Top Gun: 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe – SOLD!

July 30th Update:  A well maintained, two owner, and nicely optioned C3 Corvette in the right colors offered at the right price made for a quick sale as the private seller deleted their listing for this ’73 Corvette we featured just two weeks ago.

1973 was the last year of the chrome rear bumper C3 Corvette. We came across this Mille Miglia Red over tan leather, automatic-equipped example listed in July 2020 on Craiglist in Towson, Maryland. Powered by the base 350 cubic inch V8 but equipped with factory air conditioning and other power options, the private seller currently has her C3 priced at $15,500 or the best offer.  A review of the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms this private seller has her Corvette priced between the current #2 “Excellent” appraisal of $23,700 and the #3 “Good” estimate of $12,900.

1973 signaled Corvette’s transformation from muscle to touring sports car. A Chevrolet advertisement headlined: “We gave it radials, a quieter ride, guard beams and a nose job.” Indeed, redesigned body mounts and radial tires did improve Corvette’s ride, and interior sound levels were reduced by 40%. The chrome rear bumper was essentially carried over from the previous year. However, the chrome blade front bumper was dropped for the federally required 5 mph (8.0 km/h) standard for a light-weight front bumper system with an inner transverse tube attached to the frame with two Omark-bolts (special steel fasteners which absorbed energy when a forming die, pushed back by the bumper, was forced down their length), and an injection-molded urethane bumper cover. The urethane nose was chosen over Chevy’s other alternative, a more protruding version of the previous metal bumper. The new urethane bumper assembly added thirty-five pounds to the front end. Two 350 cubic inch (5.7 L) small blocks and one 454 cubic inch big block were offered for 1973.  The base L-48 engine the example featured here uses produced 190 horsepower.

For 1973 All models featured a new cowl induction domed hood, which pulled air in through a rear hood intake into the engine compartment under full throttle, increasing power (but didn’t show up in the horsepower ratings). 0-60 mph times were reduced by a second while keeping the engine compartment cooler. The new tire size was GR70-15 with white stripes or optional raised white letters optional.

Road & Track magazine stated in a 1973 road test: “For all its age, size and compromises, if the Corvette is equipped with the right options it is a pleasant and rewarding car to drive and this 1973 example was one the best Corvettes we’ve ever driven.”

The brief description of this two-owner Corvette equipped with a “Top Gun” vanity front license plate but no rear plate combined with pictures of the car in their backyard have us thinking this Corvette may be owned by a couple who may no longer have the time to enjoy the car they way they once did.  As long as the undercarriage and bird cage turn out to be just as clean as the rest of the car during your in-person inspection, you’ll purchase a very nice example of a C3 Corvette.  Good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description:

“Hi we are selling our stingray in very good condition second owner garage kept red with tan leather interior automatic AC t tops 350 engine all original runs great well maintained truly must see $15,500 or best offer.

Do you have a C3 Corvette story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!