Color Change: 1975 Chevrolet Corvette L48/4-Speed Convertible – Sold?

January 7, 2022 Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

1975 marked the final year of the C3 Corvette convertible. It also marked a year when Chevrolet did not offer green as an exterior color option. Long considered the low point in C3 production as well as the entry-level price point in vintage Corvette ownership, it’s not surprising to find many examples that will never win a National Corvette Restorers Society (“NCRS”) Award for originality. With a frame-off restoration in 2006 featuring a color change from its original Bright Yellow combined with side pipes in lieu of the original single cat exhaust, this 1975 Corvette Convertible originally listed in December 2021 on Craigslist in Charlotte, North Carolina retains its matching numbers 350/4-speed power train despite many other modifications.

Currently offered for $23,500, comparing that price against the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms the private seller has their C3 priced between this guide’s #3 “Good” estimate of $17,300 and its #2 “Excellent” appraisal of $31,500 before factoring in equipment adjustments.  Similarly, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls between this guide’s #3 “Good” estimate of $19,200 and its #2 “Very Good” appraisal of $24,000 before making equipment adjustments.

By 1975 C3 Stingray Corvettes hit a low point in terms of performance.  Chevrolet even advertised the car as “a more efficient Corvette” as they were able to extend service intervals due to the new “HEI electronic ignition.  1975 was the first year for the Corvette to have catalytic converters and due to expected supply issues of the new technology,  Chevrolet opted to route the engine’s dual exhaust pipes to a single converter and then split again leading to dual mufflers and tailpipes. These changes caused the base L48 350 cubic inch V8 to produce only 165 horsepower. Despite the power drop, and the popularity (at the time) of the now integrated one-piece soft bumpers both front and rear, Corvette production topped out at 38K units for the 1975 model year, nearly 9,000 of which were convertibles.  This would mark the last year for a Corvette convertible until Chevrolet reintroduced the body style on the C4 in 1986.

The seller of this 1975 Corvette has a walk-around video of their car posted here on YouTube:

Additionally, the private seller provides a transparent description of the good, the bad, and the ugly with respect to the condition of their C3.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1975 Corvette Convertible
Vin: 1Z67J5S403083 Numbers Matching (listed on The Corvette C3 Registry)
Build date 11/6/74
Frame-off Restoration in 2006, have pics and contact information of person/company that did it. Lots of receipts, etc.
Original color: Yellow
Original Hard Top.
I’ve listed the Pro’s/Con’s in the order of “severity” that I felt needed to be addressed.
Pros:
New Brakes, Calipers, wheels, tires, and alignment done by Corvettes Etc in Charlotte NC. 80mph on the highway straight as an arrow. 75/80 is the sweet spot, engine purrs, smooth steering.

New Water Pump

Stainless Steel headers/side pipes

New weather stripping on hardtop Paint.

Ceramic Coated Last year.

New Steering wheel T

Cigarette lighter and map light on the rearview mirror actually work! and charges the cell phone too 😊

Radio doesn’t work due to no antenna, however, it does play cassettes, and you can hook your phone up to it to stream.

Cons:
Cracked windshield at base. Occurred with previous owner

Air Conditioning removed (I have all parts to install). Fan works though.

Seeps oil (like what old vette doesn’t). A quart every two months or so…Depends on how much you drive it.

Paint. It’s about a 7ish IMO. It has its share of nicks here and there. The worst part of the entire car is at the drivers door handle area. See Pic.

Turn signals: they work but don’t turn off after turning. The left one will depending on how much you turn the steering wheel. Right side forget about it. Right turn signal on the gauge cluster has lost its “green” cover and it’s clear light now.

Tachometer is stuck at 1.7k but works once you get past that RPM.

On the gauge cluster the Seatbelt light, headlamp lights don’t work. Not a high priority for me to figure out.

Fuel gage just started (like as in this week) acting strange intermittently. Showing full, when back down to current quantity.

And, of course the clock doesn’t work.

“

Show or go: what would you do with this restored Triumph?  Comment below and let us know!