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So I saw a super super clean 75, immaculate, coupe, not my favorite corvette in the world though. But it is just so nice. Curious what y'all feel about these? Might be fun to go full boogie nights with it.
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
75 has HEI ignition so no points, hardened valve seats as did all GM engines since 1971 so no need for lead additives or replacing the valve seats. They obviously are priced lower than the early C3s so easier on the wallet. Some claim the HP is down from the early C3s which is true, but a more honest comparison is looking at the 1971-1972 power numbers….1972 is when GM started rating engines in net vs gross power ratings…then when you compare numbers of comparable engines , the difference is not as dramatic….though the 75 L48 as is the L82 down from 74 due to the cat. I love the lines of the 75, though some don’t, that is a personal choice. This much I do know, I got three thumbs up and a group of very excited kids playing in the front lawn when I drove by and not one of them cared how much power it had. It is incredibly cool driving it and I can’t wait until I bring it out of storage for more drives. As others have stated, more power is available if you desire.
Good luck on your search😊
This is an interesting point Steve.
We have many car guys come into my bar and the conversation often comes around to Corvettes. While I grew up in the chrome bumper era and appreciate them, many of the younger car guys (20's, 30's and yes, even 40's) have made the very same statement that you did. Chrome bumpers were a thing of the long gone past by the time these guys were all born. So they have more appreciation for the soft bumper era of Corvettes because that's how ALL cars have looked for their whole lives.
That being said, most of them are lost when it comes to carbs and 4 speeds, but they do have a "little" bit of Corvette terminology. So I loved it when one of them was looking at my '73 coupe in the parking lot a while back and asked "Is this one of those split window coupes?"
Of course I answered "Yes, it is" so he walked away feeling pretty good about himself.
A '75 is better than a '78-up, I'd say. You can stick a pop-out rear window in it for a nearly-convertible experience, and an '80-'82 rear bumper for looks. Go for it!
If the 75 is not your first choice, then are you budget limited on your first choice? I would not be so quick to settle since there a lot of C3’s available. Find a quality car of your first choice, if you have the money.
FYI - I have a 75 and it is absolutely fabulous to drive and work on.
..at the National Corvette Museum Grand Opening Labor Day weekend 1994. I still think to this day that this was the world's largest Corvette gathering ever taken place. Just virtually no end to the Corvettes that kept coming & coming & coming......was just unreal.
...had this Silver/Silver leather '75 L-82 automatic coupe that I later changed over to a 4spd. Also later installed a new GM 260hp Direct Replacement 1973-1985 350 that I got from a performance Pontiac dealership for $1100, no exchange. Had that car for 19yrs and put 69,000miles on it. Drove it nearly everywhere and did nearly everything to that car except pull the body off of the frame. I learned a good bit about working on Corvettes from that car. Only time it ever stranded me was when the fuel tank rubber bladder was collapsing and it held the float up showing I had a 1/2 tank on the expressway heading to a cruise-in when it ran completely dry.
Ever notice how guys with 73's always take photos of there cars featuring the rear of the car?
73's look like someone took 2 cars. Sawed them in half right behind the windshield and swapped the ends. And stuck em together. Sorry.
I've always thought that. 68-72 . Beautiful. 74-82 beautiful.
73, doesn't know what it is.
Yeah know Larry Shinoda said 73 was his favorite year but to me they're unbalanced aesthetical.
Every generation of vette has that one. Some say the C1 has the 58 of which I personally like but some say 58 was like they played pin the chrome on the vette, some would say c2 had the 63 split window, desirable now but a lot of people were happy to see it gone come 64 and to me personally the c3 has the 73. I personally find it very stylistically backward.
Thoughts on 75's
