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73' or 81'
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,982
Likes: 6,209
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
You heard all the 81 vs 73 reasons...allow me to answer you like this,
I owned 2 81's and I would take a crappy 73 over both 81's any day,
With that said...it doesn't matter one obese rodents rectum what I like what do YOU like best?
I owned 2 81's and I would take a crappy 73 over both 81's any day,
With that said...it doesn't matter one obese rodents rectum what I like what do YOU like best?
Pro
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 683
Likes: 114
From: Hamilton Ohio
After checking them both out for the usual hidden problems, I'd probably pick the one that reaches out and grabs you the most. These things become a labor of love, unfortunately.
With that said, I say go for the '81 anyway. But I'm prejudiced.
LOL
With that said, I say go for the '81 anyway. But I'm prejudiced.
LOL
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,145
Likes: 477
From: NM
Okay, I will do this one more time....
The Beauty of '73
"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).
I just never cared for the bubble backs of 78-82 or the chin draggers of 80-82. But others love them.
The Beauty of '73
"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).
I just never cared for the bubble backs of 78-82 or the chin draggers of 80-82. But others love them.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Okay, I will do this one more time....
The Beauty of '73
"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).
I just never cared for the bubble backs of 78-82 or the chin draggers of 80-82. But others love them.
The Beauty of '73
"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).
I just never cared for the bubble backs of 78-82 or the chin draggers of 80-82. But others love them.
A great kudos for the 73 however....
I was under the impression that the 1965 Mako Shark 2 show car was what designers had in mind for the C3 in 67then it got bumped to 68...is there an earlier or later "version" larry was talking about because this really doesn't look that much more like a 73 to me than any c3
In fact with lack of chrome bumpers and adding a huge reach the MS2 really might look closest to a 74-79...or just the nose of a 73....
1969/1971/2021 Coupes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,212
Likes: 80
From: Port Huron MI
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
You always seem to have a way with words.
Stop putting yourself through this terrible decision making process and just get them both. Frame off on one while driving the other. In 5 years flip the roles.
Just a suggestion. Good luck. Seriously, I like them both for their own unique styles and qualities.
Terry
Last edited by HOOAH; Mar 21, 2010 at 11:20 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 570
Likes: 11
From: Lancaster PA
Yes paint on the 81 will be expensive, but don't underestimate the cost of redoing the 73's interior either.
Besides I love the look of black on black 80-82 Corvettes
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 291
From: dayton oh
it would depend on what "kind" of Vette guy you are................
Purist: go with the '73 and be happy hunting hoses with the correct color stripe.
Enjoy a Challange: '73 - whole lotta yr only parts to find
Modifier: go with the 81 and mod away, you can't hurt the value that much
Cruiser: 81 hands down
Either way you cant go wrong
Purist: go with the '73 and be happy hunting hoses with the correct color stripe.
Enjoy a Challange: '73 - whole lotta yr only parts to find
Modifier: go with the 81 and mod away, you can't hurt the value that much
Cruiser: 81 hands down
Either way you cant go wrong
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Columbus MS
I've never owned a 73 but I now own a 81. I am not disappointed either. Every time I make an improvement to it it makes me smile bigger.
I guess what I am trying to say is if you never had one or the other then you really aren't making a bad choice with either. How can you miss something you never had?
The best thing to do is read up on rust issues and frame issues and make the best judgment based on the trouble you may run into. There is only one way I would like a 69 - 73 better than my 81 and that is if it is a rag top. Other than that I love this 81.
People like the older ones for bragging rights and value reasons but I love the looks of the 80-82. I think they will eventually pick up value as years goes by. I love mine simply for the body style.
I guess what I am trying to say is if you never had one or the other then you really aren't making a bad choice with either. How can you miss something you never had?
The best thing to do is read up on rust issues and frame issues and make the best judgment based on the trouble you may run into. There is only one way I would like a 69 - 73 better than my 81 and that is if it is a rag top. Other than that I love this 81.
People like the older ones for bragging rights and value reasons but I love the looks of the 80-82. I think they will eventually pick up value as years goes by. I love mine simply for the body style.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
If you are a mod type of person then the '73 may hold more appeal since you will not have to worry about any smog stuff at all.
If the '81 was fully loaded you will have a more comfortable car to enjoy if they all work.
I like my '81 because it has all of those power features that we all love to use.....until they break.....but I got the '81 for cruising because I have a Z06 to move and grove with.
You must buy the one you want...... More emphasis being for your reasons and not our's. Neither car will be an investment at your price points and will likely be a hole in your wallet. If they don't have the features you want then don't buy either one of them because you'll spend more getting it there and could have bought it already done and enjoying it.
If the '81 was fully loaded you will have a more comfortable car to enjoy if they all work.
I like my '81 because it has all of those power features that we all love to use.....until they break.....but I got the '81 for cruising because I have a Z06 to move and grove with.
You must buy the one you want...... More emphasis being for your reasons and not our's. Neither car will be an investment at your price points and will likely be a hole in your wallet. If they don't have the features you want then don't buy either one of them because you'll spend more getting it there and could have bought it already done and enjoying it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
A great kudos for the 73 however....
I was under the impression that the 1965 Mako Shark 2 show car was what designers had in mind for the C3 in 67then it got bumped to 68...is there an earlier or later "version" larry was talking about because this really doesn't look that much more like a 73 to me than any c3
In fact with lack of chrome bumpers and adding a huge reach the MS2 really might look closest to a 74-79...or just the nose of a 73....
I was under the impression that the 1965 Mako Shark 2 show car was what designers had in mind for the C3 in 67then it got bumped to 68...is there an earlier or later "version" larry was talking about because this really doesn't look that much more like a 73 to me than any c3
In fact with lack of chrome bumpers and adding a huge reach the MS2 really might look closest to a 74-79...or just the nose of a 73....
I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS SINCE the LATE 70's ..........THE CORVETTE LOOKS BEST WITH OUT THOSE TACKY CHROme ..DO NOTHING BUMPERS.....ALSO the BUMPERS that all the old fellows so love are worth less crap on the C2 .. the funky stuff that was stuck on.. that did NOTHING .... All the racers TOOK those heavy ugly chrome POC off to race C2's ........less chrome the better
This SHARK is the prettest corvette EVER...
Last edited by LS4 PILOT; Mar 23, 2010 at 12:31 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Norwalk CT
Have you driven either car, or any other '81 and '73 ? If both cars you are looking at can be driven, then drive both of them. You may quickly either love or hate what you are driving , then you can rule in or rule out one or the other car. Or you may hate them both, in which case you can move on to other cars on the market.I own a '73 , and had an '81, in my opinion, very different, the '81 is a better long distance and comfort type of car. At the end of the day, I like my '73 better than the '81, but that is me, your reasons for buying may be very different from mine. Good luck...........................Craig