74 Corvette Big Block
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 93
From: Bellmore NY
Id say at $6900 you did real good...pending of course the rust related queries listed above. Hopefully all that stuff is lookin good, or at least passable.
Its funny, in 1974 there were less than 3500 LS4 cars made, but for some reason they seem to be for sale all over the place.
For such a rare car [I own one too], I cant understand why I see like 5 for sale on any given day that I look on ebay. I think the market on these cars presently is all over the map...buy it now prices on ebay for pristine models [in non convertible form] seem to be over $20k, but I have a hard time believing that anyone would fork that over for one of these...I could see $16k
I bought mine for $10k in 2010, and evertime I fix something stupid on it, I cant help but feel that I overpaid, and wish that I bought a 91 L98 convertible. But then I remember how "rare" my car is and just suck it up
Its funny, in 1974 there were less than 3500 LS4 cars made, but for some reason they seem to be for sale all over the place.
For such a rare car [I own one too], I cant understand why I see like 5 for sale on any given day that I look on ebay. I think the market on these cars presently is all over the map...buy it now prices on ebay for pristine models [in non convertible form] seem to be over $20k, but I have a hard time believing that anyone would fork that over for one of these...I could see $16k
I bought mine for $10k in 2010, and evertime I fix something stupid on it, I cant help but feel that I overpaid, and wish that I bought a 91 L98 convertible. But then I remember how "rare" my car is and just suck it up
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 459
From: Lititz PA
The suspense is killing me. It's like a TV episode with a cliff-hanger ending. I can hardly wait to find out if the car really is a bargan or if it's going to be a disappointment. If it turns out to need a lot of work, then it's good that you only paid $6,900. Welcome to the club 
Good luck!
John
Good luck!
John
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Well im going tomorrow late afternoon to pick up my new 74 vette....
Getting excited to get into it, been searching the web for interior parts.
carpet,door panels and seat covers.
Also thinking about purchasing a two piece bumper cover to put it back to original.
Anyways I will keep you all updated and follow up with pics.
Getting excited to get into it, been searching the web for interior parts.
carpet,door panels and seat covers.
Also thinking about purchasing a two piece bumper cover to put it back to original.
Anyways I will keep you all updated and follow up with pics.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
Well im going tomorrow late afternoon to pick up my new 74 vette....
Getting excited to get into it, been searching the web for interior parts.
carpet,door panels and seat covers.
Also thinking about purchasing a two piece bumper cover to put it back to original.
Anyways I will keep you all updated and follow up with pics.
Getting excited to get into it, been searching the web for interior parts.
carpet,door panels and seat covers.
Also thinking about purchasing a two piece bumper cover to put it back to original.
Anyways I will keep you all updated and follow up with pics.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 459
From: Lititz PA
Wow, exciting times coming your way. I remember how fun it was when I drove my '73 BB home. I went to work fixing the e-brake, then got the headlights to pop up. Drove it a little more and was feeling good. All the while "She" was getting her hooks in me. Then it began. One day I went to start it and the battery was dead. While attempting to jump start it, the alternator began smoking. That was two years and $10K ago, and I still can't drive it 
I knew it was a project car when I bought it and I've enjoyed almost all the time spent in the garage fixing it up. My wife is happy that I'm spending all my time working on the '73 because it prevents me from molesting the new Z06 
I'm so lucky.
Ok, it's Friday and now we need to see some pictures; those r the rules!
John
I knew it was a project car when I bought it and I've enjoyed almost all the time spent in the garage fixing it up. My wife is happy that I'm spending all my time working on the '73 because it prevents me from molesting the new Z06 I'm so lucky.Ok, it's Friday and now we need to see some pictures; those r the rules!
John
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Well I have a pic of it on the trailer, but unable to download/upload on here
Any help would be greatly appreciated, I only have one for now as it was dark by the time we got home n got it off the trailer, will follow up w more pics tomorrow.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, I only have one for now as it was dark by the time we got home n got it off the trailer, will follow up w more pics tomorrow.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
Id say at $6900 you did real good...pending of course the rust related queries listed above. Hopefully all that stuff is lookin good, or at least passable.
For such a rare car [I own one too], I cant understand why I see like 5 for sale on any given day that I look on ebay. I think the market on these cars presently is all over the map...buy it now prices on ebay for pristine models [in non convertible form] seem to be over $20k, but I have a hard time believing that anyone would fork that over for one of these...I could see $16k
I bought mine for $10k in 2010, and evertime I fix something stupid on it, I cant help but feel that I overpaid, and wish that I bought a 91 L98 convertible. But then I remember how "rare" my car is and just suck it up
For such a rare car [I own one too], I cant understand why I see like 5 for sale on any given day that I look on ebay. I think the market on these cars presently is all over the map...buy it now prices on ebay for pristine models [in non convertible form] seem to be over $20k, but I have a hard time believing that anyone would fork that over for one of these...I could see $16k
I bought mine for $10k in 2010, and evertime I fix something stupid on it, I cant help but feel that I overpaid, and wish that I bought a 91 L98 convertible. But then I remember how "rare" my car is and just suck it up
I tell ya before the internet , eBay and all that , finding a BB C2 or C3 was NOT EASY, it was word of mouth or a show it you had time .... now as you say , I can buy one any week I want.... but so true...for other rare cars as well... I see LS6's , LT1 , Tri powers on the TV , eBay , internet sites all the time... all these cars are still rare, its just the media exposure is so in our face as we sit in front of the computer and shop the globe , we take forgranted how difficult these cars would still be to locate without the internet. I used a plain TELEPHONE (imagine that) to locate my car !! Calling and talking to people and searching like a detective. Today you turn on the computer, and if you have the money , pretty much anything is available .
Next to 1965 396 , 74 454 is the least amount produced. I think , the fact that baby boomer gen has aged and people are unloading there stashes of cars explains alot of it. Untill the internet, I'd never seen but 2-3 454 74's and no 454 convertibles or 4spd cars other than my own.
In the 80's you had to KNOW somebody or just plain luck into a fuel injection car or BBC ...they just got sucked up and stashed away.
Last edited by LS4 PILOT; Feb 19, 2012 at 09:15 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Well after further review im glad to say that the car and frame are pretty much rust free and in really good shape...
My guess the car does probably have 141k on the motor she sounds a lil tired along with the interior, but from overall I think I got a pretty solid car to start with...
My guess the car does probably have 141k on the motor she sounds a lil tired along with the interior, but from overall I think I got a pretty solid car to start with...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 93
From: Bellmore NY
I started looking for a 454 74 back in 1979 . No one had ever seen one where I lived...., but the owners book and brochure indicated at least they could be had or possibly some were shipped. , and I belonged to a corvette club and had a 74 350 coupe and had the itch for a 454 4psd "BAD". The search was on. It was several years before I even met anybody who had seen one, much less seen one for sale . Then one day, a meet a fellow who had been looking longer than me. He said he couldn't find one either , he had found 3 or so non original motor 74's or blown engine cars. It took me about 10 years , around 1988 to find mine. I guess people had bought em , and knew they were the last BBC vettes and people weren't selling is all I can figure out. I never saw one on the road. I had to go 4 states over to locate mine.
I tell ya before the internet , eBay and all that , finding a BB C2 or C3 was NOT EASY, it was word of mouth or a show it you had time .... now as you say , I can buy one any week I want.... but so true...for other rare cars as well... I see LS6's , LT1 , Tri powers on the TV , eBay , internet sites all the time... all these cars are still rare, its just the media exposure is so in our face as we sit in front of the computer and shop the globe , we take forgranted how difficult these cars would still be to locate without the internet. I used a plain TELEPHONE (imagine that) to locate my car !! Calling and talking to people and searching like a detective. Today you turn on the computer, and if you have the money , pretty much anything is available .
Next to 1965 396 , 74 454 is the least amount produced. I think , the fact that baby boomer gen has aged and people are unloading there stashes of cars explains alot of it. Untill the internet, I'd never seen but 2-3 454 74's and no 454 convertibles or 4spd cars other than my own.
In the 80's you had to KNOW somebody or just plain luck into a fuel injection car or BBC ...they just got sucked up and stashed away.
I tell ya before the internet , eBay and all that , finding a BB C2 or C3 was NOT EASY, it was word of mouth or a show it you had time .... now as you say , I can buy one any week I want.... but so true...for other rare cars as well... I see LS6's , LT1 , Tri powers on the TV , eBay , internet sites all the time... all these cars are still rare, its just the media exposure is so in our face as we sit in front of the computer and shop the globe , we take forgranted how difficult these cars would still be to locate without the internet. I used a plain TELEPHONE (imagine that) to locate my car !! Calling and talking to people and searching like a detective. Today you turn on the computer, and if you have the money , pretty much anything is available .
Next to 1965 396 , 74 454 is the least amount produced. I think , the fact that baby boomer gen has aged and people are unloading there stashes of cars explains alot of it. Untill the internet, I'd never seen but 2-3 454 74's and no 454 convertibles or 4spd cars other than my own.
In the 80's you had to KNOW somebody or just plain luck into a fuel injection car or BBC ...they just got sucked up and stashed away.
When I first started driving, the newspaper was the only place to find cars for sale...youd have to call, show up in person, and probably be dissapointed.
I cant imagine what real estate was like before the internet.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 93
From: Bellmore NY
Hummer...pics look pretty good for the price you paid. Give her a bath and show us what she looks like all fresh and clean...BTW either that is the cleanest back window Ive ever seen, or is that missing?
