I'll do you one better. I travel out to Ohio for the Pontiac nationals. I'll race you at your home track. Straight off the trailer. Maybe after the first *** kicking, I'll put the polyglass tires back on and you can try again.

 

I’ve already told you what mine runs . Is this top secret or highly modified car that looks stock or you forgot?

 

Bone stock, down to the tires.

The Poncho nationals are in Norwalk in July. Looks like Kilkare is about 3 hours southwest. Let me know.

 

Sure will

 

We got ourselves a race! For pinks? I bet 1.00 on the Z/28.

 

LOL , No I'm not betting , I think Mr. Tranz Zam's car is set up better than my freinds and along with being a better driver ... . My friend with the 69 Z suggested a rematch too , He told me last night he didn't rev it up enough to spin the 15 to 20 feet to help it get moving with a 3.73 gear and 2.20 first , when instead of spinning he got traction by the time he got up to rpm in first I was gone . My cars only pass was a 15.19 at 92 with a bad fan clutch , I'm thinking it's going to be a 14.70-ish next time out though

 

I disagree. Everyone who knows C3 Corvettes and wants a later C3 will prefer the L82 over the L48. The L82 was a formidable machine for its time, and like others have already said, easily upgradable to more modern performance standards. I don't have a L82 and have never had one, but my brother raced an '80 L82 in the '70 L46 (4-speed) when I was a kid/passenger in the car, and let me tell you, it was quick. And at that time, the L46 had just been rebuilt with a mild cam by my dad and brother, so it was healthy and putting out more than 350HP. Back then, it would spin those Firehawks in 1st and 2nd, and chirp 'em in 3rd...

Our '70 won, but it was a closer race than we thought it would be, and we talked to the guy afterward and he said it was a stock L82, although I question that claim. That same year, we also raced an old '87 C4, and although the '70 was quicker off the line, I saw the '87 ever so slowly gaining in the rear view mirror, and couldn't believe it. It was an automatic C4. No missed shifts from my brother either. He ran through the gears flawlessly on those runs.

If the opportunity came up and I had room for another vette, I wouldn't mind having an 80 L82, and it's the closest thing you can get to a 69-70 L46 on the other end of the C3 spectrum. I just think that car is cool, and I've always liked the 80-82 model years, certainly preferred over the mid-year C3's. They just look classy, curvaceous, and aggressive all at the same time. I just can't stand that 85 MPH speedo!

 

thats not crazy to hear.... very much possible.. the z-28 could of had mechanical issues,...I had a 74 firebird with a 350 only mods was headers with duals. buddy had had a trans am, cant remember the year 400 4bbl , he wanted to see his top speed as my speedo went to 160mph, why they put those on a 74 firebird I'll never know.. we get on the hiway, his car wouldn't go over 125mph, and I floored it and went by him.. I had a 66 gto when I was a kid, I could smoke my friends 70 riveria until 60mph.. no it could not beat my GTO if I was not having issues with it missfiring, just because you have more power does not mean you will always win.. so there yea go...

 

Looking thru some vintage Road and Track articles, in March of '64 they tested a 300 gross HP Sting Ray with an automatic and turned a 15.2 quarter. A '73 with an L-82 was rated at 250 net...add that to a four speed and I maintain for a stock engine in the super affordable C-3 family this is a very practical choice. Some complain of the 9.5 compression ratio, but it runs just fine on today's unleaded gas with no additives. That is a real plus for the Sunday driver. I see complaints about the heads, and of course modern heads would help but for the era they are not terrible. In '73 at least you still had a true dual exhaust so it still breathes decently. And no cat to further choke it down. After reading thru this thread I am even more convinced the L-82 is a solid choice and I will take that one step further and go on record as saying the 1973 is a Blue Chip Buy in the Corvette world. Many say '72 is the cut off point since both bumpers are chrome, not just the rear. But like back in the day when the 1958 was way undervalued as being too gaudy and the 1964 was thousands less than a 1963 (first year new body style) or a 1965 (first year for disk brakes) the guy that bought the "unloved" years was rewarded because as the other prices climbed so did the "unloved". So a 1973 L-82 four speed is THE bargain buy according to me and my crystal ball. If you are looking for an affordable entrance into the hobby, this is it.

 

Spoken like a typical 1973 Corvette owner. I agree that a 1973 MAY be the next best thing to a 1968-1972 in SOME buyers eyes but not really much different than any other C3 after 1972.

 

I have a little history with Corvettes and a LOT of history with cars and classic motorcycles. Only car I ever lost money on was a 1963 Austin Healey I traded to a Jeweler 36 years ago for a wedding ring for the first wife. I got soaked on that deal, but I stand by my prediction.

First Corvette before I was married. Others were mine too. First suit and tie job out of college and no adult supervision.

 

Well I too have some history with Classic, sports, muscle, antique and special interest cars having owned close to 150 of them over the 50 + years including a 1973 Corvette among the 21 Corvettes I have owned prior to 1986 Corvettes. Additional I was in the new and used car business for a total of 11 years in which I sold over 5000 cars so I have a pretty good handle on things but I don’t profess to have a crystal ball as you do.

 

You have me beat by about 90 cars or so! It was just a hobby for me...but I have only been at it 41 years so I might catch up with you!

 

The OP is correct. The 73 is a very attractive year. I looked for one specifically, because I don't like chrome, but I kinda like the flat rear with bumpers removed (or dechromed). Then I sat in one, and realized I don't like map pockets, either.

Anyway, I thought this thread was about engines! I am willing to pay a finder's fee if anyone can find me an 80 L82 4-speed, or an L82 with an authentic "ZBD" engine code. Don't let this thread get derailed. Go back to arguing about stats on paper from 50 years ago!

 

I think there's a lot of truth in this. My '73, L82, original engine, close ratio Muncie 4-speed, original Quadrajet carb, convertible runs GREAT. Bought it new in '73. Engine slightly "adjusted" during a rebuild. Bored 30 over, 10:1 pistons, just a tad hotter Isky cam, headers, no smog equipment, Lars' papers ignition timing. My mechanic test drove it after some work a while back, and he said it was more responsive and quicker than the mid-'60s Corvette he test drove a couple of weeks before. Don't remember what engine that car had.

L82 is an excellent engine, and as an aside, it cost more than the 454 engine option in 1973.

Regards

 

I have a 75 4 speed and live it more than my 70 BB . I can cruise that baby at 75 all day

 

And 68Hemi, in your opinion what is the best hedge bet for the C3 Corvettes for those that play that game? Just curious. I think the 1973 L-82 four speed is it. Convertible over Coupe. The 68-72 cars are a premium, will that pay off in the future? Big Block cars are always going to be popular, but the price to enter is higher...I think the L-82 has more growth room overall. Interested in your take on this. I am still a "buy what I like from my youth" kinda guy, but it is always fun to not lose money on a hobby.

 

Maybe if I leave the Z in 4th the entire time, the results wouldn't fall in my favor. Otherwise? Yea know

 

IMO 73s will always be a half bred car and value will be reflected.

There are always deals out there if you are educated about what you want to buy, have the funds immediately available and can move quickly as those deals don’t last long. If you want a C3 that will maintain or increase in value personally I would be looking for a 1970 model.

 

I am going to expand on my post # 79.
If I were going to look for what I consider to still be a reasonable priced C3 it would be a 1970 convertible with a 350/350 h.p. engine, 4 speed car with the more options the better. Why?
1. Low production year due to the strike.
2. the 350/350 was an 11-1 compression engine that about all you need to do is change a cam to bring up to about the higher priced LT1.performance level.
3. Last year of the leaded gas engines.
4. Built in mud/rock guard lower fenders to protect the paint that is now $20k+ to have done.
5 You can still buy one of these cars in fair condition for about $35k or less