When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have seen several messages stating there wer NO 1974 corvettes ordered in Black Exterior color.
I have one .
I "Hope" it is genuine.
It is a Triple-Black Convertible, 454 with AC, tilt/retract/pwr steer, pwr windows.
Door frame nameplate states correct # 900 for body color.
I called the Museum to ask about it, but am told all those records burned in a fire at GM HQ, so no official records exist.
The nameplate looks genuine, compared to others I have seen.
Looking through years that had 9xx code, 1969 comes up but not 1974 for code 900. The 404 is correct for black leather. The date code is March.
Do you have any original paper work?
There have been a few confirmed examples of black C3s that were special ordered during the non-black available years, but I think the trim tags were coded “SPEC” if I remember right.
Dont think Ive seen a code 900 one in those years.
Here’s some threads discussing the topic, if this helps:
I believe the trim tag in the photos is not an original GM tag. It has a tell from known reproduction tags that I have been taught to recognize. Please though confirm with an expert as I am not one.
There have been a few confirmed examples of black C3s that were special ordered during the non-black available years, but I think the trim tags were coded “SPEC” if I remember right.
Dont think Ive seen a code 900 one in those years.
Here’s some threads discussing the topic, if this helps:
Along that line, one-time major eastern American Corvette dealer, the now defunct, 'Palmyra Motors', located in Palmyra, NY, used to regularly order C-3s in primer, and paint them to order....
Along that line, one-time major eastern American Corvette dealer, the now defunct, 'Palmyra Motors', located in Palmyra, NY, used to regularly order C-3s in primer, and paint them to order....
But the factory installs the trim plate and it would have been coded No Paint not 900
Most interesting, I'm surprised one of the forum's member owned/ownes a one of the SPECIAL 1973 blk/blk/blk Corvettes ordered by Horry Chevrolet. He has posted on the forum and I'm sure you can look those up. My point is that the SPECIAL black paints were associated with 1973 rather than 1974. The tags included the word SPECIAL as noted above. Documentation is a must to authenticate black paint in 73-74. Otherwise, purists consider these "individual inspirations." Include the VIN # as well. Here are a few photos of the 73 blk/blk Corvette. The owner displayed the extensive documentation that both, came with the vehicle, as well as what he researched and found.
The car was displayed at the NCRS national Convention in Greenville, SC a few years back.
But the factory installs the trim plate and it would have been coded No Paint not 900
True, and I did happen to look at a couple of those Corvettes, while I was visiting Palmyra Motors' Corvette showroom, as a teen ager, back in the early '70s. I did see the trim tags, but like anything else, they've faded from my memory over time.......
Most interesting, I'm surprised one of the forum's member owned/ownes a one of the SPECIAL 1973 blk/blk/blk Corvettes ordered by Horry Chevrolet. He has posted on the forum and I'm sure you can look those up. My point is that the SPECIAL black paints were associated with 1973 rather than 1974. The tags included the word SPECIAL as noted above. Documentation is a must to authenticate black paint in 73-74. Otherwise, purists consider these "individual inspirations." Include the VIN # as well. Here are a few photos of the 73 blk/blk Corvette. The owner displayed the extensive documentation that both, came with the vehicle, as well as what he researched and found.
The car was displayed at the NCRS national Convention in Greenville, SC a few years back.
The details
and the VIN tag
Look at this trim tag vs. the one from SE Jinks -- they are not the same in the way that the characters are formed. This is a known real tag - the one posted by SE Jinks is distinctly different and I have been told by multiple experts that there was only a single trim tag producing machine at the Corvette plant so there should be NO deviation in the printing of the characters in the message starting Certifies to the dealer. I am not saying there were no factory painted black cars in the mid-70's I just believe that SE Jink's car isn't one of them.
...would be interesting to know the last 5 digits of your VIN to see if it even relates to the build date on the tag. '68 & '69 did not have a 404 interior, but '73s did. Another thing, '74 paint colors went by xxL, not the 900 numbers.
...was the Black Hory pictured '73 one of four delivered with alloy wheel option too??? Quite the rare beast if it is let alone the Black paint!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last edited by Paul Borowski; Nov 12, 2024 at 11:31 AM.
...would be interesting to know the last 5 digits of your VIN to see if it even relates to the build date on the tag. '68 & '69 did not have a 404 interior, but '73s did. Another thing, '74 paint colors went by xxL, not the 900 numbers.
...was the Black Hory pictured '73 one of four delivered with alloy wheel option too??? Quite the rare beast if it is let alone the Black paint!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
....nope, that has been WRONG for years and ever since it was posted. When I was traveling all the Bloomington, Corvettes @ Carlisle, NCRS events pretty much everywhere for decades, I personally had cataloged over 500 1974 Corvette trim tags. Not once, not ever, did I see a "9xx" on any 1974 Corvette. Years ago the question was also asked on many Corvette forums about 9xx paint code numbers on a '74 trim tag. Not one to date has ever come forward or seen or been mentioned. I'm not saying that it wasn't possible as of course 37,502 1974 Corvettes were built, but in my viewing of over 500 of them and several were indeed first day production cars to the very last day production cars, none had a 9xx paint code number. Could be possible? Yes, but I highly, highly doubt it knowing what I know.
...I also don't believe the tag is an original GM made tag either. JMHO
....nope, that has been WRONG for years and ever since it was posted. When I was traveling all the Bloomington, Corvettes @ Carlisle, NCRS events pretty much everywhere for decades, I personally had cataloged over 500 1974 Corvette trim tags. Not once, not ever, did I see a "9xx" on any 1974 Corvette. Years ago the question was also asked on many Corvette forums about 9xx paint code numbers on a '74 trim tag. Not one to date has ever come forward or seen or been mentioned. I'm not saying that it wasn't possible as of course 37,502 1974 Corvettes were built, but in my viewing of over 500 of them and several were indeed first day production cars to the very last day production cars, none had a 9xx paint code number. Could be possible? Yes, but I highly, highly doubt it knowing what I know.
...I also don't believe the tag is an original GM made tag either. JMHO
With that information, it further supports the tag in this post is counterfeit.
BLACK 1974 Stingray
