1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

- Built 454 V8
- 4 Speed Manual
- Two Owners
- 44k Original Miles
- Both Tops

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 140 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“Is the new (1973) 'Vette the best one ever?” – Car and Driver, December 1972

Here's the magazine's answer to their headline question: “With the 1973 model the Corvette enters its third decade of production and now, as in the beginning in 1953, it is America's only sports car. Considering his present stature, it is surprising to find that (Zora) Duntov was not a part of the original Corvette project. However, he was soon drawn into it and he is certainly the architect of its performance image that began to emerge with the 1956 models. Since then, his influence has grown to the point where he is known worldwide as the Father of the Corvette…. So it follows, then, that if you are to understand the Corvette you must not only drive it with an open mind, but also hear of it from Duntov.”

The Car and Driver writers went on to explain their meetings with Duntov in late-summer, 1972 discussing the then-about-to-be-launched 1973 model: “He wanted us to know about his new Corvette. No, it wasn't to be the mid-engine car that was widely rumored for 1973 introduction,… the Corvette Duntov has been measuring in his mind for at least 10 years. The bumper and safety laws have delayed that model. Instead, Duntov's new car would look much like last year's...but it would be improved. It would be quieter, much quieter, and would meet the bumper laws with only a small increase in weight. Nor would performance suffer to any great degree — to offset the power losses caused by tightened emission control requirements a cold air hood would be standard. Handling in normal traffic situations would be better too because of new radial ply tires and light-alloy wheels. Duntov was pleased. He reckoned that the new Corvette was the best ever and if we wanted to test one, or several, he would help in any way we asked.”

Offered here in Classic White over tan is a two-owner, 1973 Corvette Stingray Convertible. The car's odometer shows 44,493 miles, just 908 miles on average per-year since new. The outstanding condition of the car reflects responsible-ownership, respectful use, careful upgrades, and low mileage accumulation care through the years.

The Classic White exterior paint is original; it retains an even finish with excellent gloss across the car's fiberglass body, including the front-and-rear fender flares and cowl-induction hood. In part, “Classic” reflects the fact that this paint shade dates to the first Corvette and was offered yearly since then. Here, the body lines are highlighted by a twin, light-tan paint stripe on both sides of the car. This Corvette Convertible includes both a white fabric top as well as a body-color-matching removable hardtop. Rear chrome bumpers (their final model year) and the Endura-clad, painted front bumper are both in excellent condition, as are the chrome windshield trim and side-view mirror. Door handles show wear. (To best assess the quality of the paint and chrome finishes, be sure to view the close-up photographs of the car in the accompanying gallery.) The twin front black lower grilles stand out nicely against the white body, as do the front-fender brake-cooling vents. Original-tint cabin glass and lighting lenses—including on the pop-up headlights—are clear and undamaged (“blue dots” have been added to the brake lights). Factory badging—including circular crossed-flags-on-red front emblem, simple crossed-flags rear badge, “Stingray” script on the front fenders, and C-o-r-v-e-t-t-e lettering on the rear—is all properly located and mounted. A functional, side-exit, Laker-style exhaust system is mounted. The rear fascia includes the lock for the factory-installed theft-prevention system. Chrome, 5-opening, American Racing® 15-inch wheels (showcasing red disc-brake calipers and drilled brake rotors front and rear) are mounted with raised-white-letter Good Year® 255/60 Eagle GTII performance tires.

The car's interior has been beautifully maintained. Tan leather upholstery on the bucket seats features an antiqued look. The leather is lightly creased from normal use, but the color is unfaded. Tan door panels include woodgrain upper trim and carpeted lower inserts; console-mounted buttons operate the power windows, and chrome door-release handles include the crossed-flags emblem. The factory, leather-rim, sport steering wheel with crossed-flags emblem frames the large 160-mph speedometer and 5,300-rpm-redline tachometer. Five engine-monitoring gauges occupy the center stack above a Pioneer® audio head unit in place of the factory radio. The woodgrain-trimmed center console hosts the shifter for the 4-speed manual transmission, an engine data plate, and the handbrake lever. Leather storage pockets on the dash face the passenger. Overall, cabin surfaces are in very well-maintained condition; graphic markings on instruments and control surfaces are crisp and undamaged.

Under the front-hinged hood (the underside of which is pristine), the 454-cubic-inch big-block, built V8 (with correct Chevrolet-orange engine-block paint) is the center of a perfectly clean engine bay. A chrome air-cleaner cover, shiny billet-aluminum engine bits, “454"-badged, bare-metal, finned valve covers, and sundry other bright trim add flair. Viewed from below, the car's chassis is clean, complete, and undamaged. In particular, there is no compression damage to any component (as would be the case if the car had been subjected to overly aggressive driving styles or track use). The side-exit exhaust and lower sides of the engine are focal points.

The car's factory-mounted build and identification tags remain mounted. The sale includes a file of maintenance receipts.

While the more than 140 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this '73 Corvette in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

A top-down, music-turned-up, open-air drive in a vintage Corvette on twisty roads during the fall-color season, or along a beachfront road under a summer sunset are special joys everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. For the next owner of this '73 drop-top Stingray, however, we're pretty sure once won't be nearly enough.