Why This Car Is Special

The 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray holds a specific and permanent place in Corvette history for two reasons that collectors have been paying attention to for decades. First, 1973 was the first year Chevrolet fitted the C3 Corvette with a body-colored urethane front bumper — a cleaner, more integrated look that replaced the chrome bumperette design used since 1968. Second, and more important to this particular car, 1973 was the last year Chevrolet offered the 454 cubic inch big block V8 in the Corvette. After 1973, the 454 was gone from the Corvette option sheet permanently. That makes every 1973 Corvette Stingray 454 LS4 a historically significant car, and this one is among a small group that actually left the factory with that engine checked on the order form.

Out of the approximately 3,195 Corvettes built for 1973, only 464 were equipped with the LS4 454. That works out to just 14.5 percent of total production. If you have been looking for a big block C3 Corvette that still has its chrome rear bumper — the last year for that feature — in the most recognizable Corvette color combination there is, this is a car worth a serious look.

The VIN decodes to confirm this car left the St. Louis assembly plant as a 1973 Corvette coupe with the Z-code 454 cubic inch engine and the Stingray body designation, matching all of the documented specifications listed here.

Features List

• 454 cubic inch LS4 big block V8, 275 horsepower at 4,400 RPM, 395 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 RPM
• Hydra-Matic 3-speed automatic transmission
• T-tops
• Factory cowl induction air cleaner
• Orange painted block, heads, valve covers, intake, and oil pan
• 4-barrel carburetor
• Tube headers and dual exhaust system with large rectangular exhaust tips
• Factory chrome shielded electronics and distributor
• Factory hoses intact
• Power steering
• Stock-appearing engine compartment
• 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds per Road and Track testing
• Independent rear suspension with transverse leaf spring
• Clean solid undercarriage with original black coating intact
• Rallye wheels with chrome Chevrolet Motor Division center caps
• BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires
• Mille Miglia Red exterior with body-colored urethane front bumper — first year for this design
• Chrome rear bumper — last year this feature was used on the Corvette
• Chrome 454 fender badge and chrome Stingray script fender badges
• Cold air induction hood
• Black twin bucket seat interior with vinyl upholstery
• Wood-grain accent trim on door panels
• Factory gauges, tachometer, center console, chrome shifter
• Corvette AM/FM stereo radio system
• Black carpeting and floor mats
• Odometer shows 99,751 miles

Mechanical

The engine in this 1973 Corvette Stingray is the LS4, a 454 cubic inch big block V8 that Chevrolet rated at 275 horsepower at 4,400 RPM and 395 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 RPM. Those are net figures, measured in compliance with the SAE net rating standard that GM adopted in 1972. To put the torque number in perspective, a base 350 small block Corvette of the same year made 255 lb-ft. The LS4 delivers 140 additional lb-ft of torque, and it delivers it low in the RPM range — right where a street driver feels it. Road and Track tested the 454 automatic Corvette at 7.2 seconds to 60 mph, which was a genuinely quick number for 1973 and remains a respectable figure for a 50-year-old American car.

The block, heads, valve covers, intake manifold, and oil pan are finished in the correct Chevrolet orange, giving the engine compartment a factory-accurate appearance. Tube headers feed a complete dual exhaust system that exits through large rectangular tips at the rear. The factory cowl induction air cleaner is in place and functional. The chrome shielded distributor and factory electronics are present. Factory hoses have been retained. The overall presentation under the hood is stock in character — no billet accessories, no chrome dress-up parts that don't belong — which matters to collectors and judges alike.

Backing the big block is the Hydra-Matic 3-speed automatic transmission, built by Hydra-Matic Division of GMC, as cast into the transmission pan that is visible in the undercarriage photos. This is the correct transmission for an LS4 automatic car of this vintage.

The undercarriage tells a good story. The original black coating is intact across the floor pan, crossmembers, and frame rails. There is no evidence of significant rust repair or patchwork. The independent rear suspension with its transverse leaf spring and half shafts is visible and solid. This is the underside of a car that was not abused and was likely kept in a dry climate for a significant portion of its life.

Interior

The interior of this 1973 Corvette Stingray is finished in black vinyl, the correct material for this specification. The twin bucket seats are original and show honest wear consistent with the odometer reading — the bolsters and seat bottoms show creasing and surface cracking in the vinyl that comes with age and use, not neglect. The structure of both seats appears sound. This is a driver-quality interior that presents well from a normal viewing distance and would benefit from a professional vinyl conditioning treatment if you want it looking sharper.

The factory dashboard is all there — gauges, tachometer, speedometer, and the full complement of secondary instruments mounted in the center stack. The Corvette AM/FM stereo radio is in its original position in the dash. The center console is intact, and the chrome shifter for the Hydra-Matic is in place. Wood-grain accent trim runs across the door panels, flanked by chrome window and door lock controls — a detail that was part of the Corvette's standard interior package for this generation. The factory map holder on the passenger side is present, and the matching door panels are correct and intact. Black carpeting and floor mats cover the floor. The overall layout is what any C3 Corvette enthusiast expects to find, and everything appears to be where the factory put it.

Exterior

Mille Miglia Red is arguably the color most associated with the C3 Corvette generation, and this 1973 Corvette Stingray wears it in a way that photographs accurately from every angle. The body panels are straight and the color is consistent across surfaces. The fiberglass shows no obvious cracking, bubbling, or patch repairs visible from normal inspection distance.

The front of the car features the 1973-specific body-colored urethane bumper — a design that replaced the chrome bumperette arrangement Corvette had used through 1972. This was Chevrolet's first step toward the federally mandated 5 mph bumper standards, and the result was a cleaner nose that most enthusiasts consider an improvement over the earlier chrome units. The cold air induction hood sits correctly and adds to the purposeful profile of the car.

The rear bumper is chrome, which is one of the primary reasons collectors specifically seek out 1973 over 1974 and later cars. Starting in 1974, the Corvette received a body-colored urethane rear bumper to match the front, and the chrome rear end was gone. The 1973 is the only year that combined the new urethane front bumper with the traditional chrome rear — a combination that many collectors consider the cleanest look of the entire C3 run. The chrome is present and showing normal patina for a 50-year-old car.

Chrome Stingray script badges sit on both front fenders. The chrome 454 badge on the driver's side fender identifies the engine at a glance. Rallye wheels with chrome Chevrolet Motor Division center caps fill the wheel wells correctly, wrapped in BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires — a period-correct and well-regarded tire choice for this era of Corvette.

Conclusion

The 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 454 LS4 is a genuinely specific car. It is not simply a C3 Corvette — it is the last Corvette ever built with a 454 big block from the factory, and it is one of only 464 built that way. It combines the last chrome rear bumper with the first urethane front bumper, giving it a look that no other year in the C3 run can replicate. The undercarriage is solid, the engine is correct and presented in factory-accurate fashion, and the car drives as the factory intended through its Hydra-Matic automatic. The interior shows its years honestly, and the Mille Miglia Red exterior presents well.

If you have been searching for a documented, drivable, numbers-correct big block C3 Corvette, this is a car that earns a closer look. Cars with this combination of engine, color, and intact undercarriage are becoming genuinely difficult to find at any price.

To schedule a walk-around, get more photos, or ask specific questions about this 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 454 LS4, call Skyway Classics at 941-254-6608. We are located in Sarasota, Florida and are happy to assist buyers from out of state with transport arrangements.

Disclaimer

Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.