Hello,
I did search extensively before posting my questions here.
Thank you in advance for any assistance!
Looking to buy a 1975 Corvette from a friend so i was researching everything about the car. Two models were made, the coupe and convertible. Each had 2 power options, 165HP and 205HP.
1) Were all 1975's designated "Stingray" ?
-if not then what designates a stingray?
2) Were all coupes T-tops or was there a regular hardtop version? (based on me searches...i think that all coupes were T-tops but not sure)
3) Why the Hell were there only 1000 or so 4-speed manuals but 30,000(?) auto's built???? Didn't guys like to drive back then?? I found that statistic amazing when i saw the numbers!
I know question 3 isn't a question anyone can really answer..it's more of a rant..or a slight on corvette buyers in 1975 so..
Hopefully i will be posting pics of my new car soon!
Thanks again!

 

All 75's were Stingrays
All coupes have T Tops.
Post a couple pics of the car you're looking at.

 

1000 4 speeds? You are correct sir. Back in the early 80's I owned an L48 4 speed. Not much poopy, but I didn't know...it was a Corvette. I added headers, a Holley, upgraded the cam, and played with the distributor. I thought I was driving a monster. Very easy little small block to tinker with and great looks. Buy it you'll like it.

 

A lot of Info here.

https://www.corvsport.com/1975-c3-corvette/

 

There were 8935 4 spd cars for 1975. The base transmission was the M20 wide ratio. The 1057 figure is only for the optional M21 close ratio 4 spd.

 

Why all the auto's? Because they were easier to 'shift'. It was a mentality thing back in the day. Only die hard sports car guys would buy the 4-speeds. Also, shift kits for auto's were popular so shifting was quick without the use of a clutch. Lots of reasons why manuals were not as popular but folks were still willing to pay extra money for optional auto's.

 

I hope you buy the car and enjoy it, but check for rust first! Watch the 10 rules for buying a C3 video on YouTube.

1. GM started putting the "Stingray" script on all C3s starting in 69, and ending in 76. Technically 68 and 77-82 C3s were not marketed as Stingrays, but yours was, and is.
2. T-Tops are awesome!
3. Don't blame me! I wasn't even alive when that car was made. My C3 and my daily driver are both manuals. If yours doesn't come with a manual, but is in good/great condition, consider a swap. I'd much rather have a rust-free C3 with a replacement 5 or 6 speed manual than a rust-bucket with an original 4-speed.

I've found this website extremely helpful for deciphering trim tag, VINs, engine codes, etc, for when you want to nerd-out on your car.

http://corvettec3.ca/

For example, from the code on my engine (original, stamped with a partial VIN), I know that my 80 came with a 4-speed.

Post some photos when you get it!

 

Welcome to the CF

 

I read through this thoroughly last night before I posted and actually left a message at the bottom notifying them that the fuel capacity listed in the document was wrong...it's listed as 4 gallons!
But it doesn't answer my questions. I'm 99% sure there are only t top and convertible options, no hard top except the hard top for the convertible.
And it doesn't say anything about Stingray..if Stingray is something like an option or if it's every car for that year. If I had to guess, it's every car for that year.

 

Thank you for the reply!!!
I will post pics when i get them.
It's apparently a L48 white exterior originally but currently black, black interior, power windows, locks, tilt wheel, not sure about the map light on the rear view or suspension, but it IS a 4 speed car..which I'm thrilled about. Car currently does not have a tranny and is apart. Has a different front end but not sure exactly what it is either. I'm waiting for a pic of VIN number and pics of the car. It supposedly also has a non-stock front end with chrome bumper - split front bumper maybe? Not sure exactly.
I do have another question...is there anything i should look at closely in regards to anything stolen on the car? Car is currently owned by a friend of about 40 years who has too many projects on his plate so i'm pretty sure i'm okay on the stolen parts issue.
Lat car i built was a 1966 Charger in 1986 so really looking forward to getting this thing in the garage and ripped down to nothing! Not necessarily looking forward to learning how to sand fiberglass!
Haven't researched yet - but a friend has a Doug Nash 5-speed that i've driven - another friend has a Richmond 6-speed that i haven't driven. I liked the Nash but...what are the best options for a tranny? Manual - of course!!!
Also looking forward to interacting with you all here on this forum!!
Thank you,
Mike

 

Thanks for the update! Please post some pics when you can. White cars are favorite, especially with red interiors It sounds like you will be repainting the car. Going back to white? What color was the interior originally? See if you can get some photos of the engine stamp pad, and the trim tag in the driver side door opening.

So it's a 4-speed car, but the transmission is missing? That's unfortunate. There are many threads here for 5-speed and 6-speed conversions. @Gordonm has done several. For simplicity, you may want to look at Silver State Transmission (SST). They sell complete kits for auto to manual conversion based on Tremec TKO-600 or T-56. You won't need a clutch pedal, but you may end up with a hydraulic clutch anyway.

 

Make that 100% sure.

Stingray is a name only. It was not an option. Kinda like a nickname for the corvette so they stuck an emblem on the fenders, nothing more and nothing less. Then the C7 came along and now its called a stingray. The name stingray doesn't add any value to the car.

 

I don't KNOW .. but IIRC, as the horsepower dropped from highs in 1970, seems many insurance carriers charged higher premiums for 4-speeds as well as for bigger horsepower.

 

That makes a lot more sense..i must've misread the info. Thank you!

 

? Perhaps the '75 has a front clip from '68-'72 (all had chrome front bumpers) ? ... but those have a main bumper bar which spans entire front.

Also, don't KNOW but seems all '68-'72 had "Stingray" die-cast & chromed emblem on each front fender. AFAIK, stingray is just a cool name but denotes nothing special.

'74 has a one-year-only, molded rear plastic bumper which is two-piece R&L with vertical split in middle ... some folk call '74 "split-tail" ... could be grafted onto '75.

 

The "Stingray" script was put on all model year 1969 through 1976 Corvettes. It was not a trim level (like it is for some C7s), but a marketing brand applied to all Corvettes to sell more cars, borrowing from the "Sting Ray" name for C2s.

Zip Corvette, and others, sell the appropriate script emblems for 69-73 and 74-76:
https://www.zip-corvette.com/69-73-s...de-script.html
https://www.zip-corvette.com/74-76-s...de-script.html

You can, of course, add these to other years, but it isn't stock.

Fun Fact: The 2018 movie "Game Night" features a Corvette repeatedly referred to as "The Stingray", but is actually a 1977 Corvette with the wide cross-flag emblems and sugar-scoop rear window, and without the "Stingray" script.

 

68 not a stingray

 

Per the literature the 68 is a Sting Ray, but without any badges on the body.