VERY LOW MILES, #'s Match, STUNNING CONDITION, Elkhart Green/Saddle Leather

1973 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible Description

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Please call Matt directly at 513-708-1468 with any questions about this car.

Seven Hills Motorcars is very proud to offer this beautiful completely numbers matching 1973 Corvette Stingray Convertible in fantastic condition and with only 56,705 miles. This Corvette looks absolutely amazing with a stunning Elkhart Green paintjob. The Elkhart Green Metallic (947) over Medium Saddle Leather (416) color combination is highly desirable, truly striking, and looks great on this Corvette Stingray body style. It is also the correct and original color scheme as verified by the codes on the trim tag, which is pictured in this ad.

I have personally driven this Stingray about 15 miles. During that time it was completely reliable and a true pleasure to drive. We first purchased this Corvette is 2008. We then sold it to a gentleman in Indiana in January of 2009 when the car had 56,225 miles. We just purchased the car back from the same gentleman with 56,687 miles.

During the previous owner's time with the Corvette he spent $5,753 on maintenance and repairs on the car for items such as a brand-new convertible to, heater core, radiator, hoses, quartz clock, and much more. He took excellent care of the car over the past ten years and it is in even better condition now than it was in 2009. The car also comes with a great amount of original documentation from when it was sold new including the owners manual, the warranty booklet with the original Protect-O-Plate, Firestone tire booklet, 1973 Chevrolet Maintenance Schedule, 1973 Chevrolet Consumer Information booklet, Wheel Trim Ring Instruction Sheet, and 1973 Chevrolet Emission Control Systems booklet.

This Corvette is "Numbers Matching" and virtually every part we checked on the car is correct with the proper part numbers and appropriate date codes. We have run the numbers on literally hundreds of Corvettes over the years and there are very few that are so correct and original, this is especially true for the earlier C3's. Even very detailed parts like the distributor, all the wheels, starter, manifolds, and even all the windows are correct and original. The last six digits of the VIN are stamped on the engine pad, which is pictured in this ad, and the engine is original to the car. The transmission is also original with the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the main case and pictured.

We have this car priced to sell and are offering an excellent opportunity to own a very desirable Corvette Stingray at an unbeatable value. One could easily buy this car now and sell it for more than the purchase price in years to come as the market on early C3 Corvettes is very hot right now and on the rise, this is especially true for the 1973 model year as it was a one year only body style. The very low original mileage is verified not only by the condition of the car, but also the clear Ohio title pictured in the ad that shows the mileage as "Actual." Please peruse all of the photos, video, and other information below to get a true sense of how nice this Corvette really is..

As a side note, this Corvette is not a dealer auction vehicle. We hand pick each car after careful inspection. Our Corvettes come from owners who expect their car to go to someone that will give the vehicle the same care and attention as they did. We invite and encourage you to examine the car in person or have the car inspected. Please take the time to scrutinize each picture. We photograph each vehicle to the greatest extent so you can feel confident about your purchase. If you have a question about the Corvette, just give us a call.

Model Description

The 1973 Corvette was truly the end of an era. 1973 was the last year to feature a chrome bumper and is considered by some to be the last year of truly classic Corvettes. Model years after were more at the mercy of insurance companies, fuel prices, and emission concerns, 1973 is considered the last "good" year by many enthusiasts. The 1973 model year is also considered a special and different year for Corvette enthusiasts as it was the only model to have chrome in the back and a rubber bumper in the front. It is representative of the transition Corvette was making at the time. As in investment, the 1973 will always have an advantage and out perform other years because of its precedence as the end of a a very great period for Corvette and muscle cars as a whole.

Exterior

The Elkhart Green exterior is in spectacular driver condition. As one can see in the photos, the finish has dazzling gloss, deep shine, and smooth finish. The convertible top is in brand new condition with no stain, rips, holes, or frayed edges. The rear window is perfectly clear with no cloudiness. The top itself operates well and functions smoothly. Both doors open and shut nicely. The chrome and other bright looks great with and a brilliant finish. The wheels, which are original to the car and date coded correctly, and center caps are in excellent condition with a nice finish. The Goodyear Eagle GTII tires have about 95% tread left. There are a few very tiny blemishes around car that were too small to show up in pictures, but nothing else that is really noticeable from about five feet away. As one can see in the many photos of the underside this car is very clean underneath and has NO RUST ISSUES at all. The frame is totally solid around the "key hole" area in front of the rear tire and we have seen no evident of corrosion around the windshield or "birdcage" area, which are the most common spots for rust on a C3 Corvette. We have included specific photos of the areas most prone to rust to show how nice this car looks.

Window Date Codes

Please note that ALL of the glass on this Corvette, the windshield, both "Astro Ventilation" door windows, and even the pop-out rear window, are all date coded and original as each piece predates the car's body build date of January 8, 1971 (F08). Original glass is a good indication that this car has had no major accident history and never sustained significant damage.

Interior

The Medium Saddle Leather interior of the Corvette is in outstanding condition. The seats are in excellent shape with no excessive wear, rips, or split seams. The seats are not worn in the typical area where the driver gets in and out. Please note that these appear to be the original seats and skins, not some cheap aftermarket covers or replacements. The carpet, which is also original, is also in great condition with no stains, rips, or holes. This includes the rear carpet, which is often neglected. The gauge faces are clean and crisp and the lenses are clear. The original radio works well, gets good reception, and most importantly the dash has never been cut or modified for an aftermarket installation. The dash and console are in great shape with no cracks, fading, or sun damage. The door panels are in great condition overall. The jack and jack handle are still with the car and stored correctly behind the passenger seat. The spare is also still with the car. This Corvette has never been smoked in; there are no burns marks and no aroma of cigarettes.

Corvette interiors from this era are not known to wear well, especially with a lighter color like saddle, and the excellent condition of this original interior is a huge testament to the meticulous care and attention this car has received throughout its life and another great verification of the very low original mileage. The interior looks just as good in person as it does in the photos.

Mechanical

This Corvette seems to be in very good mechanical condition. As stated above I have driven the car over 15 miles with no problems. The original numbers matching engine starts right away every time, runs well, and idles smooth. This Stingray drives great and feels nice on the road and at highway speeds. In the video below one can observe the car accelerating on the highway up to about 70mph, shifting through all the gears, braking to stoplight, and going through some curves. Please note that there are no vibrations and the car performs quite well overall. The brakes are responsive and do not pull to one side or the other. The transmission shifts smoothly throughout the power band. Also, the engine compartment is beautifully clean, detailed, and correct as one can see in the photos. The original valve covers, air cleaner, and ignition shielding are all still in place. This Stingray is unmolested and even the smog pump is still on the car and working; one can hear the smog pump operating in the section of the video with the hood open.

Virtually everything on the car works; the radio works as do all the exterior lights, interior lights, dash lights, interior lights, wipers, and indicators. All of the gauges work including the clock. Even the key buzzer still works as one can hear in the video. The blower for the heater works on all speeds. The entire vacuum system for the headlights works correctly from both of the respective switches on the dash and the override switch under the column. The headlights go up quickly, evenly, and with no binding in the mechanism. The entire operation from both switches can be viewed in the video. The alternator was replaced fro maintenance, but the original numbers matching and correctly date coded alternator is included with the car. Not enough can be said as to how much of a pleasure it is to drive this car, especially with the top down out on a beautiful day.

Overall Condition

Overall, this 1973 Corvette Stingray Convertible looks fantastic and is in terrific condition. The beautiful original color combination, excellent condition, the very low original mileage, and the great extent to which the numbers match make this Stingray especially important and very hard to duplicate. Numbers matching is extremely important in Corvette pricing and as one can see, this car is quite correct. There are photos of the VIN stamp on the engine block, suffix code, engine assembly date, transmission date, and transmission VIN stamp. The 1973 model is a one year only body style so they are rare and the value of these cars has gone up exponentially in recent years. The convertible body style draws a great premium over the standard coupe body style. They are all solid investments for a collector. One could easily enjoy this vehicle for several years and sell it for more than the purchase price with minimal effort.

Thank you for looking and please do not hesitate to email or call with any questions.

itemnumberdescriptionVIN1Z67J3S416087The first digit, "1," indicated the Chevrolet division of GM. The "Z" is the series, Corvette. The "67" is the body style, convertible. The fifth digit is the engine, J, correct for a L48 car. The sixth digit, "3," indicates the model year, 1973. The "S" is the plant where the car was produced, St. Louis. The last five digits are a sequence number so this is the 16,087th Corvette made for 1973.Body Build DateG26"G" corresponds to February, and the "26" is the twenty-sixth day of the month meaning this Corvette's body build date is February 26, 1973.Engine CodeV0215"V" means the engine was build in the Flint, MI plant. The "02" is the second month of year and the "15" is the fifteenth day of the month meaning the engine was assembled on February 15, 1973. This is correct as it precedes the build date of the car.Suffix CodeCLAThis means the motor was intended for an L48 Corvette with an automatic transmission, which is correct for this car.Engine VIN Stamping416087The last 6 digits of the car's VIN, 416087, are stamped on the engine pad and pictured below meaning this engine is original to this car.Engine Block Casting Number3970010The engine block has a correct 3790010 casting number a small block 1973 Corvette.Engine Block Casting DateA 29 3"A" is January, "29" is the twenty-ninth day of the month, and the "3" is the last digit of the calendar year so the engine block was cast on January 29, 1973. Which is correct as it predates the assembly date of the engine.Cylinder Head Left3998993The left cylinder head has the correct 3998993 casting number for a small block 1973 Corvette.Cylinder Head Left Date CodeB 13 3The "B" is February, the "13" is the thirteenth day of the month, and the "3" is the last digit of the calendar year so this cylinder head block was cast on February 13, 1973. Which is correct as it predates the assembly date of the engine.Cylinder Head Right3998993The right cylinder head has the correct 3998993 casting number for a small block 1973 Corvette.Cylinder Head Right Date CodeB 8 3The "B" is February, the "8" is the eighth day of the month, and the "3" is the last digit of the calendar year so this cylinder head block was cast on February 8, 1973. Which is correct as it predates the assembly date of the engine.Alternator1100950The alternator is original and correct with a 1100950 stampingAlternator Date Code2 G 25The "2" is the last digit of the calendar year, the "G" is July, and the "25" is the twenty-fifth day of the month meaning this alternator was made on July 25, 1972, which is correct as it precedes the build date of the car.Starter1108430The starter is original and correct for a 1973 with a small block engine and automatic transmission with a 1108430 stampingStarter Date Code3 B 6The "3" is the last digit of the calendar year, the "B" is February, and the "6" is the sixth day of the month meaning this starter was made on February 6, 1973, which is correct as it precedes the build date of the car.Transmission73-CKThe "73" is the model year, 1973. The "C" means the transmission was made for a Chevrolet vehicle, and the "K" means is was intended for a Corvette with a 350ci engine, which is correct for this car.Transmission Date Code406The assembly date code for the 1973 model year starts with the first day of the calendar year in 1972 and continues through the calendar year in 1973. This means "406" is the 406th day starting with January 1, 1972, which indicates the transmission was assembled on February 9, 1973.Transmission VIN Stamping416087The last 6 digits of the car's VIN, 416087, are stamped on the main case of the transmission and pictured below meaning this transmission is original to this car.Rear DifferentialAW W 024 E 2The "AW" indicates a 3.08:1 axle ratio with positraction. The "W" is the plant code where the rear end was made. The "024" is the 24th day of the year. The "E" is the source of the positraction, Eaton, and the "2" is the shift so the rear differential was made on January 24, 1973 in Warren, MI during the second shift.WindshieldXUThe "X" is February and the "U" is 1973 so this window is original, made in February of 1973. This is correct as it predates the build date of the car.Driver's WindowUYThe "U" is July and the "Y" is 1972 so this window is original, made in July of 1972. This is correct as it predates the build date of the car.Passenger WindowUYThe "U" is July and the "Y" is 1972 so this window is original, made in July of 1972. This is correct as it predates the build date of the car.Left Front WheelK 1 3 2 21 AZK means the wheels are original Kelsey-Hayes as they should be, "1" means they were made at the Romulus, MI plant, and "3" means they were made for 1973. The "2" is the second month of the year, the "21" is the twenty-first day of the month, and "AZ" is a code that was used on Corvette rally wheels in 1973. This rim is dated February 21, 1973, which is correct as it predates he build date of the car.Right Front WheelK 1 3 2 21 AZK means the wheels are original Kelsey-Hayes as they should be, "1" means they were made at the Romulus, MI plant, and "3" means they were made for 1973. The "2" is the second month of the year, the "21" is the twenty-first day of the month, and "AZ" is a code that was used on Corvette rally wheels in 1973. This rim is dated February 21, 1973, which is correct as it predates he build date of the car.Left Rear WheelK 1 3 2 27 AZK means the wheels are original Kelsey-Hayes as they should be, "1" means they were made at the Romulus, MI plant, and "3" means they were made for 1973. The "2" is the second month of the year, the "27" is the twenty-seventh day of the month, and "AZ" is a code that was used on Corvette rally wheels in 1973. This rim is dated February 27, 1973, which is correct as it predates he build date of the car.Right Rear WheelK 1 3 2 21 AZK means the wheels are original Kelsey-Hayes as they should be, "1" means they were made at the Romulus, MI plant, and "3" means they were made for 1973. The "2" is the second month of the year, the "21" is the twenty-first day of the month, and "AZ" is a code that was used on Corvette rally wheels in 1973. This rim is dated February 21, 1973, which is correct as it predates he build date of the car.exterior color code947Elkhart Green Metallicinterior color code416Medium Saddle Leatherrpo codedescription1YZ67Corvette Convertible--Factory Custom Interior TrimJ50Power BrakesL48350ci V8 EngineM40Turbo Hydramtic Automatic TransmissionN40Power SteeringORZWhite Letter TiresU69AM-FM Radio