I am sick of this "worst year C3" crap about the 1975.

I deliberately chose a 1975 , because I live in California, and I did not want to own a c3 that needed to be smogged, which is a huge hassle.

Sure, I could have gone with a 76 and still not need smog, but then I would likely have the notorious floorboard issues.

I have an amazing car that has PLENTY of power, and on her original motor, 50,000 miles, starts instantly because of the excellent factory electronic ignition (first year) and to top it all off, I got the coolest license plate !

 

There are no bad years when you go thru the effort to keep one of these oldies on the road.

 

Who says that?

 

75? you should hear what they say about 79's

Don't let the snobbies get ya down. Elitists will always find a way to try to compensate for their need to feel superior.

 

Always wanted a 70-72 chrome bumper C3. I also heard about the top Corvette's not to buy...75...being on top. When time came to buy a C3, I kept coming back to this....for about a year...then bought it....I'm so happy I did...I really enjoy it....

 

Not sure where the term "worst year C3" is coming from for a 1975 but I will add that my first Corvette was a 1975 and that car was a POS.

 

It's not just '75.........it's all C3s that don't have Chrome Bumpers.

But I agree the solid view that says this misses out on the obvious advantages of these cars.

The basic car is the EXACT SAME car from '68 through '79 and only very minor differences in the last couple of years in the '80-'82 models,

Sure the engine performance in the early days of regulations over smog controls.....was a disgrace.......but is there anything in a pre-computer era Corvette that is EASIER to fix than any performance deficit in the engine. Today a new crate motor can be dropped in between the fenders at small cost that make the hottest small blocks from the Chrome bumper era look weak too.

........and really........if you're going to DRIVE the car......rather just polish it with a diaper and trailer it to car shows....... isn't a car where the value isn't determined by it's matching numbers original engine the preferable way to go.

I own a '79 and honestly.....there was a time when an earlier model year C3 seemed more appealing.......but those years are long gone now. This car with a swapped out dated suspension for something more up to date that handles better and rides softer.....along with a 383 roller cam small block making gobs of torque and horse power blows any thoughts of an early model away. The interior in my car is just so much nicer than the earliest C3s.

In the end it boils down to this.

If I were a bigger fan of the idea of total originality and car shows.......no doubt I'd much sooner have the older C3 for sure.......but as driver on sunny Sundays in the summer........I like car better than the older models. I offer no apologies to anyone offended by that thought and here's another that likely offends. These cars from the '68-82 time period are only different from each other to the people who actually own them........it's been my experience that the average person out there has no clue as to why anyone might prefer a "68 to a '78........ for the personal not into Corvettes in any big way........one is no more or less cool than the other. They see the same car with only minor cosmetic differences between them.

 

That's a rag top you can drive anywhere......park most anywhere.........try saying that about a '69 Convert with a 427 matching #s motor.

Sure......I'm not picking your car over the older car if anyone offering 'em up at the same price........but at a fair price for each.......I"ll take yours all day and twice on Sunday.

I want a driver I can actually drive.....not a show car I have to actually worry about.

 

How long have you been off your meds?

 

I have a friend who has a 66 convertible. Totally gorgeous car, 50K miles. But he rarely ever drives it, Barely ever shows it and if it sees 50 miles a year then that's a lot. Would I love to have it? Absofriggenlutely. But I LOVE our 79 because we can drive it anywhere anytime,.....except in the rain, sleet snow or iffy looking clouds

On the bright side, the C3 having the length in production can cover a wide variety of tastes.

Drive em if you got em !!

 

What's wrong with the 75's ? It's the last year for the convertibles and has the one piece rubber bumper unlike the previous year. I love the 75's !

 

They're not the worst C3's, just the most underpowered.

 

Surely there must be a C3 year with less power than what I have ?

Having driven mine enough to know, having more power might be more dangerous. I am happy with what I got.

I would love to Dyno my car some time, because I have owned a lot of V8 powered automobiles, but never one with this kind of torque.

 

Who says the '75 is the "worst year?" And what's remarkably different about a '75 as compared to a '74 or a '76?

I know Corvette owners of a couple different years that are defensive about that slur applied their cars, but I think this is the first I've heard of the '75.

 

Heres who says '75 is the worst.
Jerks.

https://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/...-all-time.html

 

I had a 1975 Corvette Coupe it was a really nice car. Not much horsepower but had plenty of torque and it would hit the 160 mph on the speedometer. Not to shabby. Wish I still had that car back. I really like the 2017 zr1 but the price is gonna be around 135k. To much for me.

 

Geez. It's a four year old magazine article offering the author's opinion. Why should what this guy has to say wreck your world?

 

A faulty speedometer perhaps, but no stock 1975 Corvette could ever hit 160mph.

Here's the math to hit 160mph, assuming OEM 27" diameter tires,

2.73 = 5436rpm
3.08 = 6133rpm
3.36 = 6690rpm
3.55 = 7068rpm
3.70 = 7367rpm

 

Stock 1975 numbers below, first year for single exhaust/catalytic converter.
L-48 = 165hp/255tq (The lowest hp of all C3's)
L-82 = 205hp/255tq

 

Why do you even care what people say ? I have to laugh when people talk about horsepower and speed when they are talking about the C3's when my Honda Civic will out run most of them . I drive a C3 Corvette because of looks and feel sitting in the car and never drove it over 65 on the interstate usually in the slow lane. You have a beautiful car . Just enjoy looking at it and driving it.