and by the looks of it, by a novice stick welder at that. The suspension all looks to be vintage 73, and that means "wore out".
The interior is all original and in need of some freshening up.
The belts, hoses, bearings, brakes, tires, and exhaust all are new and have less than 200 miles on them.
The car has been washed 3 times in the last 2 years, and we wiped the dust off with a baby blanket to shoot the pictures. Some of the pictures show the spider webs under the car.
The normal things like the clock and fuel gage don't work. The battery is dead, so there is probably a drain on the system somewhere. The car started once I got fuel in the carb, and eventually idled. The headlights pop up fast, and drop together, but the dash lights do not work. I suspect the switch or a fuse.
I am lookin forward to getting started on it, but I need to finish my 1982 restoration first. I just bought this car to have one to drive while I am working on the other one. Then when it is finished, I can start on this one.
It definitely will get a body-off restoration, and might get a new frame, if I can find one cheap and close. Otherwise, I will just replace the parts that are weak.
So far, I have a parts list of $4,500.00, and that is jsut the obvious stuff.
It is a good thing I only paid $7,500.00 for the car! Don't hate me. If I were looking for a 73, I couldn't have found one less than $15,000 anywhere.
I will be hitting all of you up for help once I get started on this thing. Right now (I have it enterd in a car show on Saturday) I have some cleaning to do...
It looks like the car was in some kind of accident or two in the past, but it must have been minimal, because the frame and core support appear to be original baed on the rusted bolts. The front bumper is a 75-79 model. Probably because they are a couple hundred less than the 73-74, or at least were 10 years ago when it was painted. I will be getting a '73 to replace it, because the bumperettes drive me crazy. I may get a pace car front spoiler or something like it.
The rear frame has some plates welded on, and by the looks of it, by a novice stick welder at that. The suspension all looks to be vintage 73, and that means "wore out".
The interior is all original and in need of some freshening up.
The belts, hoses, bearings, brakes, tires, and exhaust all are new and have less than 200 miles on them.
The car has been washed 3 times in the last 2 years, and we wiped the dust off with a baby blanket to shoot the pictures. Some of the pictures show the spider webs under the car.
The normal things like the clock and fuel gage don't work. The battery is dead, so there is probably a drain on the system somewhere. The car started once I got fuel in the carb, and eventually idled. The headlights pop up fast, and drop together, but the dash lights do not work. I suspect the switch or a fuse.
I am lookin forward to getting started on it, but I need to finish my 1982 restoration first. I just bought this car to have one to drive while I am working on the other one. Then when it is finished, I can start on this one.
It definitely will get a body-off restoration, and might get a new frame, if I can find one cheap and close. Otherwise, I will just replace the parts that are weak.
So far, I have a parts list of $4,500.00, and that is jsut the obvious stuff.
It is a good thing I only paid $7,500.00 for the car! Don't hate me. If I were looking for a 73, I couldn't have found one less than $15,000 anywhere.
I will be hitting all of you up for help once I get started on this thing. Right now (I have it enterd in a car show on Saturday) I have some cleaning to do...
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,686
Likes: 202
From: Waterford Mi
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Port Clinton Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
If it has a '75-'79 bumper, it probably has a newer front clip also. You probably won't be able to put a '73 bumper cover back on. The top rear edge of the cover between the headlights is different from '74 to '75.
Here is my '73. The top of the cover is straight.
This is a '75+. See how it has the little whoop-de-do between the headlights.
Here is my '73. The top of the cover is straight.
This is a '75+. See how it has the little whoop-de-do between the headlights.
it's a vette and it's all yours 
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
If it has a '75-'79 bumper, it probably has a newer front clip also. You probably won't be able to put a '73 bumper cover back on. The top rear edge of the cover between the headlights is different from '74 to '75.
Here is my '73. The top of the cover is straight.
This is a '75+. See how it has the little whoop-de-do between the headlights.
Here is my '73. The top of the cover is straight.
This is a '75+. See how it has the little whoop-de-do between the headlights.
Can we get a better picture of the front bumper line?
Sounds like a good score.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Interesting. It looks like the whole front end is from a 75 or later model.
Nevertheless, it is a pretty car, and I will have a lot of fun with it.
Here is a rather large shot of it.
Nevertheless, it is a pretty car, and I will have a lot of fun with it.
Here is a rather large shot of it.