looking at a 454 4 speed '73 corvette, what things should i look out for in this car?

 

Birdcage rust.

 

outward appearance looks good but, what is the easiest way to be sure there is not a problem inside of the frame

 

Any photos?
Is it being presented as 'numbers matching'? Makes a big difference in price. Don't pay for them if you're not truly getting them.

There are a lot of postings on rust. Many with photos...

Otherwise I know of nothing specific to the 73 model year to look out for.

 

Rust and rot of the frame or birdcage. Condition of brakes and suspension. Do all the lights work? Does it look unmolested or hacked together?

 

You might fill out your profile- it's helpful to know where the car is located in terms of environment and members on the forum may know the car and offer a comment.

Pictures are indeed helpful - instructions in the HELP forum.

The best thing you can do is read these posts . . .as you might guess, lots of questions along these same lines.

Good luck-

 

Don't know how much the seller will let you rip his car apart but I would start with crawling under the car and tapping on the frame with a hammer. Pay special attention to the kick ups in front of the rear tires and the front crossmember, while your under there look at number 4 mounts. If the seller will agree to it the easiest thing to look at is number 2 mount. Take a Phillips screwdriver and pull both sill plates and the kick panel covers and look at number 2. Look closely from the outside at the A pillars for rust and around the windshield. If all is good there or reasonably so you can start feeling a little better. Then move on to looking at everything you can see and what is most important to you.

 

All of the above and also check out any 39 yr. old rubber parts under the car. Pinion seal, tailshaft seal, rear main, brake caliper leaks. My 73 was in great shape when I bought it and due to the low miles driven before purchase, these things bit me quickly.

 

Keep in mind whatever is missing, broken, or simply needs replaced is EXPENSIVE...parts for these cars are like buying Harley parts...they are proud of them. So....now it depends on how much you are willing to do or have done.....

 

The car has 83k miles on it and feels solid on the road. There are several small things wrong with it including the nose which has a split it in it. The underside of the car is pretty clean . The seats and carpet are in good shape, the seats were recovered about ten years ago. In the last 17yrs the car has had about 10k miles put on it. I don't know everywhere the car has been but its been garage kept. Thanks for the advice on the potential problem areas, I never owned a vette but my brother had one that required a steady flow of dollars, mostly due to HARD living.

 

What kind of options does it have...AM/FM stereo, Map light, passenger mirror, deluxe interior, A/C, rear defrost, tilt and tele, what color combo?

Another thing I will checking, if I buy another old vette is the plenum tubes...they can inspected by looking with a flash light and just moving the carpet out of the way....If they are bad, and they probably are....your getting any water from washing the car or rain straight in to the rear compartment....I think that's why most of the storage door hinges get rusted and the carpets get ruined...

 

454, 4 spd, am/fm, pw, pb, ac, hard top, red, wht top, dark red int

 

When you say hard top you mean coupe..T-tops
It's sounding pretty good..

 

Due to new federal collision safety requirements, 1973 models were graced with a plastic front bumper while still sporting the chrome rear bumper and new side-impact door beams.
FIBERGLASS FACT: Although 1973 VIN's run to 34464, only 30,464 units were built; the 4,000 serial numbers between 24001 and 28000 were never used.

1973 Corvette Options
RPO# DESCRIPTION QUANTITY $ RETAIL
1YZ37 Base Corvette Sport Coupe 25,521 5,651
1YZ67 Base Corvette Convertible 4,943 5,398
n/a Custom Interior Trim 13,434 154
A31 Power Windows 14,024 83
A85 Custom Shoulder Belts (std with Coupe) 788 41
C07 Auxillary Hardtop (convertible only) 1,328 267
C08 Vinyl Covering (for Auxillary Hardtop) 323 62
C50 Rear Window Defroster 4,412 41
C60 Air Conditioning 21,578 452
n/a Optional Rear Axle Ratio 1,791 12
J50 Power Brakes 24,168 46
LS4 454ci, 275hp Engine 4,412 250
L82 350ci, 250hp Engine 5,710 299
M21 4-Speed Manual Transmission, close ratio 3,704 0
M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission 17,927 0
N37 Tilt-Telescopic Steering Column 17,949 82
N40 Power Steering 27,872 113
P02 Deluxe Wheel Covers 1,739 62
QRM GR70x15 White Stripe Steel Belted Tires 19,903 32
QRZ GR70x15 White Letter Steel Belted Tires 4,541 45
T60 Heavy Duty Battery (std with LS4 engine) 4,912 15
U58 AM-FM Stereo Radio 12,482 276
U69 AM-FM Radio 17,598 173
UF1 Map Light 8,186 5
YF5 California Emission Test 3,008 15
YJ8 Aluminum Wheels 4 175
Z07 Off Road Suspension and Brake Package 45 369
1973 Corvette Exterior Color Choices
CODE EXTERIOR QUANTITY
910 Classic White n/a
914 Silver n/a
922 Medium Blue n/a
945 Blue-Green n/a
947 Elkhart Green n/a
952 Yellow n/a
953 Metallic Yellow n/a
976 Mille Miglia Red n/a
980 Orange n/a

1973 Corvette Interior Color Choices
CODE COLOR
400 Black Vinyl
404 Black Leather
413 Midnight Blue Vinyl
415 Medium Saddle Vinyl
416 Medium Saddle Leather
418 Dark Saddle Vinyl
422 Dark Saddle Leather
425 Dark Red Vinyl

 

Its a convertible...?

 

Its a convertible with removable hard top. Not sure what the actual term for the removable hard top is.

 

Auxillary hard top..
keeps getting sweeter....you know what they say at Barrett Jackson
When the top goes down, the price goes up..
From what research I have done I think the Big Block 4spd vert would be fairly collectible car...and someday..in the not too distant future really collectible....

 

Dude I highlighted some of the numbers on your car above...I mean there just aren't that many.....its not super rare but not your average run of the mill corvette either...Also highlight color and trim.....they are on the trim tag...drivers side door frame below the window pillar..


MILEAGE
34016
DESCRIPTION
1973 Corvette Convertible, two tops, LS4 (454), turbo-hydramatic, numbers match, 34,016 actual miles. Bright Red paint with Dark Red vinyl interior and Black soft top. Body-off restored and all in excellent show condition. Bloomington Gold certified, NCRS Top Flight, Gold Spinner award, Showcase award, and Triple Crown award. Optioned with factory air, power steering, power brakes, power windows, tilt-n-telescopic, shoulder harness, auxiliary hardtop, posi, SS brakes, AM/FM stereo radio, stainless exhaust, rear window defog, map light, audio alarm, tinted glass, rallys, and raised white lettered radials. Most all factory correct type components including the original spare, seat belts, washer system, smog system, shifter, shielding, braided wires, air cleaner, owners manual, sales brochure, and power beam headlights. Documented with the warranty pamphlet, owners manual packet, build sheet, rail shipper copy, title search, odometer statement, restoration receipts, and judging sheets/certificates. Looks, runs, and drives excellent. CC:1 YEAR END SALE $42000

NOT a 4spd car!! But very similar to the one your looking at....